The January 1963 edition of Good Housekeeping had a reminder to mid-century sewers. Now is the time to plan your spring wardrobe sewing projects.
It’s never too early to think of spring, particularly if you plan to make your own clothes. Start now to choose the right fabrics for your kind of life and enjoy a well-integrated wardrobe that’s equal to every occasion.
Each Good Housekeeping issue had a section on making clothes. They showed models wearing completed outfits made with Simplicity patterns.
The January 1963 issue had a seven page article showing 7 different outfits. 4 were considered outfits to wear in the city and 3 to wear in the country.
As a baby boomer child growing up in the sixties, I know a thing or two about mid-century sewing patterns. Holidays and weekends were spent fighting my mom and sister for use of the Singer. We all loved to sew cute dresses and skirts. Simplicity patterns was a favorite.
In honor of 1960s sewing patterns, I searched the internet for images of the patterns featured in the article.
The article referenced Simplicity #4798.
Good Housekeeping showed the following two outfits made with Simplicity 4798. The first one is a 2-piece dress (view 2 on the pattern).
Easy-fitting two-piece dress with a matching triangular sole you can tie in your own individual way. Simplicity Pattern #4798
They also showed a wool suit made with Simplicity #4798 (view 1 on the pattern). Note that the suit matches the hat.
Vary the cardigan neckline with scarf or jewelry or leave it handsomely on its own. Ango wool.
The 1963 Good Housekeeping fashion article also references Simplicity 4803. I found this image on thevintagepatternmarket.com. It shows this fabulous classic dress with or without sleeves.
Here’s Good Housekeeping’s spring wardrobe example of the dress made with wool.
The shape divine in a coat-dress that’s all line, dramatically unadorned.
Another classic mid-century silhouette is a box pleat dress. Here is a picture of the vintage pattern. It is Simplicity 4802. The vintage image was found on MomsPatterns.com.
From https://momspatterns.com/inc/sdetail/133132
Good Housekeeping made this dress in a gold polka-dot silk. Here’s a model wearing this pretty classic dress. Styled with hat, pearls, and gloves, the look is classic vintage.
Perennial as spring itself are polka dots, here widely spaced on pure silk by Stehli.
Good Housekeeping January 1963
The January 1963 Good Housekeeping article also showed more casual spring looks. Here are 2 more looks made with Simplicity patterns.
The first one is a suit-dress made with Simplicity 4801. This vintage pattern was found on oldpatterns.com
Here’s the dress in Good Housekeeping’s article. It is made with a polyester fabric.
When that evening sun goes down in the country, this dress with its own jacket appears.
The last look is a sleeveless dress made with cotton. They used Simplicity 4789. This vintage pattern was found on vintagepatterns.fandom.com
Found here: https://vintagepatterns.fandom.com/wiki/Simplicity_4789
Here’s the sleeveless cotton dress from the article.
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