If you’re a fan of vintage fashion, you’ve probably encountered the name Modes Royale—a pattern company that embodied the glamour and sophistication of the mid-century era. Renowned for their elegant, figure-flattering designs, Modes Royale patterns gave home seamstresses the opportunity to create runway-inspired looks straight from the pages of high fashion magazines.

In this post, we’ll take a brief look at the history of Modes Royale, showcase the distinctive fashion illustrations that set their patterns apart, and celebrate the enduring beauty that continues to captivate vintage fashion lovers today.

Image Description: 1950s Fashion Illustration from Modes Royale sewing patterns featuring elegant evening gowns for women.

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NOTE: If you click on any of the items featured below and they are not available, don’t fret! Hit the search button and see what else is on the websites. There are 1000’s and 1000’s of items being listed daily.

Modes Royale Patterns-The History & The Fashion Illustrations

About Modes Royale:

Modes Royale Patterns (1940s through 1960s) was an American pattern company, at 253-255 Seventh Avenue, New York. In the 1950s Mode Royale featured French patterns by “Jardin des Modes“. Like other patterns companies, Modes Royale featured “Mother & Daughter” fashion, but keeping the same number, adding a C for the child version (Source).

Liz Note: I dug deep to try and find more information on this company and the blurb above is it. If any of my readers can supply a bit more info, please do in the comments section below. Thanks!

Who was Jardin des Modes?

1947 Cover for le jardin des modes. Source: Etsy-VintageMagArchive

Le Jardin des Modes was a French language women’s fashion magazine published monthly in France between 1922 and 1997.

The magazine was first published in April 1922 as L’Illustration des Modes and aimed to a cutting edge group of fashion passionates. The founders were Lucien Vogel and his brother-in-law Michel de Brunhoff. It offered a mix of beautiful illustrations, pattern making examples and cooking recipes. In 1923 the magazine was acquired by Condé Nast.

Modes Royale Pattern Examples-The 1940s-1960s Fashions

Note: Several of the pattern’s featured below can be digitally downloaded to start making your own today!

Spring /Summer 1951 edition of Modes Royale pattern book featuring ‘Budget Design Patterns’. (Available as a digital download HERE)

Inside the pattern book: “Playtimers” 1950s summer fashions for women featuring skirts and dresses that can come off to reveal a swimsuit or romper / playsuit. I have always been a big fan of these “2-1 fashions”.

Source: Etsy-vintage4me2

One more 1950s Summer playsuit sewing pattern illustration (“Summer Playmates”), because they are just so fantastic (avail as a digital download HERE)!

Source: Etsy-DontSassMe

Polka Dot’s for the win! Modes Royale Pattern Book Spring / Summer Edition 1953 (sold before I could go live with the post). Love the matching umbrella.

Further Reading: What to wear when it’s raining

Source: Etsy-Passagems

Fall and Winter 1960s Modes Royale pattern book (24 pages) featuring stylish looks like these dresses and 2 piece suits for women (avail as a digital download here).

Source: Etsy-vintage4me2

I sure do love a good colour block dress, like the two 1940s dresses seen in this 1947 Spring / Summer sewing pattern fashion illustration. Also great hair on our lady on the left (so me!).

Further Reading: The Colour Block Fashions of the 1940s & 1950s

I am currently rewatching Mad Men, and when Betty Draper showed up on my TV in this stunning 1950s colour block evening gown, I felt like I had seen something similar to it before. Please see the next image.

Now they are NOT the exact same dress, but the skirt is almost the same in design (not colour) and the colour-blocking of the bodice and skirt is the same as Betty’s above. I am not sure if the dress in Mad Men was vintage, but if it was made, I feel like this 1950s evening gown was it’s inspiration. Do you agree?

Source: Pinterest

1953/54 Modes Royale Fall/Winter pattern catalogue (avail as a digital download Here).

1950s Daytime dresses with career blazers and “Pert and Pleasing” dresses for stylish women who lunch in the afternoon.

