Hint for Tomorrow's Release!

I have three interpretations of what "casual" means. The first is "business casual," where I could wear my finished make to the office. I've got a Scout dress with the 3/4 sleeves that I've placed in heavy rotation for workwear, and I've also planned the Lucille Trousers, the Ingrid skirt, the Marlene Blouse, the Final Exam Blazer, and a simple version of the Patsy Blouse to wear to work. Weekend casual would be one step down. Something I might wear out to the fabric shop, or the garden shop, or the bookstore. Jeans and a knit top, or a button down shirt. I would pick, maybe, the Cobbler dress, or the Marilyn jeans with the Barbie top or the Joan top. Things that are either too tight/sexy to wear to work, or just not elevated enough for company culture. Many of the patterns I've seen for house dresses in the 40s and 50s are elevated enough that I would wear them to work. The third tier of casual wear would be active wear, and I pick the sweatshirt and gym shorts patterns for that. Maybe I would wear the sweatshirt to the garden shop, or even on casual Friday at work, but not the shorts. I think what the concept of "casual" boils down to for me is whether it would look nice and be comfortable to sit down in. Sitting at my desk, sitting in the car, sitting in a meeting. Like that episode of Mrs. Maisel where she's choosing a seated outfit for her new job. She wants to look professional, but she needs to look nice sitting down.

I’m excited for this but I honestly don’t understand the dismissive confusion over the casual comments. Last years theme was high glamour. We had beautiful patterns every month, but for many people, we just don’t need as many fancy garments.. and yes you can dress down the style with fabric, but not always. Is it really that baffling? Have to say I loved last months pattern and am excited for this so maybe just stepping out of the Hollywood theme is what we needed to address this ask.

This is everything! If it’s a house dress then you’ve granted my wish from the questionnaire as I can wear all my Cobbler dresses and then change it up with a house dress. Perfection.

Perhaps a Claire McCardell dress? Kitchen dinner or popover??? She also used surplus weather balloon material for her designs during WWII.

Making something new out of something old.

1940s house dress, maybe?

I also thought it could be the 1930s flour sack dress.

40s!!! Please please please be a make do and mend dress!!! Mama needs a victory dress!!

Oh I love the 1940s! That reminds me - you know what I would LOVE? A walk away dress!!!! I have the recreation pattern but it needs to many alterations.... a more thoughtful version would be an utter delight

1940s day dress/shirtdress!

My guess is a 1940s utility / Make Do and Mend–inspired everyday dress – button-front, collared or notched neckline, short sleeves, functional pockets and a belt or tie. A really practical work dress silhouette that feels casual now, but is hugely important historically and very museum-worthy.

Make-do and mend! Make-do and mend! I’m positively giddy!

I think we’re about to have a “sack cloth dress” moment! And I am so excited about it!!! The first real documented moment of the upcycle movement, which was a large part of “make do and mend”, which was not only a part of WW2 Britain, but, also, the Great Depression years in the U.S. Can you get more casual than a cotton dress made from a flour/feed sack? I’m super-excited and the pattern designer was usually the women who made the dress or borrowed a pattern made by a neighbor, relative, or friend, if they didn’t have pattern-making skills. So, the actual pattern is up on the air! But I hope we get a very simple shirtwaist or dance dress. Like a “Lindy Hop” dress.

I love shirt dresses and aprons. This is going to be awesome. I can’t wait.

Those tops are cute!

Omg if it's one of those wrap house dress, no buttons no zipper, I am totally going to loose it and make 20 of them. That would be so great!!!

Claire Mccardell designs. Perhaps a popover dress revisited. Hip, hip, hooray!

So excited! This is in my wheelhouse with the make do and mend!!! A chore dress or house dress, cut to minimize fabric usage or a McCardell style popover dress?

Been patchworking my old skirts and limited yardage amounts into new dress makes already so any designs along this scraping together for me is a huge win!

Make do and Mend was a wartime slogan when women had only small amounts of fabric to work with and learned to be creative in re-making existing garments. Maybe a garment that is easy to alter or colorblock?

I also think flour sack dress

Shirtwaist dress with minimal fabric.

I'm guessing a 1940's inspired pattern, the type that had fabric rationing principles built in?

