Original Early 1960s Patt-O-Rama Pattern No. 8145 - Sheath Dress

Original early 1960s Patt-O-Rama Pattern No. 8145 for a one-piece sheath dress designed for women's daytime wear. This crisp design features a shirt-style collar, an off-center front closing with three large buttons, short or three-quarter sleeves, and a slim skirt defined by a buckled self belt, with the option of a contrasting collar. A mail-order pattern issued without an envelope, as was usual for the format. Factory Folded and Unused.

Quick Facts

• Pattern Number: Patt-O-Rama No. 8145
• Year: While we have no confirmed date, the style points to the early 1960s.
• Garment: One-Piece Sheath Dress
• Size: 34 (36" Bust, 28" Waist, 38" Hip)
• Condition: Factory Folded, Mail-Order Pattern (No Envelope, as Issued)

Design

Patt-O-Rama Pattern 8145 is a tailored sheath with a clean, graphic line. A shirt-style collar, which may be cut in a contrasting fabric, tops a bodice that closes off-center with three one-inch buttons. The sleeves can be made short or three-quarter length, and the slim skirt is shaped to the figure with a buckled self belt at the waist. The skirt measures 31½ inches long including a 2-inch hem, and the dress closes with a 12-inch zipper. The pattern was offered in monotone or contrast versions, and suggested fabrics included cotton and Dacron, silk and acetate, linen, surah, flannel, wool, tie silk, and shantung.

A Moment in Fashion History

Mail-order patterns like this one reached home sewers through their newspapers, and they arrived without an envelope: the tissue pieces were wrapped in the instruction sheet, with the illustration printed on one folded panel. Patt-O-Rama set itself apart with a "sew-easy, ready-to-use" pattern that combined printed and perforated tissue with a photo-guide showing every piece in reduced size. Pattern 8145 shows how the slim, belted sheath of the early 1960s reached women well beyond the department-store pattern counter.

Illustration

The 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 Patt-O-Rama instruction sheet.

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.