The “Pert” dress in the left image is 100% a Liz dress. I would give anything to be able to sew and be able to wear it.

Source: Etsy-backroomfinds

“Pretty as a Picture”- 1940s dresses with patterns of polka dots and plaid.

Fun fact! Polka Dots are making a comeback this Spring / Summer of 2025 (Source). So start thinking about how you wish to add it to your wardrobe.

Source: Pinterest

1960s pattern-Simple and elegant is this “After Five Dress”, featuring a softly rolled collar highlighted by a fabric flower.

Source: Pinterest

The 1950s world of smoking while in your cocktail dress. It is a glamorous dress though (avail as a digital download HERE).

Source: Etsy-Vintagepatterns2sew

1947 Modes Royale Spring/Summer eveningwear dresses.

Source: Pinterest

I am going to end this post with the next series of 1950s sewing patterns, which highlight the fabulous worldwide places you could wear your stylish Modes Royale outfits too—I’ll be sharing a few of my favorites below!

What to wear when staying at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore? How about these darling 1950s numbers?

One is a “a daytime dress featuring a modified version of the Empire look complete with a capelet.” And the second is “An attractive bolero, pencil-slim skirt, draped blouse and cummerbund”. Love it!

Source: Pinterest

And because I love history….In the 1950s, Raffles Hotel in Singapore was a prominent destination, known for its luxury and historical significance. It hosted numerous Hollywood celebrities, including Ava Gardner and Elizabeth Taylor, and continued to attract international travelers (Source). It is still open today.

Fun fact, the “Long Bar” in the hotel created the famous “Singapore Sling” cocktail in 1915.

Source: Historic Hotels

Here is a photo of a 1958 fashion parade at the hotel. Look at those dresses? Right out of Modes Royale (100% not, but they could be).

Photo Credit: National Archives Singapore

Let’s escape to São Paulo, Brazil, and stay at the luxurious Excelsior Hotel—soaking in the sights and sounds in our wiggle dresses and swing coats made from matching fabrics. Swoon-worthy, right?

Source: Pinterest

1940s / 1950s 4-panel, double-sided promotional brochure for the Hotel Excelsior in Copacabana Rio and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Beautiful art deco style color illustrations on the front and back panels. 

Source: Worthpoint.com

1954 Modes Royale pattern for a daytime dress with bolero jacket perfect for your “Travel Dreams” of the Palace Hotel, Milano, Italy & Hotel Del Prado, Mexico City.

Source: Pinterest

1952 vintage postcard for the beautiful Art Deco, Hotel Del Prado in Mexico City. This postcard was used and the person who sent it, even showed what room they were staying in. LOVE IT! See the back here (avail at time of posting).

Source: eBay

1950s travel brochure for the Palace Hotel in Milano, Italy.

Source: eBay

One last stop… the iconic George V in Paris and the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. The green 1950s dress in the center is the ultimate “go-everywhere” piece, with its stand-up collar, three-quarter sleeves, and flattering hip pockets. And honestly, the other two dress-and-bolero coat ensembles are just as effortlessly versatile.

Source: Pinterest

Hotel George V, Paris France 1939.

The Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, was a prominent landmark in the 1950s, known for its unique blend of Japanese and Western architectural styles. Built on a floating foundation, it was designed to withstand earthquakes, and the hotel’s Mayan Revival style and extensive decorative scheme showcased Japan’s growing ties to the West. The hotel served as a hub for international guests and played a role in Japanese culture, even becoming a Shinto wedding site after the 1923 earthquake. The hotel was demolished in 1968, but its entrance lobby was saved and reconstructed at the Meiji Mura architecture museum (Source).

1930s Street Entrance. Source: oldtokyo.com

I hope you enjoyed browsing these fantastic vintage sewing pattern illustrations. Please share in the comment section what you would wear (I would personally wear them all).

Further Reading: Vintage Fashions 1920s-1960s (archived blog posts)

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz