Vogue Couturier 516: 1950s Rare Designer Dress Size 36 B Vintage Sewing Pattern
Original 1950 Vogue Couturier Design Pattern No. 516 – One-Piece Dress
Original 1950 Vogue Couturier Design Pattern No. 516, issued in the larger 8½" × 11" envelope format Vogue reserved for select exclusive designer lines. This women's one-piece dress features a flared skirt with a deep forward-turning pleat at the side-front seams, joining the bodice at the waistline. Three-quarter-length kimono sleeves and a dramatic deep V-neckline are finished with a flared collar and revers. Complete Nice Used Condition.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: Vogue Couturier Design No. 516
- Year: 1950
- Garment: One-Piece Dress
- Size: 18 (36" Bust, 39" Hip)
- Condition: Complete Nice Used
- Envelope Format: Large (8½" × 11"), Designer/Exclusive Line
Design
Vogue 516 gives its full skirt real architectural interest with a deep forward-turning pleat set right at the side-front seams, joining a fitted bodice at the waistline for a dramatic, controlled fullness below. Three-quarter kimono sleeves keep the shoulder line soft, while a deep V-neckline opens into a flared collar and revers for a striking, wide-framed neckline. Suited to substantial fabrics with real body — faille crêpe, jacquard satin, taffeta, or wool crêpe — that can hold the pleat's sharp turn.
A Moment in Fashion History
1950 marked one of the most consequential years in twentieth-century fashion: Christian Dior's debut collection, built around a sharply tailored jacket and a voluminous, calf-length skirt, redefined the feminine silhouette almost overnight. The look — soon nicknamed the "New Look" — traded wartime austerity for a cinched wasp waist, soft rounded shoulders, and dramatic peplum detailing, epitomized by Dior's now-legendary Bar Suit. Vogue 516's own dramatic pleating and fitted waist reflect that same postwar shift toward structure, femininity, and quiet extravagance — and its issue in Vogue's larger, exclusive-line envelope underscores its status as a top-tier design of the moment.
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 Vogue pattern envelope.
