Pop-over dress

Description

This simple Pop-over dress designed by Claire McCardell (1905-1958) for the label 'Claire McCardell Clothes by Townley,' features a wrap-style closure with a matching fabric belt, made of men’s shirt fabric. Born in Frederick, Maryland, McCardell pioneered the creation of casual, comfortable American sportswear for women. The “Pop-over” dress is one of McCardell’s most famous creations, made in response to Harper’s Bazaar editor, Diana Vreeland, and editor-in-chief, Carmel Snow. Vreeland asked McCardell to make a dress for the busy housewife who still wanted to look stylish while taking on more household duties during World War II. While the original Pop-over was made in denim and included an attached oven mitt, McCardell reimagined the design many times over her career. In wartime, McCardell used domestic suppliers that typically catered to men’s shirts and pajama markets.