Burda is a famous name in the sewing world. For over seventy-five years, the company has published a monthly fashion magazine with sewing patterns included. It was begun by Aenna Burda, wife of a German publishing magnate, in 1950. By the mid sixties it had a subscription base of over a million. During the Gorbachev reforms, it was translated in Russian and published in the Soviet Union, the first Western fashion magazine to achieve such a status. In 1995, the first Chinese edition was launched. Now it is distributed all around the world and published in seventeen different languages. These days Burda Style also has an active on line presence.
A German friend brought me two old Burda Moden (Burda Fashions) from her mother’s extensive collection. They are a fascinating read. While today’s Burda Style deals almost exclusively with clothes, in 1978 it was more of a typical women’s magazine. It opened with a letter from Aenne Burda on edifying topics—in my two issues they are on the wisdom of ancient philosophers and the dangers of alcohol. Alongside dress patterns are recipes, kitchen designs, and even an exclusive Burda diet.
And what about older women? Although age is never mentioned, there is a section called “In a feminine Style,” (“Im fraulichen Stil”), a phrase could be decoded as a synonym for “old.” These included larger sizes. The pattern for the dress above came in a European size 50 (46” bust, 38” waist, 48” hip) and a size 21 (36” bust, 29” waist, 39” hip) designed for shorter women.
I love to look through Burda Style, but I don’t often use the patterns because you have to trace them yourself. Today’s Burda users often complain about the complicated pattern sheets, but they are much simpler now than they were in 1978. The little heart diagram aside, doesn’t this look like a plan an explosive device?
I have used them since the early 1980s. It takes no longer to trace a pattern than to download and stick together a PDF pattern printed at home. Their sizing is consistent – once you know a size 44 works for you but you will have to add an inch to the hem, for instance, it will be the same for all models.
Plus I Ike having a pile of the magazines, knowing I will be able to find within it a suitable pattern for my latest sewing idea.
I love them, for the same reasons as Cherry. No vanity sizing here, a German size 42 will be a German size 42 for all time. I often look over my older copies (and scored an opshop find of some earlier ones recently, very excited as this is uncommon).
But lately I’ve found a new entertainment from them. I like to see how long ago Burda had a pattern for the latest indie hot pattern take. It’s usually at least 5 years, and up to 8. But consistently sized and better drafted.
in 1967, a co-worker introduced me to Burda Moden and Neue Mode, in German only, with only 2 sizes given for most of the styles. I traced off a simple dress and made it up. Now I subscribe to the English edition, but I miss the older German issues from the 60s and 70s for the detailed styles. Aenne Burda was rather bossy in her pronouncements, I thought.