“Very up and coming” for the Fall of 1962, according to Vogue Pattern Magazine, was “the striking medium between a straight line and a bold curve – the gentle convex ‘barrel’ shaping of this coat:”
It is from this time period – perhaps a year or two later – that this Designer Pattern comes:
I don’t know many of us who want to look like they are in a barrel, so it was my intention to take the best parts of the design of the evening jacket and then adapt it to a more current look, or at least to one that did not scream 1963/64
The details I loved about it were: 1) the shaped, two-part collar, which doesn’t really look like a collar, rather as an extension of the body of the jacket, but with more definition to it:
2) the dipped back hem of the jacket:
I purchased the yellow silk taffeta from Britex Fabrics, while the dress fabric, also silk, is from Mendel Goldberg.
3) the below-elbow length, kimono sleeves with their clever built-in gusset, and 4) the prominent, offset buttons:
The top buttonhole is a slot-seam one, while the other two are bound buttonholes.
Less attractive to me was the fullness of the body of the jacket.
My muslin (toile) showed me that I needed to eliminate quite a bit of that fullness from the pattern pieces. I took 2 inches right out of the back of the jacket, making for much less to be gathered into the collar:
Even with two inches removed from the center back seam, there is still enough to gather nicely into the collar.
I also took a large wedge out of the each side of the back:
The dark blue line on the left is my re-drawn seam line. The original seam line is marked in red.
Then to add a little more shaping, I re-drew the side seams in the side underarm sections:
Again, the blue line on the left is my re-drawn seam line.
Because the buttons are such a prominent feature of the jacket, I knew I had to find the right ones. The pattern called for them to be 1¼” in diameter. That is a big button! I also knew they had to be a bit fancy or elegant, and I envisioned mother-of-pearl as the ideal composition. It took a while, but I found these buttons on eBay, and they looked just about perfect to me: right size, beautifully carved mother-of- pearl with a swirl design which I thought would add just the right contrast to the silk taffeta of the jacket. As it turned out, they were also the right price (always a welcome surprise!), and more beautiful when they arrived than I had anticipated:
These buttons have a substantial heft to them, making them well suited for their application on this jacket.
After getting the body of the jacket together, I tried it on to look at the length of it. Fortunately I had cut my pattern with about an extra half-inch in the length, and I used it, plus another ¼ of an inch, as it just looked better a little longer.
Another plus to lengthening the jacket is that the sleeve length lined up more attractively, something I didn’t realize until I saw these photos.
I did my usual flat applied piping along the edge of the lining:
Here is the piping sewn in place.
The green piping picks up the green in the dress. I opted for an off-white lining, which is a little boring but that’s okay.
And I added the label I had:
A few wrinkles left over from the jacket’s first wearing!
I have to say, I really love this evening jacket. I have decided it is going to have another life – with another dress, this one constructed with the double, slanted flounce on it (see pattern above). It would look fairly fabulous with a black and goldenrod printed silk – or navy, white and goldenrod printed silk… I’ll be on the search.
fiftydresses 
Your jacket is absolutely stunning!
Thank you, Jackie! That is so nice to hear!
Wonderful adaptation of the pattern. I’m with you that removing all that extra ease was a good move.
Thanks, Mary. I was so impressed with the engineering in this pattern and very glad I was able to keep the essence of it while removing some of that barrel look.
The petal-shaped lines of this jacket make it as pretty as a May flower, but that flower had fallen in the rain barrel, and you saved it. Marvelous.
You’re right – it does have petal-shaped lines! I hadn’t thought of that. With all the rain we have had this month, I’m lucky this didn’t end up soggy, too!
I’ve been waiting to see this jacket. Absolutely lovely. Wish I could see it in person. You have styled it for NOW, yet you still preserved the period flavor. So impressed with your talents.
Thank you, Margene. I so enjoyed this project – and this pattern. So glad I got it finished in time to wear it to one of my events!
The whole outfit looks stunning. The alterations to the jacket are very clever. What a good eye you have to make such a coherent look. Wonderful.
Thank you, Carole! It’s so rewarding to work with a great pattern and beautiful fabrics.
I WANT this jacket. Actually, I’ll take the entire outfit. This is just beautiful on you. I love the color of the jacket, the style, and the changes you made. You never fail to amaze me with one stunning outfit after another. Can’t wait to see what’s next!
That is high praise coming from you, Cissie! Thank you! I love making these dressy outfits – just wish I had more occasions on which to wear them.
I just LOVE to see your blog on my mail! It’s so much fun to see what remarkably beautiful, flattering and stylish ensemble you have made and put together(I love the green purse!) I love reading how you think it through and then successfuly accomplish what you were thinking! I’d have a nervous breakdown before my little Ginghers would snip one piece of the beautiful fabrics you use! Cheers!
Thank you, Mary Lynn! You know that saying, “Measure twice and cut once” – well, I “measure” and check and recheck many, many times before I do any cutting. It’s kind of nerve-wracking!
Beautiful. The sewing, the outfit and you!
Thank you for such a lovely compliment!
That colour is fabulous! Funny how we can see a pattern we sort or like and then just say I’ll just change this just a bit! Your changes are perfect!