Original circa 1933-1934 New York Pattern No. 193 - Ladies' and Misses' Shirt-Waist Dress

Original circa 1933-1934 New York Pattern No. 193 for a Ladies' and Misses' shirt-waist dress. This design features a high neck with attached collar, an applied front band, and a patch pocket on the left side of the front, with set-in long sleeves perforated for a short-sleeve option. The attached four-piece skirt carries inverted plaits at each side of the front and closes under a removable belt. Factory Folded and Unused.

Quick Facts

• Pattern Number: New York No. 193
• Year: Circa 1933-1934 -- dated via Vintage4me2's New York Pattern catalog cross-reference (shown directly beside No. 1581)
• Garment: Ladies' and Misses' Shirt-Waist Dress
• Size: 18 (36" Bust, 39" Hip)
• Condition: Factory Folded

Design

This dress takes its cues directly from the tailored, button-front shirt -- a high neck with its own attached collar, an applied band running down the front, and a single patch pocket set on the left side for a practical, workwear-inspired touch. Long sleeves are perforated so they can be cut short instead, letting one pattern serve two seasons. Below the waist, the four-piece skirt takes inverted plaits at each side of the front for easy stride, closing under a removable belt at the natural waist. Fourteen pattern pieces in all.

A Moment in Fashion History

The shirt-waist dress traces its roots to the menswear-inspired shirtwaist blouse of the late 19th century, and by the early 1930s had settled into exactly this kind of one-piece, button-front silhouette -- practical enough for daytime errands, tailored enough to look put-together. A single patch pocket and an applied front band were small, functional details borrowed straight from men's shirting, reinforcing the style's utilitarian roots even as it became a wardrobe staple in its own right.

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 New York Pattern envelope.

Connections

This pattern is part of our ongoing exhibit, In Name Only -- a growing collection of New York Patterns and Own Name Patterns from the 1930s. Come take a look.