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E30-6983; 1932 Evening Dress

5-piece advanced pattern, design originally by McCall. This is an evening dress of ‘contemporary sophistication’ with what is cited in McCall Fashion Bi-Monthly, July-August 1932, as a ‘back dcolletage boldly cut out and intricately strapped’ and ‘out and out use of contrast’. The shoulder is widened extravagantly almost as a cap sleeve via extension cut of the waist (bodice).

The waist is cut on the bias and while the original design’s four-piece skirt was cut on the straight of grain, I have also offered a bias-cut version in the cutting guide.

SUGGETED FABRICS ARE: Piqu, chiffon, lace, heavy sheers, rough crpe, or silk organdy.

At the commencement of this year’s (2026) Couture Week, there has been a timely revival of detail about this design that has come my way!

Sarah Sheehan contacted me about the draft I created to generate this pattern when I did not win the bid for the original in 1998.

See Sarah Sheehan’s exciting mystery around this design, as published in her blog, Pattern Vault.

5/8″ seams are given.

Sizes:

Size set A fits 14-20 (32″ to 38″ bust, 26″ to 32″ waist, 35″ to 41″ hip).

Size set B fits 40-46 (40″ to 46″ bust, 34″ to 40″ waist, 43″ to 49″ hip).

PATTERN NOT IN YOUR SIZE? Upon request, I am happy to furnish an additional schematic showing where to adjust the pattern pieces with instructions on how to re-size the pattern.