Thank you for everyone’s kind comments on my Vintage Vogue obsession - it is reassuring to know that I am not the only one! Brandy mentioned that the lucky owner of the
original Vogue 8875 used to generate the latest reproduction just posted a giveaway over on her blog.
And then there is Pattern Junkie’s post including the email address to contact Vogue with our own vintage patterns. I will re-post the information here: email an image of the pattern envelope to (mailbox [at] voguepatterns [dot] com) with 'Vintage Vogue Search' in the subject line. You can also mail a hard copy of the image to Vogue at Vintage Vogue Search, Vogue Patterns Magazine, 120 Broadway, New York , NY 10271. If the design is chosen, they will ask you to send the pattern to them. You will be credited on the envelope and get your original pattern back, plus 5 free Vogue patterns of your choice!
That is incentive enough for me! [Evidently designer patterns are excluded, but I am not
seeing any specific designer represented on any of these patterns, although they look absolutely yummy!]
I say we bombard Vogue with our finest vintage patterns. This weekend I plan on searching through my
stash. Unfortunately, I do not own any
of the beautiful specimens I have included here. But someone must!
Part of the problem, and one of the reasons I live for the reproduction patterns, is that cost often precludes me from
purchasing the insanely amazing patterns.
Rebecca brings up an
excellent point – why can’t Vogue purchase the patterns to add to
their vault? Hundreds of dollars for a single pattern is not workable for me, but I cannot imagine it would hurt Vogue's yearly budget. Or perhaps they could
re-release print versions of the catalogues that they have archived? How about an online archive - how fabulous would that be!?
I suppose that one excuse is that there is a limited
audience for the Vintage Vogue series.
But looking at some of the recent (and rather kooky) contemporary designer patterns,
I have a hard time believing that more than a handful of those particular
designs are actually sold, either.
And what about Butterick?
Both Vogue and Butterick are owned by the same corporation, correct? I say we send some of those as well.
Vintage pattern owners of the world, unite! Pass along the news, and let Vogue know how grateful we are for the Vintage Vogue line, and that we would appreciate more complex and beautiful designs!
[Click on image for source]
Oh, if only they would release their pattern catalogues!!! I would buy all of them!!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful patterns!!!
ReplyDeleteI would jump all over some of those beautiful (and more complex) patterns if they released them!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, all good ideas! You have reopened my eyes to these beautiful designs. I've always like Vogue patterns because they always seemed to have something special, something extra and I now realize how special they were way back when. I would LOVE re-releases.
ReplyDeleteLovely selection although some of them are not quite to modern eyes, yes I'm looking at that expansive arm hole in an otherwise lovely dress. I am a very big fan of draping and they tend to be the most expensive vintage patterns. I must say 9870 and 216 are both absolutely dreamy. And a double collar effect with the back point is most becoming, I love something interesting on the back of a dress! We are right and you know it Vogue, listen up.
ReplyDeleteI'd love for some 30's stuff, suits or evening gowns and maybe a blouse pattern. a lot of re released patterns seem to be 1950's or 40's at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI'd love it if Vogue re-issued any of those amazing dresses. I think it's great they let their costumers nominate which patterns to re-produce but I'm really puzzled by the notion that Vogue itself apperently no longer owns these patterns... I would expect them to have amazing archives, holding some kind of master print of each and every pattern they ever produced, wouldn't you?
ReplyDeleteNow that I've mentioned it, I'd love to see THAT...
I saw Peter (MPB) last night and we were talking about this very thing - that Vogue does not have copies of all it's patterns and is reliant on people lending them vintage patterns, which they then modernize the fit/measurements of and re-release. It seems so bizarre, but maybe knowing that, those who love and collect vintage patterns can have some influence over this. (Um, I nominate you. LOL)
ReplyDeleteSuch pretty eye candy! We must start a petition to get Vogue to release these again! I wish Vogue would allows sewists to vote on which designs they'd like to see republished. :]
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful idea! I know that Simplicity did a customer vote for a Cynthia Rowley pattern a few seasons ago. That would also guarantee interest in the pattern, if that is what is keeping them from releasing certain designs.
DeleteWhat do you mean by "hundreds of dollars"? Hopefully not the price you have to pay for a real vintage pattern?!
ReplyDelete"..why can’t Vogue purchase the patterns to add to their vault? Hundreds of dollars for a single pattern is not workable for me, but I cannot imagine it would hurt Vogue's yearly budget."
And very strange that the current Vogue company does not have the old patterns?!
You can certainly find plenty of vintage patterns for less than $10 or $20. However, the really special ones end up going for crazy amounts of money - and those are the ones I would love to see reproduced. One of the reasons they go for so much money is that (besides the incredible design factor) there are only one of two copies to be had. And all the more reason to save them for posterity!
DeleteI also agree that it is very strange that Vogue did not keep copies - I think that was a huge mistake. Maybe some tragedy occured and everything was lost. Because why on earth would you throw out your archives!!?
So very, very gorgeous one and all. I remember years ago when one would see vintage Vogue patterns listed for the same price, or only a touch more, than most other patterns, but now rarely spot them below $50. I recently saw one listed on etsy for something like $480 and quite honestly did a double take. New record for the highest price I've seen any sewing pattern listed for, but I suspect by no means the highest we'll see as the years roll on.
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
Part of what may be holding back the people with these gorgeous patterns from submitting them is that once it does get reproduced, the value of their very expensive original goes down dramatically. If you did pay $100 for an original, and the average person can buy a repro for $4 whenever Vogue has an online sale, you might not be too pleased. That, including the fact that you get 5 of these $4 patterns as your "reward". That is a bit of a self-centred way of thinking, but it certainly could be a reason why there aren't more of these great patterns being reproduced.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I have a few very nice Buttericks and Vogues I'm going to try to submit now that I know it is possible! We'll see how that goes.
I have 687 and I have 9870 and would happily submit them but I don't think either of them in good enough shape (although I thought I saw a 687 on etsy last week which might be in better shape). 9870 is in better shape - the envelope is tatty but the pattern may not have been used. I think you mentioned S-4158 in a previous post - I have that too and it doesn't look like it's been used, and neither does S 4736 or S 4946, which are also rather cool. Can't work out how to post images - sorry -but at least 2 of them will come up on the pattern wiki if you search.
ReplyDeleteI am not bothered about the potential fall in value of the one I hold if it's released because I don't collect for the value and I find that it's more exciting knowing that you have an original of one that is showing its quality by being re-released.
So i'm off to send in pictures of my patterns and if any of them get chosen I'll be delighted!
Auntie Prawn
The Vintage Vogue pattern is, I would have thought, a growing market. Everything retro is very much in vogue at the moment with vintage and retro markets and shops popping up all over the place. I don't understand why Vogue are not monitoring the internet as many patterns are changing hands for crazy money, yet if they reissued multi-sized versions of original patterns they could be making the cash! I tried to buy Vogue 2396, the "Audrey Hepburn" pattern, but it changes hands for a very high price. Another pattern I hunted for was Vogue 1573 DKNY, a perfect Tea Dress pattern, but no luck! I am amazed that the company has not been cashing in on the Great Gatsby by releasing 1920 & 1930s style dresses, suits, playsuits etc. Some how, someone at Vogue, has lost touch with the home sewer of today. Excuse the the oxymoron but vintage/retro patterns are the way forward!
ReplyDelete