Searching for Koko Beall

Vogue Patterns, September/October 1981

Vogue Patterns, September/October 1981

Some of my very favorite sewing patterns are by Koko Beall from the Very Easy Vogue series. Recently I came across a short feature about her in an 1981 issue of Vogue Pattern Book that peaked my curiosity. Here’s what I learned there and from a 1987 obituary for her husband, Joseph Beall.

I was at first surprised to learn that she was Japanese, although looking at her patterns I might have suspected it. Born in Tokyo as Koko Usui, she studied at the renowned Sugino Fashion College. She came to work at Vogue Patterns in 1961 and was the guiding force behind the new pattern series that started in 1969. “In great part, it is she you have to thank for bringing the sewing ease and fashion expertise of VERY EASY VOGUE into your life,” the unnamed author states. “Koko’s determination to put the Vogue couture reputation behind a new category of patterns that would attract and not frighten the beginning sewer, and, at the same time interest and stimulate the seasoned sewer, resulted in the birth of VERY EASY VOGUE.”(26) She left the company briefly in 1979 but then returned in 1981 as Design Director.

Beall prided herself on the fact that Very Easy Vogue patterns were original designs, not simplified versions of more complicated ones. Many well known designers contributed to the line, including Calvin Klein and Diane von Furstenberg. As far as I can tell, she began to issue patterns under her own name in the 1980s. It is the only instance I know of where an employee of Vogue Patterns got her name on the envelop.

When you search for Koko Beall on line, you find links to her patterns but no information about her life. I still have many questions. Just for starters, I did like to know when she was born, why she came to the US, and whether or not she is still alive. If you have answers, please let me know!

This entry was posted in 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990 and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

5 Responses to Searching for Koko Beall

  1. M-C says:

    Thank you! I’ve been a fan of Koko for a long while, and this is much more info about her than I ever found :-). What an interesting woman, and what talent..

  2. I don’t remember her, but certainly sewed patterns from that line in the 70s and 80s. Maybe some of the folks at McCall patterns company (which now owns Vogue patterns) could help you out. There are people there who have worked for the company a long time.

  3. Robyn says:

    I remember Koko’s patterns fondly. There was a minimal esthetic to them that made them just right.

  4. Victoria Beall says:

    This article was sent to me and what a thrill. Koko is my mother and I’m sure she’s going to be amazed that she is still thought of today. Thank you for the article.

    • Suzanne says:

      I don’t know if you will see this, Victoria, but I am an American, and I have lived in Japan for over 20 years. I have been acquiring KokoBeall patterns for their lovely smooth designs and wondered if she did her own artwork. I too began searching to find more about her on the internet and found this amazing blog post! I’m sorry I missed meeting her and wish I could have written a book about her, myself. Yours truly, Suzanne in Kugenuma.

Leave a Reply to Jet Set Sewing Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.