Shirt dress to the rescue!
I think, when you’re talking about versatility, the shirt dress (aka shirtwaist) has to be near the top of the list of versatile clothing items! Years ago, I would have worn this type of dress one way…buttoned up! Now, I wear them buttoned up as a dress, unbuttoned as a duster, and even as a lightweight coat. I suppose if it’s light enough, you could even wear it as a beach cover up. You can layer it over leggings, jeans, or another dress. You can wear it under another dress or a vest. The possibilities are almost endless!
A little history
At first, the articles I read indicated Dior had invented the shirt dress in the 1950s. But, after digging a bit deeper, the roots of the shirt dress go much farther back than the 50s! This wonderfully adaptable dress goes by the names shirtwaist dress, shirtmaker, or shirtdress. The shirtwaist blouse, worn by women in the closing years of the nineteenth century, was an early ready to wear product. I find this little tidbit funny. A waist was an early term for a blouse. So, a shirtwaist blouse would actually be a shirt blouse blouse! To confuse matters even more, a shirtwaist might have a skirt attached (which would make it a shirt blouse dress). If the skirt wasn’t attached, it was probably made of the same material and almost always worn together thus giving the effect of a dress.
But, wait!
The more I dug, the more I found out about shirtwaists! I found this fascinating article about shirtwaists dating back to the 1860s! Women began wearing them instead of the more restrictive bodice and skirt ensembles. If you’ve ever watched any videos about fashions in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, you’ll know corsets were considered a necessary evil. Corsets are still around (just watch “RuPaul’s Drag Race”), but most of us bypass the actual cinching of the waist, opting instead for the illusion if nothing else! But, I digress!
There’s more!
Shirtwaists (the blouse, not the dress) became a staple of the American woman’s wardrobe. Manufacturers produced shirtwaists with different types of embellishments…lace, stitching, differing collars and cuffs. In fact, “an article written for the Pittsburgh Press on September 16, 1906, stated, ‘A very fashionable woman with a half a hundred waists boasts that there are no two alike’ (source)”. Unlike today, shirtwaists were never to be worn with the tails out! A special construction element ensured the shirtwaist maintained its pleats and stayed tucked into the skirt (source).
But, what about the dress?
Prior to World War I, the shirtwaist evolved into a dress (with or without skirt attached) and began life as a nurse’s uniform. Usually constructed of cotton, the Red Cross and other organizations adopted the shirtwaist because it was practical as well as washable. In the 1920s, the shirtwaist became a “sports dress”. By 1926, Best & Co. sold “shirtmaker frocks” for sports. These frocks, made of cotton, could be monogrammed. Interestingly, the Depression played a part in the evolution of the shirtdress. As demand for men’s shirts declined, some manufacturers shifted (pun intended) to producing “shirt frocks”. Made of linen or lightweight wool, the dresses offered “choices of either skirts or culottes that looked like skirts.”
Bringing it back to the present…
In the 1930s and 1940s, the dress became known as “the button-down-the-front style” in women’s magazines. This was even as they were recognizing the shirtwaist was quickly becoming a classic in American style. If you didn’t want to buy a shirtwaist, you could make your own “Shirtmaker” with a pattern from Simplicity Patterns in 1937. And so we finally make it to the 1950s when Christian Dior reinvented the shirtdress, complete with full skirt and crinoline. In the 70s and 80s, Bill Blass (he was from Fort Wayne!) and Geoffrey Beene used luxe fabrics in unusual combinations and paved the way for the shirtdress as evening wear (source). Today, shirt dresses are a staple in most women’s closets, including mine. Here is an example in denim. In another post, I’m showing the same dress as today’s but in a different color.
The Lewk!
You’ve seen these necklaces before in this post. Apparently, I like them paired together! Both necklaces and the earrings are old and from Banana Republic. The rings are part of a set from Sundance Catalog (seen here). My dress is from J Jill and on sale with an additional discount. I’m wearing a petite. The boots are L’Artiste and are so very comfortable now. I do size up.
