Original circa 1940 Simplicity Pattern No. 3420 - Shirtwaist Dress

Original circa 1940 Simplicity Pattern No. 3420 for a women's shirtwaist dress with buttons down the front of the blouse, a rolled collar, and a skirt with three sets of pleats in front and one in back. Choose short sleeves with a crisp contrast collar or long sleeves in a single fabric. Complete and in Nice Condition.

Quick Facts

• Pattern Number: Simplicity No. 3420
• Year: Circa 1940
• Garment: Junior Misses' and Misses' Shirtwaist Dress (2 Styles)
• Size: 16 (34" Bust, 28" Waist, 37" Hip)
• Condition: Complete Nice Condition

Design

Simplicity 3420 is a tailored shirtwaist dress with bound or worked buttonholes down the front of the blouse and soft pleats released from the shoulder over the bust. The rolled collar and optional breast pocket give it a crisp, practical look, and the sleeves are darted into the armhole for a smooth, squared shoulder. The skirt swings from three sets of pleats in front and one in back, and the dress closes at the side with a slide fastener under a belt. Style I has short sleeves and a contrast collar, shown in plaid with a white collar and pocket square; Style II has long sleeves and a self collar for a more polished look. Eight pieces, with Simplicity's illustrated Primer included.

A Moment in Fashion History

At the start of the 1940s the shirtwaist dress became the everyday uniform of American women: neat enough for the office, practical enough for errands, and simple enough to sew at home. Its squared shoulders, pleated skirt, and button front reflect the tailored, efficient style that carried women through the war years, when a dependable dress mattered more than a fashionable one. At 15 cents, Simplicity patterns like this one put that look within reach of almost any home sewer.

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 Simplicity pattern envelope.

Connections

A WWII-era shirtwaist dress can be taken in so many directions, costume-wise: add a tie and you're the Boogie Woogie Bugle Girl, or add a Red Cross cap and a simple apron and you're a WWII Red Cross nurse. Browse our limited-time exhibit of masquerades, pageants and make-believe, Costumes for All Ages from All Eras, before it closes.