Dickies from the 1940s: Simplicity 9448
This re-issued pattern offers up variations on the dickey--one of those forgotten pieces of clothing. Or it is an accessory? Hard to say.
As you can see here, dickeys were pretend blouses that filled up the front of another garment. They might be worn under anything from a dress or a sweater to a suit jacket which you then never unbuttoned. Instead of an actual blouse, portions of the front and the back of a blouse with collar were made which were then kept in place by a bit of elastic at the waistline here, and with tabs and snaps or even ties in other examples. These run the range from tailored and snappy with a little bow to draped and trimmed with a tiny bit of lacy edging.
Why bother to make them? Because of a shortage of money or goods and the desire to inject some variety into a small wardrobe. During World War II, prosperity increased for many Americans as so many jobs were available, but shortages of fabrics and all kinds of other goods were common. The Make Do and Mend campaign encouraged women to recycle or to upcycle what they had in the way of clothing, and avoid any form of waste. Sewing and knitting efforts to made do and mend were featured in many magazine articles and in pamphlets devoted to the effort.
So, one solution was to make some dickeys. Most of these full dickeys require no more than a yard of fabric and the small collars require even less. Any of them might be made from remnants left over from earlier projects or from some old clothing that was worn out in places, but still had some good sections of fabrics. I understand the urge. Even now a silk blouse, sadly stained under the arms, sits in my closet as I ponder whether I could make a draped collar from the rest of it? We shall see.
You can find this pattern at your local fabric store or online here: https://www.simplicity.com/simplicity-storefront-catalog/patterns/brands/simplicity-sewing-pattern-s9448-misses-dickey-set/
