New York 689: 1930s Uncut Misses Peplum Dress Sz 32 B Vintage Sewing Pattern
Original circa 1936 New York Pattern No. 689 - Ladies' and Misses' Shirred Dress
Original circa 1936 New York Pattern No. 689 for a Ladies' and Misses' shirred dress. The waist features a high neck with attached collar, perforated so it can be made into a V-neck instead, with a choice of long or short sleeves. The attached three-piece skirt carries a three-piece peplum trimmed with three-piece applied bands, closing under a removable belt. Factory Folded and Unused.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: New York No. 689
- Year: Circa 1936, dated via pattern-number proximity to New York 687 (confirmed 1936 via COPA)
- Garment: Ladies' and Misses' Shirred Dress
- Size: 14 (32" Bust, 35" Hip)
- Condition: Factory Folded
Design
This dress gives real choice at the neckline -- a high neck with its own attached collar as the default, perforated so it can be cut instead into a V-neck for a more open alternative. Long or short sleeves are both provided. The real showpiece is below the waist: a three-piece peplum, itself trimmed with three-piece applied bands, flares out over a three-piece skirt for a dramatic, tailored silhouette, all cinched under a removable belt. Twelve pattern pieces in all.
A Moment in Fashion History
The dramatic peplum seen here -- built from multiple pieces and further trimmed with its own applied bands -- reflects the mid-1930s move toward more architectural, structured silhouettes at the hip, a marked shift from the softer, bias-draped lines of just a few years earlier. Perforating a pattern to allow either a high neck or a V-neck was a practical way for one design to suit both day and evening occasions.
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.
