Today’s Fit Patterns by Sandra Betzina—A Line for Older Women?

Vogue Patterns, March/April, 1999

In the Spring of 1999, Vogue Patterns launched a new line by well-known sewing expert, Sandra Betzina.  This wasn’t just a collection of new designs; instead, Betzina introduced a new sizing system that she called “Today’s Fit.”  “Today’s woman doesn’t have a 26-inch waist or wear restricting corsets that reshape her body to an hourglass figure,” Betzina says in the magazine article about her project. “Today’s woman likes a more relaxed fit. Comfort, good fit, and style are what she wants.” (Vogue Patterns, March/April 1999, 34)

Betzina goes on to say that she was inspired by a sizing study done at the University of Arizona by Ellen Goldsberry and Naomi Reich. The study revealed that ready-to-wear sizing did not fit the bodies of contemporary women. What Betzina does not mention is that Goldsberry and her partner were particularly concerned about the misfit between traditional sizes and the bodies of older women.  Goldsberry went on to publish many articles on the topic, with titles like “An Alternative Approach to Sizing Apparel for Women 55 and Older.” I wonder if Betzina’s specific aim was to fit older women like herself.

How do Today’s Fit patterns differ from Vogue’s standard measurements?  It’s hard to do a one-to-one comparison because Betzina’s line departs significantly from the norm. To make this clear, uses uses letters instead of the familiar numbers. 

You can see at a glance that there are different categories here than you find in standard patterns.  They are differentiated not simply by bust/waist/hip size, standard to all patterns.  She has also built in different cup sizes and heights.

The range of sizes is also different. Regular Vogue patterns start with size 6, a 30 ½ inch bust, and go up to size 22, a 44” bust.  Betzina’s start at a 32” bust and go up to 55”. The bust/waist/hip ratios are different as well.  A standard Vogue size 12 is closest to Betzina’s size B.  Today’s Fit has the same bust size, but a waist that is two inches larger, with a hip size half an inch larger.  Might I mention that one area where almost all older women gain weight is in their waist?

Nowhere are older women mentioned in the article introducing Betzina’s new sizing system, and I imagine many younger women rejoiced in the new proportions as well.  But reading through the article, I felt that many of her tweaks were specifically made for my age group: wider waists, easily altered backs, wider upper arms.  Her pants patterns are designed for larger bellies and flatter backsides.

I haven’t made many Betzina patterns, but I’m going to start with one of her pants. Her alterations in waist, front, and rear sound like just what I need.  There are lots to choose from–almost twenty years later, Today’s Fit is still going strong.

This entry was posted in 1990, 2000s, 2010s, General and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

7 Responses to Today’s Fit Patterns by Sandra Betzina—A Line for Older Women?

  1. JS says:

    Wow. I’d still have to make several changes to the pattern. I hope the designs are more inspiring than the vest pictured.

  2. eimear says:

    There was an article I came across that while measurements for a person could be averaged out, there was no person generally who would accurately fit the average. I used lament my small waist (now gone) as I never fitted store bought clothes. Looking at her chart it is more forgiving for the thickening waist-I must look up her trouser patterns to see her waist to hip measurements – best of luck with your make

  3. ceci says:

    I would be very interested in the outcome of your pants project!

    I have several of these patterns and generally have been pleased with the results.

    ceci

  4. Angela says:

    Today’s Fit sizing certainly does come much closer to my sizing than regular Vogue sizing. I’m not sure that even my thinnest teenage waist was quite as slim as their measurements! I simply do not like most of the Today’s Fit designs, so I have generally not paid much attention to them. I’ll give them another look and see if I can find some basic designs to try.

  5. Katrina B says:

    I have a couple of the Today’s Fit patterns but they have just never made it to the top of my to-sew list. Do let us know how the pants pattern works out. I am tired of making three different flat butt adjustments to every pattern!

  6. Susan says:

    It appears that many of us are waiting for your pants pattern review! One alteration important for any woman who needs to wear incontinence pads or panties is that they increase the girth (front waist to back waist) measurement. Unless the trousers have a flat felled seam (like jeans,) scooping out just an extra quarter inch from the crotch seam in back makes a remarkable difference in fit, and is a very easy alteration for “big bottoms” too. The alteration for a flatter-than-it used-to-be bottom does require unstitching the back waistband and pulling 1/4 to 5/8 inch up into the waistband (in a graded curve, of course. Try on, adjust, restitch waistband. If your pants’ side seam does not hang straight down at a 90 degree angle to the floor, try pinning out just 3/8 or 1/2 inch at the center back below the waist band. This little “tweak” can work wonders for pants that look sloppy or baggy.

  7. Wendelah says:

    The Today’s Fit patterns are all on sale!

Leave a Reply to ceci 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.