Original circa 1938 Superior Pattern No. 9704 - Evening Gown

Original circa 1938 Superior Pattern No. 9704 for an evening gown designed for women's formal and dinner wear, sold through Sears, Roebuck and Co. This late-1930s design features a softly draped surplice wrap bodice whose over-front continues into a girdle that ties in a bow at the back, high puffed sleeves, and a flowing bias-cut skirt in a floor length or a shorter length. Factory Folded and Unused.

Quick Facts

• Pattern Number: Superior No. 9704
• Year: Circa 1938
• Garment: Evening Gown in Two Lengths
• Size: 18 (36" Bust, 30" Waist, 39" Hip)
• Condition: Factory Folded; Original Instructions Show a Minor Repair

Design

Superior Pattern 9704 is built around its bodice. The over-front and girdle are cut as a single piece, so the drape sweeps across the bust, wraps the waist, and ties in a soft bow at the back. High puffed sleeves frame the shoulders, small buttons close the back neckline, and a 12-inch slide fastener gives a smooth fit. Both the skirt and the sleeves are cut on the bias, and the skirt falls from whole front and back pieces into a generous sweep, measuring 4¾ yards around the hem of the floor-length version in this size. A shorter length is also included. The envelope suggests velvet, taffeta, satin, silk crepe, heavy sheer silks, linen-like cottons, or mousseline de soie.

A Moment in Fashion History

By the late 1930s, the bias cut that had defined evening wear earlier in the decade was meeting a new emphasis on the shoulder. Fluid, bias-cut skirts still clung and swirled, while sleeves rose higher and fuller at the crown, giving gowns a more structured, romantic upper body. Superior patterns were sold through Sears, Roebuck and Co., and this envelope invites the home sewer to shop at Sears for fabrics and patterns alike. A woman could choose her pattern, velvet, and notions in a single trip, bringing a fashionable evening gown within reach of an everyday budget.

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 Superior pattern envelope.