Mrs. Exeter, Vogue’s fictional role model for the older woman, lived longer in the sewing world than in the fashion world. She made her last Vogue appearance in the May 1, 1962 issue, but she continued to offer advice for home sewers for at least a few months longer. In two small Vogue Patterns brochures I found, a very young looking woman presented appropriate styles for the older set. In the patterns above, offered in sizes 12-42 (bust sizes 32-44), “Mrs. Exeter creates her island of calm fresh air with sleek designs in non-wilt fabric.”
Mrs. Exeter appeared again to sell fall fashions. In this August 1, 1962 brochure, the older and wider woman is reassured: “Easy-to-make need not mean undistinguished. Proof, here, in these three planned for larger sizes, but with enough chic to please the size 12’s, too.”
Not all patterns with larger size ranges were directed to Mrs. Exeter. The May 1, 1962 brochure announced two new basic patterns offered in a very wide range of sizes. Apparently, the company did not want to single out older women as the primary market for these styles.
How much longer did Mrs. Exeter live on to inspire older women to sew? One of these days I hope to head to the Vogue Pattern archive, now housed at McCall’s Patterns, to find out.
there was a bbc program, clothes that count (but can only be viewed by proxy outside uk), I have watched some of the archives, and they did an interesting one where 3 different aged ladies had the same pattern made up in differently styled outfits (they also did one which one lady said now that she was married she no longer could wear an above the knee skirt!) . hope you get to delve into that vogue/mc call archive soon, sounds so interesting
Oh yes I saw that programme – it was the Anne Ladbury one from the 60s I think. I really like the Yours Truly pattern – very versatile.