Original circa 1944 Simplicity Pattern No. 1273 - Shirtwaist Dress

Original circa 1944 Simplicity Pattern No. 1273 for a women's shirtwaist dress that buttons from neckline to hem, with a notched collar and buttoned pocket-like tabs at the shoulders. Choose short sleeves with belt flaps that button to the skirt, or long sleeves with wristbands in a lengthwise stripe. Factory Folded and Unused.

Quick Facts

• Pattern Number: Simplicity No. 1273
• Year: Circa 1944, also found in Simplicity's May 1946 catalog, Page 202
• Garment: Misses' and Women's Shirtwaist Dress (2 Styles)
• Size: 16 (34" Bust, 28" Waist, 37" Hip)
• Condition: Factory Folded

Design

Simplicity 1273 buttons down the full length of the front and is finished with a notched collar. The bodice is shaped with tucks at the lower front edge and gathers at the lower back, and the skirt is seamed at either side of center front and back for a smooth, gently flared line. Its most distinctive detail is a pocket-like trim stitched into each shoulder seam and buttoned to the bodice front. Style I has short sleeves, topstitched accents, and belt flaps joined at the waistline seams that button to the skirt. Style II has long sleeves finished with wristbands and is designed for lengthwise striped fabric. Eleven pieces.

A Moment in Fashion History

By 1944 the shirtwaist dress had become the backbone of the American wartime wardrobe: sturdy, buttoned, and belted, with squared shoulders and just enough detail to feel smart without wasting fabric. Simplicity 1273 proved popular well beyond the war years, since it still appears in our own copy of Simplicity's May 1946 catalog on page 202, where it was sold in sizes 12 through 40 for 25 cents.

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.