I never realized I love coats so much until I started looking at Vogue patterns on eBay. It seems like every other pattern that appeals to me is either just a coat or a coat and dress or a coat and skirt or a jacket/coat that can be made in various lengths. One of the first ones I found was this one:
One of my first eBay purchases - a vintage Vogue pattern from 1957
It was a “buy it now” offer rather than an auction – and I thought long and hard before I decided to go for it. For one thing, there was only a front view of the pattern envelope, so I couldn’t tell what the back of the coat looked like. When the pattern arrived, I was so excited – the back view of the long version has a high belt, which I think is such a great detail. The swing of the coat looks lovely, too! In fact, coats like these were called “swing” coats back in the 50’s. They were also called “clutch coats” as the front fastenings were minimal or nonexistent, so you had to “clutch” them closed with your hand.
This pattern is copyrighted 1957. The description on the back of the envelope says “Flared back coat in regulation and shorter length. High front and back belt, optional. Tapering kimono sleeves may be worn pushed up.” (OH, YES!!! Don’t you love this? All the better to show off classy bangles and gold cuffs!) I love the term “regulation length” although I have yet to find a reference to exactly what that means.
I immediately knew I would make this coat in its long version, but not sure what type of fabric I wanted to use. That would take a few more weeks of deliberation. More on this and other coat patterns that I love in a future post.
fiftydresses 
I remeber when coat dresses were all the rage-a dress that looked like a coat. How odd.
I have actually purchased a couple of “coat-dress” vintage patterns, so I may yet make one!
Please lend that pattern to Vogue so that they can reproduce it.
Hi Karen, I recently started reading your blog – and Thank You! I’m loving it! – but I wondered if you ever got your answer to the meaning of the “regulation lenght” reference on the coat pattern. I think it might be related to Regulation L-85 that was a government regulation during wartime that set out to regulate use of fabrics and specified garment lengths, etc. Here’s a link you might be interested in . . .
“Regulation L-85, issued by the War Production Board in 1942, rationed natural fibers and forbade drastic style changes that might tempt buyers.”
https://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/printable/section.asp?id=9&sub=3
Hope that helps! Now, I’m going back to enjoying your blog! Love it!
So delighted to know you are enjoying my blog! One of my readers had mentioned Regulation L-85 to me. It seems like a long period of time after the war to still be using that term, but it’s certainly possible. Another reader mentioned that regulation means “standard”. The long and the short of it is that I still really do not know what it means or why it is included in descriptions on pattern envelopes!