1940s Vintage Superior Sewing Pattern 6680 Lovely Misses WWII Dress Sz 32 B
Superior Pattern No. 6680 - One-Piece Teen Dress (WWII Era, Undated)
Superior Pattern No. 6680, a one-piece dress "especially designed for the teen-age crowd." No printed copyright appears on this envelope, but the style, construction, and sizing point to the World War II era. Designed for a fitted, ladylike silhouette scaled for a junior figure, with a shaped bodice, gathered full skirt, and a banded, bow-trimmed hem. CNU (Complete Nice Condition), hem shortened slightly.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: Superior No. 6680
- Year: While we have no confirmed date, the style and envelope point to the World War II era
- Garment: Teen/Junior One-Piece Dress
- Size: 14 (32" Bust)
- Condition: Complete Nice Condition, hem shortened slightly
Design
This dress is built for a young, fitted silhouette: a shaped yoke bodice joins a separate front girdle piece at the waist, with short sleeves keeping the look simple and age-appropriate. The full gathered skirt is finished with a contrast-banded hem and a bow trim at front, while the back closes with a self-fabric sash tied at the waist rather than buttons or a zipper. The pattern is cut in seven pieces - Waist Front, Front Girdle, Skirt Front, Waist Back, Center Back Skirt, Side Back Skirt, and Sleeve - with a half-inch seam allowance throughout and hem allowance left to the maker.
A Moment in Fashion History
By the early-to-mid 1940s, pattern companies were increasingly designing specifically for the "teen-age" or junior figure, rather than simply scaling down misses' patterns - Superior 6680's envelope copy makes that target audience explicit. The pattern's Size 14 measures a 32" bust, consistent with the sizing standard used industry-wide before the 1956-1957 revision (after which Size 14 shifted to a 34" bust) - a small but useful piece of corroborating evidence for this dress's wartime-era placement, even without a printed date to confirm it outright.
Illustration
The cover illustration has been digitally restored and enhanced by Judy Yates to highlight the original fashion artwork while preserving the character and artistry of this historic Superior pattern envelope.
Connections
This pattern is part of our ongoing exhibit, Women of WWII - a growing collection celebrating the resourcefulness and everyday style of wartime home sewing. Come take a look.
