This 1950s Simplicity dress pattern is a lovely example of the early 1950s look with the full, hip-emphasizing skirt and pretty horizontal bodice detailing. It's the dawn of the "New Look" after the fabric rationing of WW2 came to a close.

A 1954 pattern for blouses. Note the interesting angled sleeve/armscye details.The "Atomic" age brought with it a vogue for more defined shapes. You see it in the furniture and home design as well.

A gorgeous 1950s formal gown pattern--probably for bridesmaids' dresses. The one on the left would be for a formal evening wedding, while the one on the right would work for a daytime wedding. Dreamy!

Early 1950s dress pattern, just beginning to show that 1950s "New Look" silhouette. I love the notched collar and the belted waist. This is a tailored, chic look for daytime.

Perhaps more than any other item, the circle skirt instantly brings the '50s to mind! My late grandmother wore these all the way into the late 1960s and looked fabulously glamorous in them. I love this feminine silhouette!

The team I play in always costumes, and this year we chose the theme Regency, so I searched found and bought your patterns. I found them very easy to make and very fast to make.

This knock-out 1940s Vogue pattern is very classy with its princess lines and back skirt panel (just right for dancing).The 1940s were famous for wonderful bodice and neckline treatments, and this one is no exception with its double bows below the V neckline. Gorgeous!

This 1940s Hollywood pattern features a fitted midriff belt with back ties, a V-neckline created by the crossover bodice and softly gathered shoulder yokes. It was my chief inspiration for the 1940s Swing Dress Pattern!

Here is a young Lauren Bacall, right at the start of her climb to fame. She has such a lovely personality, and her clothing--even now--is so classy.

This is a 1940s tailored jacket pattern from Simplicity with top stitching and lots of pocket options. I admire the clean lines and feminine fit.

A trio of beautiful 1940s leading ladies, looking so glamorous. Gene Tierney looks smashing in her evening gown with cape and matching gloves; Veronica Lake (known for her trademark hairstyle) shows off a softly-draped evening gown; Myrna Loy looks cool and chic in her street dress with contrasting pockets and matching hat.

What a change a year can make! Shirley Temple goes from "toddler" clothes in the 1940 publicity shot at left to the cleanly tailored, young lady look of 1941. Vive' la Difference! I love the crispness of the outfit on the right and just wish we had a full-length view to see what the skirt is like.

Fifteen-year-old Shirley Temple sits on the diving board behind her home in 1943. Her cute play dress features a white collar and a slightly flared skirt, and note her "grown-up" shoes with peep toes. (Image courtesy of Rita Dubas and 20th Century-Fox.)

This is a page of 1946 Fall fashions from Woman's Day Magazine. Note the color samples the ladies are showing off. At this point, fashion still hasn't moved away from the fabric-conserving lines of WWII, but skirts are a bit longer, and you can see a move toward the emphasized hipline on the model at left.

Here is a late 1940s Simplicity pattern for a "wrap" dress. You can see how the style is starting to edge into the 1950s with the emphasis on wider hips with a fuller skirt.

Here are my glamorous grandparents, right in the middle of the "swing" era and all dressed up for a Hollywood party. My grandmother was a knock-out, wasn't she? Wish we could see her entire dress. She was known for her beautiful taste in fashion. The second photo shows my grandparents in 1947, shortly after my father was born.

These are my maternal grandparents, holding my mother (on the right) and her sister in the late 1940s. They were missionaries on the frontier in Brazil for 40 years, building the first school and first church. Amazing!

These are my grandparents, Reichardt and Elizabeth Taylor, on their wedding day in 1944. As was common with many young women in the 1930s and '40s, my grandmother wore a dressy suit for her wedding, including a matching hat with veil.

This mid-1940s dress pattern by Simplicity, features flattering day dresses. Note the details of the gathered shoulder seams and scallops on the dress on the left--and you've gotta love diagonal stripe matching as seen on the right!

A darling 1940s Simplicity pattern. The ruffled, casual look of the country girl--even down to the braids the model on the left is wearing! Note the yoke with gathers beneath -- this style repeats over and over again in the 1940s.