Advance 9553: 1960s Chic Misses Slender Dress Sz 39 B Vintage Sewing Pattern
Advance Pattern No. 9553 - One-Piece Dress, Late 1950s-Early 1960s
Advance Pattern No. 9553, a half-size one-piece dress dating to the late 1950s or early 1960s, featuring The Bishop Method of clothing construction. A notched collar and single-breasted button front top a belted, slim silhouette, made up with below-elbow sleeves or a shorter set-in sleeve. Complete Nice Condition.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: Advance No. 9553
- Year: While we have no confirmed date, the style points to the late 1950s to early 1960s.
- Garment: One-Piece Dress
- Size: Half Size 18 1/2 (39" Bust, 33" Waist, 43" Hip)
- Condition: Complete Nice Condition
- Envelope and Instructions: Good Condition
Design
This 13-piece pattern builds a trim, belted shirtdress silhouette proportioned specifically for the half-size figure. A notched collar and single-breasted button front give both views a crisp, tailored line, while a fitted waist with belt defines the shape above a slim skirt. View 1 is made with below-elbow sleeves for a slightly dressier finish; View 2 shortens the sleeve for a more everyday, warm-weather version of the same dress. The pattern is built using The Bishop Method of clothing construction, Advance's own system emphasizing grain accuracy and precise, professional-quality results developed by educator Edna Bryte Bishop.
A Moment in Fashion History
Advance built its reputation in this period on genuinely more advanced pattern instructions, incorporating garment-industry techniques through its association with Edna Bryte Bishop's teaching method - a real point of pride the company printed directly on the envelope. This half-size dress, with its crisp collar and belted, slimming silhouette, reflects how seriously pattern companies of the era were courting the fuller-figured customer with the same tailored polish offered in misses' sizing.
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 Advance 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.
