Original 1962 McCall's Pattern No. 6217 - Misses' Long or Short Dress

Original 1962 McCall's Pattern No. 6217 for a misses' long or short dress designed for women's evening and party wear. This romantic design features a dart-fitted, camisole-type bodice and a four-gore flared and gathered skirt, made up as a floor-length gown with a separate flounced underskirt or as a full-skirted short dress. Optional shoulder straps, with a boned bodice when they are left off. Factory Folded and Unused; the envelope has a small stain in the upper left corner.

Quick Facts

• Pattern Number: McCall's No. 6217
• Year: 1962
• Garment: Misses' Long or Short Dress
• Size: 12 (32" Bust, 25" Waist, 34" Hip)
• Condition: Factory Folded, Small Stain in Upper Left Corner of Envelope

Design

McCall's Pattern 6217 builds two very different dresses from one fitted bodice. The camisole-type bodice is dart fitted and faced, finished with contrasting bias binding, and joined to the skirt with corded piping in the waistline seam. Shoulder straps are optional; when they are omitted, the bodice is boned with featherboning stays for a strapless look. View A is a floor-length gown: an organdy-lined, four-gore flared and gathered skirt sits over a separate four-gore underskirt carrying a gathered flounce of dress fabric, with horsehair braid at the lower edges to hold the tiers out in a soft, full sweep. View B is a short dress with the same full skirt, cut crosswise. Both close with a center-back zipper, and the skirt measures about 152 inches around the hem in size 12.

A Moment in Fashion History

By 1962 the slim sheath had become the defining daytime silhouette, but the full-skirted dress still held its place for dances, parties, and formal evenings. McCall's Pattern 6217 shows that overlap clearly: a fitted, structured bodice in the 1950s tradition, paired with youthful styling that points ahead, from the camisole straps to the illustration's bouffant hair and headband. The envelope notes that the design was featured in McCall's Magazine, a reminder of how closely pattern companies tied their designs to the fashion pages, and its Easy-Rule banner promoted McCall's printed guides for an easier, more accurate fit.

Illustration

The cover illustration has been digitally restored and enhanced by Judy Yates to highlight the original fashion artwork while preserving the character and artistry of this historic McCall's pattern envelope.

Connections

This pattern is part of our ongoing exhibit, Pillbox and Polish - a growing collection tracing the bridge between 1950s structure and 1960s youth culture. Come take a look.