New York 655: 1930s Uncut Misses Bare Back Dress 31B Vintage Sewing Pattern
Original circa 1935 New York Pattern No. 655 - Juniors' and Misses' Sun-Back Dress and Jacket
Original circa 1935 New York Pattern No. 655 for a juniors' and misses' sun-back dress and matching jacket. The bias-cut dress has a soft cowl-gathered neckline into an attached two-piece collar, closing under the collar at the back, and is shown belted at the natural waist. The separate jacket adds short kimono sleeves for cooler moments. Factory Folded and Unused.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: New York Pattern No. 655
- Year: Circa 1935
- Garment: Juniors' and Misses' Sun-Back Dress and Jacket
- Size: 13 Years (31" Bust, 34" Hip)
- Condition: Factory Folded
Design
New York 655 pairs a simple, bare-shouldered sun-back dress with an optional matching jacket. The dress front gathers softly into an attached two-piece collar that sits like a soft cowl at the neckline, with the dress closing under the collar at center back rather than down the front. A slim belt marks the natural waist above a gently flared, bias-inspired skirt. The separate jacket, cut with easy kimono sleeves, can be made in a contrasting fabric or to match, giving the wearer coverage for cooler hours without losing the dress's breezy, warm-weather character.
A Moment in Fashion History
The sun-back silhouette, exposing the shoulders and upper back while keeping a demure front, became a defining summer style of the mid-1930s, as tanned skin shifted from a marker of outdoor labor to a fashionable sign of leisure. Pairing the dress with a companion jacket, as New York 655 does, let a woman step fully covered from home to street and then peel back to the sun-back style once she reached the beach, park, or porch — a practical answer to the era's changing ideas about how much skin was appropriate to show, and where.
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 Company envelope.
Connections
This pattern is part of our ongoing exhibit, Sporty Looks for Active Gals — a growing collection of casual looks for girls and women moving through history, from the 1920s through the 1970s. Come take a look.
