Winter McCalls

If I had to choose my least favorite of the Big4 pattern companies, it would be McCalls.  I consistently love Vogue, Butterick keep releasing those wonderful vintage reproduction patterns, and Simplicity has been having a lot of good design moments as of late.  But this time around, I like quite a few of the new designs from McCalls.  Go figure.  Just what I need, more new patterns to entice me!  The pattern hoarding situation is getting a bit out of control around here.

Of course, it is no surprise that I am drawn to the one new vintage reproduction from The Archive Collection.  On the whole, I haven't been as excited about this category as the Vintage Vogues, but there is some good stuff happening here.  Look past the weird rhinestone necklace . . .

And please avert your eyes from this styling madness.  Not sure what is happening here, but we have 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s stuff added, and it took me a moment to sort out which decade is actually being represented.  I hate the poly organza used for the cropped jacket, but I do love those sleeves!  My Cherries Jubilee dress has a version of this lantern sleeve, and it is somewhat unexpected in todays boring sleeve world, so hooray for that!

I also love this formal gown.  The princess seams and Dior darts are great paired with that off the shoulder silhouette.  Do I need another formal dress pattern . . . no, but having a bit of inspiration is never a bad thing.

And while the panne velvet is not my favorite, I do love a good capelet!  Something is off with the neckline and caplet proportions, but there are possibilities here.

If I look past the fabric sample, I also see possibilities with this top.  I think the tie bodice with the longer sleeves is adorable.  My issues with these tops is always what to wear on the bottom.  They look great with a pair of jeans, but I don't own any.  I could always tuck it into a high waisted skirt, but that changes the look.  Maybe I could make a dress out of it?

I am also very drawn to this shawl collared robe.  There is definitely a bit of 1940s vibe happening here.  Of course, I don't need a robe . . .

A great shirtdress is always nice, and kudos for the effort to try something "new."  But the asymmetry just doesn't quite work for me.  I think it would end up looking like the garment was twisted while worn, instead of purposefully off kilter.  And the ruching sort of makes the skirt look too tight, even on the technical drawing - on my hips, that would go terribly wrong.

And for a bit of fantasy, here is another pattern that I do not need, but would definitely love to swan about in the completed dress.  But I have a drawer full of costume patterns that are probably close to twenty years old, and most of them have never been used.  I do love that neckline, though!

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