The Best Historybounding Accessory? Making an Edwardian Vestee in One Day

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by Nicole Rudolph

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07.03.2025



Sometimes you just need a quick one-day project to brighten your historical (or modern) wardrobe! Enter the Vestee. Popular during the 1910s, this garment filled in and filled out the necklines of various dresses and blouses. Rather than waste fabric making an entire blouse that wouldn’t be seen, the vestee simply fills in the front and creates a dramatic effect around the neck. They come in all sorts of styles, so you’re sure to find one that suits your taste.

It’s the perfect stashbuster for small yardages of fabric and requires very little fitting effort. It’s also a great way to try out different collar styles without concern over ruining an entire big project! Try out some simple drafting, learn a new trim technique, practice your buttonholes, whatever has been daunting you- it’s time to test it out with some fabric remnants and no pressure! Then you’ll have the perfect piece to throw on under a cardigan, v-neck, or that wrap blouse that always opens too far.

Of note: Dickie or Dickey seems to refer to men’s stiffened shirt fronts during this time more so than women’s garments (those cardboard like fronts that spring up in the face in Bugs Bunny cartoons). It’s not exclusive, but Vestee, Chemisette, Collar, Jabot, etc seem to be used far more often. I, for one, am glad for this new to me term of Vestee.

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🖼 Vestee/Collar Fashion Plate: https://digital.bunka.ac.jp/kichosho_e/index.php
🖼 Doucet: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Harper_s_Bazaar/x6V7smYM6XUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vestee&pg=PA1&printsec=frontcover
🖼 Net Collars: https://archive.org/details/dgrstyle1914toro/page/n11/mode/2up
🖼 Chemisette: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Home_Needlework_Magazine/USlOAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=chemisette
🖼 Bonwit Teller: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Vanity_Fair/AsY-AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vestee&pg=RA12-PA106&printsec=frontcover
🖼 Fashion Plates: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Good_Housekeeping_Magazine/UVskheLNY20C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vestee&pg=PA206&printsec=frontcover
🖼 Buttoned Vestee: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dry_Goods_Economist/1cdFAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vestee&pg=RA2-PA143&printsec=frontcover
🖼 Checked: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Delineator/lJhJAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vestee&pg=RA5-PA84&printsec=frontcover
🖼 Lace & Net: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dry_Goods_Reporter/0ps7AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vestee&pg=RA3-PA81&printsec=frontcover

🎶Music via Epidemic Sound (https://www.epidemicsound.com)

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