Gone With The Wind inspired Barbecue Party Dress and Hoop Skirt Patterns

The Barbecue Party Dress from Gone With The Wind is perhaps one of the most familiar costumes in the film world. The designer, Walter Plunkett, spent months traveling through the South to historical societies and private collections where he examined and sketched original costume pieces from the Civil War period. The green color used for the printed sprigs, a motif designed by Walter Plunkett, was chosen to enhance Vivien Leigh’s eyes. This dress was in a deplorable state in 1976 and the skirt had to be remade. New silk organza was printed with the original design and the reconstruction was supervised by Mr. Plunkett himself.

Following the restoration, the Barbecue Party Dress was donated to the Costume and Textile Department of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Of the nearly 40,000 pieces in their collection, it is certainly the most visited item. The dress stands as a tribute to the genius of Walter Plunkett and the memory of one of the greatest motion pictures of all time.

In January of 1984, Peggy Abbott Miller got permission from Edward Maeder, the curator at the Los Angeles Museum of Art, to examine the Barbecue Party Dress. The original dress was made of ecru color silk organza. The green floral print design of the dress was hand silk screen printed. Only the amount of yardage for the overlay of the bodice and silk were printed. It has a silk taffeta lining and a green velveteen sash.

Upon her return back to the east coast, Peggy got to work recreating one of the most photographed dresses in Scarlett O’Hara’s wardrobe. Once the pattern was expertly crafted and copyrighted in 1985, Peggy had created a bodice that fit snug to the body with a low cut neckline that curved upward to the shoulder. The neckline was finished with a flounce of green velveteen ribbon weaving through. The skirt is composed of a lining, skirt, and floral printed overskirt, stitched together into the waistband. The bodice and skirt are joined at the waistline with hook and eyelet closures. A green velveteen sash with a large bow in the back completes the ensemble.

In each pattern size, the pieces were “graded” upward. Patience with fine detail of sizing was essential. It is possible to get one size out of proportion, making the next size upward totally out of reason. A line 1/32 of an inch off in any area can completely destroy the next size. This was a very time-consuming detail but of utmost importance. Peggy put her heart and soul into creating this pattern, and we hope you enjoy it as much as she did.

The delicate bouquet of green floral design fabric is also available exclusively from Pegée® of Williamsburg.

NOTE: This item is simply the paper patterns for the dress and hoop skirt packaged in vintage branded envelopes.  The completed dress or any fabric needed to make it is not included in the sale of this pattern.