Jazz Era Evening Dress - Style 2488

One of my pre-blog makes:

Style 2488 (OOP)

I already wrote about my love of early 1900-era fashion as seen in productions like House of Elliot and Wings of the Dove, particularly the draped and luxurious fashions from 1917 to 1920. In 1994, I was lucky to find this pattern produced by Style patterns*. With a skirt shape that is broad and gathered at the hip and narrow at the hem it is almost a perfect match, the only difference is the higher waist.

  

1917 to 1919 fashion images

I made this dress from bronze velour and it became my go-to frock for company holiday parties. Worn with my chocolate brown ankle strap suede heels, a topaz and gold jewelry set, and topped with my chocolate brown Issey Miyake coat, it was the complete package!

The Style pattern is also closely related to the Folkwear Edwardian Afternoon Tea Dress #265 pattern. Here are its front and back views which are almost the same as Style 2488 except that their drape is lower on the body and is instead attached at the empire waist on mine.


Unfortunately, when trying on the dress for these pictures I realized the back vent was torn at the bottom and I could barely take a step in it. I'm sure it was difficult to walk in before (see ripped vent) but I also think that my hips being 5.5 inches larger has a lot to do with it. I am amazed that I could even get it on since I made the dress in size 10 in the 1990s and now according to the pattern measurements would have to make it in a size 16. That's a difference of three sizes, I must have been swimming in this!

I wish I could get a full-length picture but my photos are limited by the size of my photography studio, aka bedroom and how far away I can get the tripod and still see the backdrop unhindered.


* Style patterns, a division of the Simplicity Pattern Company that went out of business in the late 1990s.

Illustrations: Good Housekeeping issues from 1917-19