I have a small collection of Burda magazines from the late 70’s and early 80’s. These were bought new back then by my mother for her own use and I have them now for safe-keeping. I loved looking through these magazines, and still do! These were absolutely fascinating to my younger self, and part of the inspiration behind my decision to sew for myself. Along with, naturally, my mother herself; hugely influential to my creative self. A very inspiring lady who was always either spinning, weaving, dyeing, knitting, sewing, or all of the above; magnificent creations for her own wardrobe. And still does today!
Something that interests me now is that the very garments that I loved the most back then are still my same favourites today. What does that say about me? That my tastes have not changed much? I would like to think I am so happily consistent and not all over the place like a dog’s dinner which is how I sometimes feel sums up my tastes… Looking closely at my chosen favourites I can see I’m attracted to a simplicity of line, an absence of clutter in the silhouette, and a certain… something else. I guess what that nebulous “something” is; is my “style” that I am still trying to define today. I did notice that something made up in neutral colours and particularly in white, always attracts my attention, and is almost guaranteed to be one of my long-term “favourites”; LOL! That predilection has not changed!
Back then, the patterns came in one size, or two if you were lucky. The patterns did not come in all sizes, nested together like they do today. So, say one might see a dress that one simply had to have. Looking at the small print, one would then either be transported with joy to discover that it was indeed blessedly in one’s own size, or at least close enough to enable one to fudge-fit it to oneself; oh happy day! One the other hand, one might be plunged into doom to see that the one dress you loved the most was only available five sizes too big. Darn!
Another thing; the pattern sheets themselves. You think today’s Burdastyle patterns are difficult to trace? Take a look at this!
That is a pattern sheet from the May, 1977 issue. Compared to Burdastyle magazine today. 05/2010, to be more accurate…
I’ve put my tape measure in there for an idea of scale….
I think we’ve got it easy today, girls!
Just for fun, here are some of those 70’s styles. I would welcome these two garments happily into my wardrobe.
Finally, I have decided to go ahead with putting out here my wardrobe addition costs, as outlined here. So, completing my summary for January… I think doing a monthly overview will be better than giving a cost each time… a better distribution 🙂
My Darling Clementine top
Fabric $34.60 (includes a portion of the shipping cost)
Pattern; Vogue 1247, first time used $7.00
Thread; $3.20
Total cost: $44.80
A Sludgy Little Skirt
Fabric; all leftovers
Pattern; Vogue 1247 used before
Zip; $1.00
Dye; $7.77 (bought during Spotlight’s 40% off sale)
Total cost: $8.77
