Ladies Home Journal 3901: 1920s Uncut Misses Dress 36 B Vintage Sewing Pattern
Original 1923 Ladies' Home Journal Pattern No. 3901 - Slightly Long-Waisted Dress
Original 1923 Ladies' Home Journal Pattern No. 3901 for a ladies' and misses' slightly long-waisted dress, slipped on over the head. Drop shoulders may be left open at the shoulder edge, or seamed closed, with two-piece full-length sleeves gathered to wristbands, their top seam left open to show the arm. A one-piece straight-gathered skirt may be worn plain or with a front apron tunic, extending above the waistline in a pointed outline, over a waistline casing with elastic inserted. Factory Folded and Unused.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: Ladies' Home Journal No. 3901
- Year: 1923 – Found in April 1923 Issue
- Garment: Ladies' and Misses' Slightly Long-Waisted Dress
- Size: 36 (36" Bust, 28" Waist, 39½" Hip)
- Condition: Factory Folded
Design
Pattern 3901 plays with exposure and structure in equal measure. The drop-shoulder construction can be left open at the shoulder seam for a glimpse of arm above the wristband, or seamed closed for a more conventional fit — the same choice carries through the sleeve, gathered to a wristband with its top seam similarly optional. The skirt gathers straight onto an elastic waistline casing, and the front apron tunic, cut to a pointed outline above the waist, adds a dressmaker flourish reminiscent of a pinafore without any real complexity. Seven pattern pieces in all.
A Moment in Fashion History
Pattern 3901 appeared in the April 1923 issue of The Ladies' Home Journal, in a feature titled "Best Sellers on Fifth Avenue that One Can Make at Home" — part of a regular effort by the magazine to translate expensive ready-to-wear silhouettes into patterns the home sewer could reproduce. The elastic-waist construction and optional open shoulder seam reflect the era's growing comfort with looser, less tailored dressing.
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 Ladies' Home Journal pattern envelope.
Connections
View our entire Ladies Home Journal for a rare glimpse of how sewing patterns were designed and marketed for the whole family. Come take a look.
