Butterick 6956 - halter bodice pattern.

The 1950s style halter top pattern I wanted, wasn't easy to find. There are several different styles, but I wanted one with the straps out towards the sides. It would be great if I had the skill set to draft my own, but I'm just not there yet.

If you do happen to find one of these patterns, you'll probably end up losing an aggressive bidding war unless money is no option. Or you could totally luck out & find your halter pattern hidden amongst several other vintage patterns in a low quality ebay photo that everyone else passed by like this one:

That would be my story. The pattern arrived today & I'm so excited to begin working on it:





& although I didn't really care about the rest of the patterns in the set, there are 3 that are pretty cool.

These 2 Simplicity suit patterns, #4550 (c. 1953)



& #3084 (c. early 1960s?)



& this Vogue Couturier #196 (c. 1959) sheath dress & the purple faux fur jacket:



I don't know why pattern companies didn't date their patterns. Every now & then you'll find a date at the bottom of an instruction sheet, but it's totally random. I'm getting better at recognizing the general period, if not by style or hemline than by the price on the pattern envelope.