Not quite there yet, but…
I do not currently have any types of affiliate links…fellow bloggers, if you have any hints on how to accomplish this, I’d appreciate it. But, I thought I’d include the disclaimer information should this ever happen! Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. On this post as well as all past posts, italicized links are provided as a convenience to you.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
Even as we start to think about Spring, here in Central Indiana, it’s still cold! I often pull out a shirt dress and wear it over or under something as an additional layer. Speaking of cold, last Friday, I was able to meet Kellyann of This Blonde’s Shopping Bag! She had left 85 degree weather in Florida for the teens in Indiana! I have to tell you she is so genuinely sweet and gorgeous to boot! She was in Indianapolis for a few days and made time to meet up at the Fashion Mall. We giggled because she didn’t realize it was the actual name of the mall! I think it’s the goofiest name for a somewhat up-scale mall. Most people just call it Keystone. What do you think? Is that a silly name? And, what do you think of shirt dresses, shirtwaists, or even shirtmakers? Do you have one or two in your closet? How do you wear yours? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can have a conversation! And, thank you to my subscribers! I am so appreciative of your support!
Where I frequently link up:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, My Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag and Doused in Pink and Being a Wordsmith. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs!
What a fascinating story! I love to know all about fashion especially when it started. And how amazing to meet up with Kellyann! Isn’t that the best! Meeting other bloggers@
Well, I’d love to come see you! But, this virus…who knows if we will ever cross the Atlantic again! Nigel is not the spring chicken he once was! I hope I can convince him to travel again soon…I’m a little tired of my house right now!
I am with you on learning about anything, fashion included!
Love learning about the history of this versatile piece! I don’t actually own one though as I rarely buy anything in the form of a dress or skirt.
I never know what’s going to happen when I start a post. This just sort of came out of nowhere, but it was really interesting! I can see, with your active life, why you don’t have one, but I can highly recommend a shirt dress should you feel the need!
I don’t have a lot of shirt dresses in my wardrobe but like you I find the ones I do have really versatile – they work great as dusters! This one is a nice one on you and I like the layered necklaces too! I had no idea the history of the shirt dress or that it went back so far!
Hope you are having a great week! 🙂 Another wet and stormy one here!
Shirt dresses are one of my favorite things! You can just do so much with them!
Thanks for coming by!
Oh yes, the Fashion Mall! Ha!! I am so happy we got to meet up, hard to believe I was in such cold weather last week and now back here in the mid 80s. My goodness.
Rewardstyle is the affiliate program I use. I will email you some specifics!
xo,
Kellyann
And, be glad you’re not here today! Freezing rain…our windows are coated and look like those block glass windows! I’m so glad we were able to meet! You are such a sweet person!! I hope we meet again some time!
I would love to know more about Rewardstyle! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing the history of the shirtdress. I had no idea! Love your cool look. Those boots look fabulous with this dress!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
I love these boots so much, Kathrine. On top of looking kinda cool and edgy, they are really comfortable and easy to shop in! I was fascinated once I started digging deeper into the history aspect!
Great back story. You really worked on this one. In high school i had a shirtwaist dress in a beautiful buttery yellow. I loved that dress but one day in art class I spilled india ink on it! I still mourn that dress.
You know what, Lesley? My mom bought me a lovely yellow shirt dress when I was junior high age, I think. I never liked it but could never figure out why. I now know it was because of the neckline. I can’t wear a really deep round neck anything. I remember that dress and loved everything else about it, but I never felt pretty in it! Oh, India ink would be a bummer…if you’d known Jodie then, she would have splashed more on it and made it intentional!
I love shirt dresses! Great to hear the history! Your outfit is fabulous!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks so much, Jill! Once I started digging, it was kind of fascinating to see the evolution.
I actually have only one shirt dress at the moment and since it is too tight to wear it buttoned up I wear it as a duster. I have been on the lookout for a denim one but now that will wait since I am taking a shopping break till April =)
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Mireille, I think I probably bought some of mine when you were a teenager if not younger! You can usually count on J Jill to do a denim shirt dress every season (when you’re off your break)!
I have more shirt dresses in my closet now than ever just because it’s amazing how versatile they are!! I’m so jealous you got to meet up with Kellyann!!
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Meeting Kellyann was so much fun…the stars aligned just right! I have loved shirt dresses forever…some of mine are decades old, and I still wear them!
Interesting to learn the history of shirtdresses. You look fab in this look!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thanks, Lovely! It was a fun trip through the internet!
Interesting history on the shirt dress ! You style yours so beautifully, you really own it. Thanks for linking.
I love to find out new things and was actually rather surprised that there was so much history behind a simple shirt dress! My daughter always teases me about my love for shirt dresses! Thanks for the link up!
I really love the colour of the shirt dress! It is super flattering and is easy to coordinate with other colours – that and it really suits you! Sim x #TrafficJamWeekend
Thank you! This shirt dress is definitely something I will wear for years to come and to many different places! I’m glad you stopped by!