Oooooh this picture lets me think it's something I'm going to love! I think maybe a shirtwaist dress or other kind of dress that would be worn for housework in the 30ies or 40ies. I don't know all their names, but almost like an apron, but it's a whole dress.

I just looked up shirt waist dress....please be that! Please please please! I was just looking up a pattern for something like a Helen dress, but in bigger sizes. Lol this could work, couldn't it?

I’m thinking a pant pattern like the type of pants Katherine Hepburn wore. I just loved those!

This sounds interesting and the fabric choice will determine how casual it gets 🥰

I will just die happily if we're getting a walk away dress pattern

Maybe the Claire Mccardell dress

Still laughing…and crying over the “wtf is casual?!” 😂 we’re all like, is casual in the room here with us?? 🤭

Casual means different things to different people. While I love the glamourous dresses since I moved to Cleveland I have almost no opportunities to get dressed up like I did in San Francisco. I’d love some house dress “step ‘n go” type of day dresses (zipper up the front). I still want to look good but also need to be able to do my everyday chores comfortably.

Looked up a Hooverette and now I’m really hoping it’s that!!!

Whatever it is Im excited. I could use some casuals

Hope it’s a shirtwaist like the one in the illustration!

So..."make do and mend" became a slogan during WWII, when fabric and everything else was rationed. So maybe something leaning toward a '40s design? Hooverette dresses were early to mid '30s, when the Great Depression was at its worst.

I am excited to see the next pattern. I don't have the lifestyle that allows a low cut glamorous dress. I make all the patterns that can be worn in an office setting or out in the wild.

I’m guessing a 1940s utility / Make Do and Mend style everyday dress – casual, practical, and a real turning point in fashion history.

Perhaps a shirtwaist?

I'm down for day dresses or house dresses. I'm actually in the mood for that. As for casual ... I am slowly starting to hate that word lmao 🤣

Maybe a walk away dress. That would be amazing.

The thing is the definition of "casual" varies from a century to another, from a decade to another and to a person to another. What was casual in the 1940's could be considered as clean dress today, as per these examples https://classiccriticscorner.com/1940s-casual-dresses/ My casual is jeans and a tee-shirt, bra optional, no make-up. Dresses are to go out, and only in summer, as I live in Quebec, work from home and hate stockings with a passion. And then you have my friend Gorgeously Vintage who wears dresses all year long and is always styled to the nines. We live only a few miles away. Same temperature, not the same reality.

Something like Claire Wardell would design

My guess is a flour sack dress! it’s because of the make do and mend movement that we have four sack dresses and they would show them in a museum, I know because I’ve seen them there before :) I don’t know if we could get more casual than up cycled dress from a flour sack!

As I am in the UK, had to look up what a Hoover dress is. Wrap over dress with style! Like the idea.

Ooh this is exciting! Can't wait! Based on the hint I wonder if it's something with taking an older design and updating it??

Rosie riveter overalls?!

Shirt dress

1940s shirtwaist dress made from pretty potato sacks ? We need a group therapy session over this ‘casual’ thing.

This gives me hope! I'm this 🤏close to cancelling membership because there has not been something for me since the society dress i think 😅

A popover dress? I guess that’s specifically Claire McCardell though…

I would say a shirt dress, but I feel like we already have some patterns that you could get that from. Excited as always! On another note… I’m with Gertie, I don’t understand why everybody keeps asking for more casual stuff. You can take any pattern and make it casual. It’s all in the fabric you use and your imagination.

Oh my! Everyone has amazing guesses and I am so excited to see what it is 😍 The Hoverette dress would be so cool, and im sure whatever it is, we will all love it lol

This is giving me 1940s vibes and I’m so excited!

Yes!!! This is my dream!!!

A 1940s utility dress

Hooverette or house dress. My mom wore these in the 50s and called them her house coat.

The fact that it looks like it might be 40's inspired has me excited ☺️

Overalls... maybe

oooh i love make do and mend. maybe something we can make from something we have, like a colorblocked house dress or apron.

TEA GOWN!!!!!!

I’m betting it’s a “Hoover”!

I have NO idea but I’m so excited! TBF I’m always really excited when we get a hint🥰

A housedress

Exciting!! Sounds like a CC41/utility dress or other piece of clothing. :)

Oooh a house dress? 🤩

Flour sack dress?

The shirt waist?!?

JUMPSUIT