Description from Website:

For me, nothing epitomizes 1940s Hollywood quite like the concept of a little black (or purple, as the case may be) dress. Facing a need to conserve textiles and economize during WWII, women everywhere opted for simple lines and fabric-saving cuts that could easily transform from day to night with little more than a quick change of accessories. Linda Darnell’s dress is no exception. A pencil skirt, clean lines and a soft drape at the neck make this dress conservative, feminine and elegant for daytime while a beaded lace back panel lends the perfect touch of glamour for an evening sipping sidecars in a jazz club.

Finished Measurements

Bust: 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54)”/86.5 (96.5, 106.5, 117, 127, 137) cm
Waist: 24 (26, 30, 34, 38, 42)”/60 (65, 72.5, 85, 95, 105) cm
Hips: 33.5 (37.5, 40, 44.5, 50, 54)”/84 (94, 100, 111, 125, 135) cm
Length (Shoulder to Hem, measured flat): 35.5 (37.5, 38.5, 40, 42.5, 42.5)”/89 (94, 96, 100, 106, 106) cm

Construction notes:

This dress is worked flat in pieces and seamed. The skirt pieces are worked from hem to waist with shaping in the two side panels, which are then sewn to the waistband. The upper body is worked in 3 pieces from waist to shoulders. The pieces are seamed at sides and shoulders; then the upper body is sewn to the waistband. A zipper insertion creates the back closure. The optional lace back panel is knit separately from the upper edge to the lower edge. The panel is sewn into place along the right back and the upper left back, while the lower left back is held in place by hooks and eyes.

The garment is designed to look best with no ease or some negative ease. You should choose the size closest to your actual measurements, or choose the smaller size if you are right in between sizes. The waistband should be worked according to your actual waist measurement, skirt according to your hip measurement, and upper body according to your bust measurement to get the best overall fit.

Pattern includes schematics, charts and written instructions.

For more details, see the pattern page.