The gray haired woman on the envelope is the first clue that this pattern was aimed at an older clientele. There are others, though. The size—a 42 inch bust and 45 inch hips—is another indication, since women generally gain weight as they age. The style lines also conform to standard advice to create a pleasing shape for an older woman. It has a frilly white collar to bring light up to the face, long sleeves and a jacket to cover aging arms, and long vertical lines on the skirt to give the illusion of slimness and height.
Despite all this, the illustrator could not move away depicting the gray haired woman with all the elements of the standard 1930s silhouette–broad shoulders, a small waist, and hardly any hips at all. I wonder if the woman who bought this had any illusions that she who look like the towering slim creatures depicted here.
