Hollywood Starlet 1970: 1940s Misses Street Dress Sz 30 B Vintage Sewing Pattern
Original Circa 1940 Hollywood Pattern No. 1970 – One-Piece Dress with Bias-Cut Skirt
Original circa 1940 Hollywood Pattern No. 1970 for a misses' one-piece dress, featuring the studio starlet Nan Grey of Universal Pictures on the envelope front. This shirtwaist-style dress has a double-breasted closing below a pointed collar, fullness released below a shoulder yoke front and back, and a bias-cut two-piece skirt with unpressed front pleats and back gathers. Complete, Nice Condition.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: Hollywood No. 1970
- Year: Circa 1940
- Garment: Misses' One-Piece Dress
- Size: 12 (30" Bust, 33" Hip)
- Pattern Condition: Complete, Nice Condition
- Envelope and Original Instructions in Good Condition
Design
Hollywood Pattern 1970 is a one-piece shirtwaist dress, its skirt joined to the blouse by a waistline band in back and seamed under a half belt in front. Fullness is released below a shoulder yoke at both front and back, and a double-breasted closing sits below a pointed collar. The two-piece skirt is cut on the bias, with unpressed pleats in front and gathers in back, and two sleeve-length views are included, allowing the dress to be made in a solid color or the charming polka-dot version shown on the envelope.
A Moment in Fashion History
By 1940, Hollywood Pattern Company regularly featured up-and-coming studio talent on its envelopes to catch the eye of home sewers looking to emulate the stars. This envelope spotlights Nan Grey, a Universal Pictures contract player known for her work opposite Deanna Durbin in Three Smart Girls Grow Up and for horror titles like Dracula's Daughter and The Invisible Man Returns. Her fresh, girl-next-door image made her a fitting face for an easy, versatile daytime dress pattern like this one, reflecting the era's practical yet flattering approach to everyday fashion.
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, Women of WWII — a growing collection celebrating the resourcefulness and everyday style of wartime home sewing. It's also part of our 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 at either.
