Hollywood Starlet 1650: 1930s Misses Bette Davis Suit 36B Vintage Sewing Pattern
Original circa 1938 Hollywood Pattern No. 1650 - Two-Piece Suit
Original circa 1938 Hollywood Pattern No. 1650, part of Hollywood's "Pattern of Youth" line, for a misses' two-piece suit, with Warner Bros. star Bette Davis featured in the inset photograph on the envelope. Offered in three views, the short fitted jacket buttons to the neck with an optional collar and pockets set at the shaped seam, while darted sleeves can be made long or short. The flared skirt is cut in seven gores for graceful movement. Complete and in Nice Condition.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: Hollywood No. 1650
- Year: Circa 1938
- Garment: Misses' Two-Piece Suit
- Size: 18 (36" Bust, 39" Hip)
- Pattern Condition: Complete Nice Condition
Design
Fourteen pattern pieces build this short, fitted suit. The jacket buttons to the neck, with an optional collar for a softer finish, and pockets set neatly into the shaped seam keep the line clean through the hip. Darted sleeves can be made long or short, and the skirt is cut in seven gores, giving it a graceful flare while remaining slim through the waist and hip. View 1 shows the jacket in a herringbone weave with patch breast pockets; View 2 keeps the same silhouette in a solid color with a rounded collar; View 3 offers a softer take with a ruffled neckline in polka dot.
A Moment in Fashion History
The late 1930s tailored suit balanced structure with a softening influence at the neck and shoulder, and Hollywood 1650's shaped seams and optional collar reflect that gentler approach to daytime tailoring. The envelope features Bette Davis, a Warner Bros. contract star who, in this same year of 1938, won her second Academy Award for Best Actress for Jezebel - a role that marked a turning point toward the string of prestige pictures that would define the most celebrated decade of her career.
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 Hollywood pattern envelope.
Connections
This pattern is part of our ongoing exhibit, Hollywood Glamour - celebrating the golden-age film stars who shaped Hollywood Patterns' vision of glamour through the Depression and WWII years. Come take a look.
