I love this pattern for a tailored short-sleeved suit dress. In an era of fabric rationing, ladies really learned to keep a feminine silhouette with limited materials.

Crisp blouses from 1945. Note the hairstyles on the models. You’ll see a lot of these dropped shoulder yokes and gathered bodice fronts in this time period–a feature on my 1940s “Swing” Dress Pattern.

Here is a great pattern for a lady’s playsuit or dress. Note the dropped shoulder yokes with gathers–a common feature in this time period.

This is a wonderful teen look. It reminds me a lot of Shirley Temple’s clothing from her teen films.

A teenager’s dress pattern, circa 1944. I love the cummerbund waist and the gathered shoulder yokes, reminiscent of my ladies’ 1940s “Swing” Dress Pattern. Note the option for a confirmation dress at the lower left-hand corner.

Another teen dress–this one with a bit of a "south-of-the-border" flavor to it.

Vogue Patterns brought out a “new” line of “Vintage Vogue” patterns in 1999–reprints from the archives that are absolutely fabulous. If you want to make your own, here is the place to go! Be sure to visit the Vogue Patterns Website to see more from this wonderful collection. (Images copyright Vogue Patterns 1999)

The slim, willowy look of this dress is pure 1930s, but you’ll notice that the skirt flares a bit and is not as long as earlier skirts from this decade. We’re heading into the 1940s “swing” era now!

This 1938 pattern is for a day dress with a gored skirt, tailored bodice and puffed sleeves. Note the collar and pretty long-sleeved option.

Here is a trio of wonderful leading ladies from the 1930s. The 1930s “look” is so distinctive–particularly in films. Left to right: Myrna Loy in a large ruffled-collar dress; Joan Crawford in a very early 1930s publicity shot (note that the gown still has a lot of 1920s style elements with its straight lines and [...]