You may think that patterns inspired by movies is a relatively recent thing, but it’s really not. For just about as long as there have been both pattern companies and Hollywood, one has been referencing the other to some extent. Here’s a trip (in more ways than one) down memory lane in the form of vintage patterns inspired by film.
The School for Scandal (1930s)
While the 1930 pattern above is probably a direct result of the 1930 film version of The School for Scandal, starring Madeleine Carroll as Lady Teazle, I opted instead to use an image from the 1933 stage production starring Peggy Ashcroft. Mainly because there’s hardly any still images of the costumes from the 1930 film, as pretty much all footage is lost aside from some promotional stills. What few stills there are out there are very much locked down by the British Film Institute (you can view them here). At any rate, The School for Scandal was one of those enduring plays-turned-films that mysteriously has fallen out of favor in the last few decades after a, literally, 200-year run. Written in 1777, it is pretty darn raunchy and ribald, loaded with sexual innuendo that often times is not exactly subtle. It probably deserves a revival.
Gone With the Wind (1939)
The 1930s and ’40s saw several pattern lines launched with specific tie-ins to popular stars at the time. Hollywood Pattern was by far the most committed, producing patterns associated with virtually every starlet who was popular from the late ’30s to the early ’50s. Most of the Hollywood Patterns were actually not historical costumes, but more modern, either based on something the featured actress wore in a popular film or something inspired by the fashionable clothing at the time. One of the biggest exceptions, however, was Hollywood Pattern’s “Gone With the Wind” line, which featured these three looks inspired by costumes from the film. The patterns included both full-length gowns and shorter modern interpretations.
Carmen Miranda (1940s-1950s)
This is just one example of a number of Carmen Miranda-esque patterns that were released in the 1940s and 1950s. It’s more loosely based on designs than a direct copy of any single costume Carmen wore in any of her numerous cameos during the WWII era. However, the famous I Love Lucy episode “Be a Pal” (1951), where Lucy wears the Carmen Miranda get-up, looks a heck of a lot like this pattern.
Wizard of Oz Revival (1950s)
One of the things I discovered about The Wizard of Oz (1939) when I started this little project was that even though it was such a major Hollywood success, there was NOTHING in the way of pattern tie-ins in the few years after it premiered (unlike it’s competitor that year, Gone With the Wind). The first direct reference to any of the costumes in The Wizard of Oz that I was able to find is actually the 1950s pinafore you see here. The undated McCalls pattern is TOTALLY referencing the iconic blue gingham frock worn by Judy Garland as Dorothy and yet there’s no actual connection to the movie anywhere on the pattern. Not that there really needs to be, but for it to be such an obvious tie-in without any branding is interesting. There may have been a re-release of the film in the mid-’50s that inspired the pattern with an updated 1950s silhouette, but again, no connection here aside from the fact that everyone on the planet born in the last 100 years knows this is TOTALLY THE SAME DRESS.
Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue (1953)
There were a spate of 18th-century themed films that came out in the early 1950s, but one of the most memorable ones was Disney’s Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue, starring Richard Todd as the eponymous highlander. While this Butterick pattern doesn’t directly tie itself to the film, it was released around the same time. Similar patterns by Simplicity were also released between the years 1952 to 1953, indicating that the market value of this particular era was pretty high at the time.
War and Peace (1956)
Not quite sure how these designs relate to the film, which is set in the Napoleonic era, but whatever. You can see how the pattern company cleverly made “Adaptation of Original Design” much smaller than “worn by AUDREY HEPBURN in ‘WAR and PEACE’,” making it look to anyone not familiar with the movie that it was actually something worn in the movie. Nope, it’s just inspired by it. Sneaky pattern company.
The King and I (1957)
Boy, oh, boy. This one was a biggie, and I almost neglected to include it. So, the 1950s, particularly the middle to the end of the decade, saw several big-budget Civil War/1860s era films released, but none of them became the cultural juggernaut as Rogers and Hammerstein’s The King and I. Starring Deborah Kerr as the feisty and independent Englishwoman who sails to the exotic land of Siam to bring Western Education (TM) to the gorgeous court of the Siamese king, played by the gorgeous Yul Brenner, this was a big, BIG film. Part musical, part forbidden love story, and 100% fantasy, the entire production is sweeping and grand and pretty much as Hollywood as it gets.
It also sets us up for…
The Civil War Centennial (1957-1964)
While not a single movie exactly, it’s rather several movies that were issued marking the 100 year “celebration” (I guess?) of one of America’s bloodiest wars. Raintree County (1957), How the West Was Won (1962), Disney’s telefilm Johnny Shiloh (1963), and Shenandoah (1965) all contributed to the general national excitement over the Civil War, not to mention the entire Spaghetti Western genre (of which my parents were particular fans. They went to a drive-in for their “honeymoon” and saw The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly before Dad shipped out to Vietnam. Like you do). So, while this pattern wasn’t based on any one particular film, it definitely follows 1960s America’s interest in the 1860s was developing into more areas of historical costume than previously.
The Sound of Music (1965)
So, in case you weren’t aware, this was this little film called The Sound of Music that came out starring this chick named Julie Andrews, and she runs around the Austrian mountainside being all irrepressible and charming with a pack of children. There was some singing a song about deers and getting packages tied up with bows and a flower or something, but yeah, no one really paid much attention to it, so you’ve probably never heard of it.
Butterick introduced this pattern based (loosely) on the quasi-national dress of Austria as a tie-in with the film version of the musical. I wonder how many of these patterns were modified for renaissance faire costumes in the mid-to-late ’60s?
The American Bicentennial (1972-1976)
If you thought the Civil War Centennial was a big deal, OH MAN, you have no idea what it was like to be alive during the run-up to the American Bicentennial (1776-1976). In fact, I fully confess that I actually missed the bicentennial by a couple of years (I was born 1978), but I can assure you that the seismic waves of national pride were still being felt well into the 1980s to such a great extent that I feel like I really didn’t miss it. I must have seen the video of the July 4th, 1976, fireworks display over the Statue of Liberty at least a thousand times before I hit puberty. And whatever we may have tried to bury in our collective memory, the 1990 move Spirit of ’76 wouldn’t let us forget just how insane America went for its 200th birthday.
Anyway, to mark the occasion, several films and TV miniseries were put out during the ’70s. Everything from the musical 1776 (1972), to the BBC’s Poldark (1975), to the critically acclaimed US miniseries Roots (1979). Accordingly, there was a sudden glut of 18th-century “colonial” patterns on the market to chose from. Some of them were simply reprints of earlier patterns with updated package art, while others were created specifically for the celebration. If you want a good idea of how many patterns were marketed for the bicentennial, just check out the Etsy search results for “bicentennial patterns.” Forty years later and we’re still trying to dig ourselves out from under the avalanche of bicentennial branding.
Annie (1976-1982)
The musical Annie debuted in 1976 to insane levels of acclaim. The film version followed in 1982 to even more insane levels of acclaim until the entire planet was pretty much had “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow” as a permanent earworm. As someone who was entering prime Annie-consumerism territory by 1982, I personally owned an Annie dress and an Annie wig and knew every single song off the record like it was part of my DNA. McCalls released two pattern lines in the late-’70s, ahead of the film release, called “Annie Clothes Line” for girls and “Annie Too!” for women. The designs were basically late-’70s everyday wear, and it wasn’t until the film was released that actual screen/stage costumes were reproduced by the major pattern companies.
Star Wars (1977-1983)
There are no words.
If you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane and want to learn more about the patterns mentioned here, check out the Vintage Patterns Wikia for more info!
Did you actually have a costume made from any of these patterns? Share it with us in the comments!
I still have the Simplicity “Rob Roy” pattern. I made it in 1973-74 for my mother as a Hallween costume. We gave it a detachable high neck and a drawstring bag for her carry a tap recorder in that was playing “With her head tucked underneath her arm”. She was also carrying my sister’s Barbie head (the one you could do its hair). I know, not even close to period.
I wore it in 1975 as Marie Anoinette for Halloween.
It finished life a costume for the Charwoman in Christmas Carol. My mother wore it fore several years doing that. It did get ripped and dirtied for that application.
It was made from cheap remnant fabric. A large scale floral print that was predominately pink with pale pink panniers. In retrospect I can’t believe I made something that hideous that was used so far out of period. Although when you are a teenager and your mother says make this for me there really aren’t many other choices.
I would love to see pictures if you have them! I can’t discount the HUGE influence those patterns have had on my childhood… I have worn many outfits made from them in my lifetime, from awful upholstery chintz fabric that came straight off a couch!
Unfortunately I don’t have pictures. I wish I did.
When I was in high school I wanted be either a dress designer or a doctor. I ended up being being a nurse who loved to sew, especially costumes. These patterns were jumping off places for me frequently.
Odd coincidence? My middle name is also Lorraine.
I didn’t have any of these, but I was indeed wishing for SF costume patterns in the early 80s. So I bought this:http://www.amazon.com/Future-threads-Costume-science-fiction/dp/B00071CHSK This book had some truly terrible costume patterns in it. The Princess Leia sleeve was misdrafted so that the long pointed sleeve fell over your hand instead of hanging underneath. Terrifying.
Hahaha! I love it! I’m planning on doing a follow up post at some point strictly focused on patterns influenced by sci-fi/fantasy/historical movies in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. I had to limit this post to just 1930-1980ish because there was SO MUCH from 1980-onward that this post would have massive!
In 1977 my roommate canceled her wedding, leaving her with a ton of lightweight lining satin, so we decided to make costumes to wear to the Renaissance Faire. The one on the left was an attempt at Tudor, and was based on the Simplicity Bicentennial pattern shown above. The yellow and black thing I’m wearing was made from the McCall “Centennial” dress, and its embellishments and the entire costume worn by the gentleman on the right came from my vague memories of various old movies. We thought we were the bomb.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p211/margorose_2006/Sheri-Larry-Me_zpsz3y6tijw.jpg
Well I don’t believe there’s a photo of it, but when I was 8 or 10, my mother made me a “Colonial” costume. I don’t remember the neckline, but might have had a fichu. The sleeves went just past the elbows and ended in a ruffle. The skirt was long, and gathered at the waist, and I believe I chose a calico-type cotton print in a turquoisey blue. I also had a mob-cap. I loved that dress. This would have been around 1964 or 1966. Well before the bicentennial, but eagles were already springing up everywhere in home decor.
My mom had the bicentennial patterns, both adult and kids size, and when we would volunteer to be docents every year in the Beaufort Old Homes tour, she would make me a new “colonial” dress. A new dress, usually of some sort of calico, happened about every other year from when I was about 5 years old until I became and teenager and could borrow my grandmother’s fancy dress (that was somehow associated with/initially made for someone at Tryon Palace in New Bern). Your posts about all the anachronistic back lacing in 18th century gowns on film makes me think of the Tryon Palace gown because it opens in the front and has a stomacher, but then is secured by giant strips of velcro, LOL.
My mom made the Simplicity Bicentennial costumes for me & my sister. They were red floral calico, with ecru eylet bodice inserts & mobcaps. I was born in 68, so I got to fully enjoy1776 mania.
I guess it made an impression, because now I love cosplay.
Those 70s pattern illustrations are totally my jam. I spent so many hours rummaging around in my mom’s pattern box as a kid…
having survived the bicentennial year, I must add you forgot the HUGE miniseries “The Kent Family Chronicles” based on the books by John Jakes. it started with “the Bastard” and then “the Rebels” and so on. it was interesting watching. and of course the books were better, I think the series might be a good look into for your snark week considering all the 1970’s hair and costuming that went on.
Well, now I’m on a quest to find those first two “Gone With the Wind” patterns or at least something that looks like them as I have never felt a more powerful need.
Oh lawks I have made so many WTF costumes for shows in my time, but once upon a time we had no internets, little access to extant garments (especially down here in NZ) and only some BBC TV shows to work from. And not much fabric choice. But whatever kindles a passion and an interest is awesome. It’s good to laugh at the synthetic, dodgy attempts of the past however!
I don’t have photos but oh my, the number of wedding dresses I made in the early 90s with “corset” bodices, with fake boning channels rounded out by piping cord, lacing up the front with a zip in the back – those were the days!
If I had known that Sound of Music pattern existed when I was a kid, I would have been sewing up a storm! Until I was 10 and learned to sew, most of our backyard musical costumes were hand me down formal dresses, except for one wedding dress which was Cinderella’s ball gown. My lucky cousin had a mother who made her one of the bicentennial dresses. I was so jealous!