New York 705: 1930s Stylish Uncut Misses Street Dress 34B Vintage Sewing Pattern
Original 1936 New York Pattern No. 705 - Ladies' and Misses' Dress
Original 1936 New York Pattern No. 705 for a Ladies' and Misses' dress. The waist has an open front with a two-piece inset vestee and attached collar, with long set-in sleeves gathered into wristbands, perforated so they can be made short instead with the lower parts underfaced and rolled into cuffs. The attached four-piece skirt carries inset plaits at both center-front and center-back. Factory Folded and Unused.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: New York No. 705
- Year: Dated 1936, confirmed via COPA (Commercial Pattern Archive)
- Garment: Ladies' and Misses' Dress
- Size: 16 (34" Bust, 37" Hip)
- Condition: Factory Folded
Design
This dress opens at the front over a two-piece inset vestee, finished with its own attached collar for a clean, considered neckline. Sleeves set in long and gather into wristbands, but are also perforated for a short-sleeve alternative -- an unusually clever detail where the lower part of the sleeve is underfaced and rolled to form a neat cuff, rather than simply being cut away. Below the waist, the four-piece skirt takes inset plaits at both the center-front and center-back for coordinated, controlled fullness front and back alike. Eleven pattern pieces in all, with a patch pocket for practicality.
A Moment in Fashion History
The rolled-cuff conversion from long to short sleeve reflects the kind of practical, cost-conscious engineering that home-sewing patterns excelled at in the mid-1930s -- one cutting layout serving both a cooler short-sleeve version and a more covered long-sleeve one without wasting fabric or requiring a second envelope. Matching plaits at front and back hem show real attention to symmetry and finish, rather than treating the back of a skirt as an afterthought.
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.
