Vogue sewing patterns began in America in 1899 as a weekly feature of Vogue magazine and could be purchased by mail order. When Condé Nast bought Vogue in 1909 they began to offer a wider range of pattern styles and sizes. The Vogue Pattern Company was formed in 1914 but their patterns were still available by mail order only. By 1916 they could be bought in department stores, and in 1933 the company opened its first London branch.

The copying of French couture designs was nothing new to post-war fashion, but designers were tiring of the lack of control and loss of profits that resulted from illegal copies of their designs. Though many lawsuits were filed, few were successful and couturiers realised that they were fighting a losing battle. A solution was the licensing of designs to large scale pattern companies. Vogue was the first pattern company authorised to duplicate French couture designs and began their 'Vogue Paris Original' pattern line in 1949. The Paris Original patterns featured Dior's designs prominently, but also offered patterns from other French designers such as Pierre Balmain, Pierre Cardin, Jean Desses, Hubert de Givenchy, Jaques Heim, Jeanne Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Patou, Molyneux, Nina Ricci, and Emanuel Ungaro.

This particular pattern was purchased from a John Lewis store in Liverpool in 1977. Its design is typical of the 1970s: soft, sheer fabrics and a long, flowing silhouette that is fitted at the waist with a thin belt.