In the '60s Italian magazines often published patterns (or offered readers the possibilities of buying patterns directly from them). Many patterns referred to relatively simple projects, but there were also more ambitious ones like this pattern from November 1960 that invited readers to try and create a coat.
Simply dubbed the "November Coat", the design wasn't actually too complicated since it was characterised by a loose and soft silhouette and by ample kimono sleeves that allowed even amateurs to experiment with the shape of the shoulder area and the width of the sleeves. The most interesting feature in this coat were the three large pockets (the chest pocket was naturally smaller).
To make one coat (in the Italian size 46 -10 in US and 14 in UK - warning that consumer with a smaller size may have used the same dimensions to create a roomy coat) the magazine suggested a 3,50m x 1,40m piece of fabric, possibly tweed in black and white or brown and white, but wool plaids or a soothing camel beige tone would have been good as well, while it also suggested large leather buttons or glossy black plastic ones for fastening.
As a variation to the style of the coat (and to remind readers that one design could have been altered in easy ways - something that we seem to have forgotten as we keep on favouring quantity over quality and versatility...), the magazine suggested to fold the lapels of the coat and secure them with a tall fur collar (you can obviously opt for a faux fur one nowadays...). Happy sewing Sunday!
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