A shirtdress is a style of women's dress that borrows details from a man's Dress shirt. These can include a collar, a button Placket, or . Often, these dresses are made up in crisp fabrics including cotton or silk, much like a men's dress shirt would be. As they are typically cut without a Sewing at the waist, these dresses often have a looser fit, usually relying on a belt to define the waist. Button fronts and a forgiving fit make this a flattering look for most body types.
History
Shirtdresses were sometimes called a "shirtwaist dress" when they were fashionable during the 1950s. The 1950s version of the shirtdress was launched as part of
Christian Dior's post–World War II "New Look" couture designs, with a full skirt held up by wearing a
crinoline.
They often featured a notched collar, and elbow-length sleeves with cuffs. More informal versions of the shirtdress, made of cotton, but retaining the full skirt and collar, became a staple part of many women's wardrobes during the 1950s, with designers such as
Anne Fogarty becoming known for their versions of this style.
[ Popular Shirt Dress Combines Tailored Top with Ruffly Skirt, Reading Eagle, June 30, 1954, p. 26] A 1957 issue of
Life magazine includes a photo of a typical cotton shirtdress selling for $25 in New York City.
A variation of the original shirtdress is the " T-shirt dress". T-shirt dresses began being produced in the 1960s, and are simply an elongated version of a T-shirt.
Image gallery
File:How a British Woman Dresses in Wartime- Utility Clothing in Britain, 1943 D14784.jpg|A 1943 shirtdress.
File:Girl at Piccadilly Circus.jpg|A shirtdress worn with a belt, 1970s.
File:ERHW Porch1.jpg|A 1990s shirtdress.
File:Young woman in a shirtdress 2011-04-11.jpg|A shirtdress worn in 2011.
See also
External links
- :"The shirtwaist dress of the period was a major American contribution to fashion; shirts and skirts have been worn ever since."
-
Halston. Ultrasuede Shirtwaist Dress (1972) Metropolitan Museum of Art
-
Simplicity Pattern Company (1953)
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Shirtwaist Dress with Flared Skirt Plus Size 20, Pattern #4260
