Dreaming about 1920's men's shirts

Readers, what is it about 1920's men's shirts that makes them so alluring?

It's hard to separate the shirt from the homoerotic imagery of illustrator J.C. Leyendecker, whose artwork was so often used to advertise American menswear during this period.   Check out this Pinterest board and you'll immediately know what I'm talking about.  Be still my heart!

So I was excited to find this shirt pattern recently on eBay.





I'm almost certain it's from the early 1920's (because of the "Deltor" in the title) even though roughly the same pattern had been around for decades.  Mine originally sold for 40 cents (or 1 cent at Joanne sales).

Here's one (for sale by New Vintage Lady on Etsy) that was priced at only 15 cents.  Notice how similar these Buttericks are.



And here's another.  This one sold for 25 cents: presumably it's later than the one above but earlier than mine.  A slightly different collar shape is the only difference I notice -- you?  (Tie shape/length too)



I originally read about these shirts over at the fascinating blog Unsung Sewing Patterns.  (Also here.)  They were often called outing shirts or negligee shirts.  They had either separate left and right front pieces like most modern dress shirts (called a coat closing back then), or were made from a single front piece with a center placket and were pulled over the head like nightshirts.  The collar is detachable.

I made a late-Thirties shirt with a detachable collar a few years ago.  Honestly, I never wear it with the collar but it was still fun to make.

My 1920's Butterick shirt pattern should arrive in the mail any day now.  I'm excited.

Have you ever made a shirt -- or any clothes -- from this pre-Thirties period?  I've grown to love Twenties styles (for men and women), many of which look more modern and wearable to me than the fashions of the Fifties.

In other news, I'll be gone for the next few days but hope to be back on the weekend to continue my other Twenties project, the kimono robe and women's pajamas.

Enjoy the rest of the week!

(For you insatiable Leyendecker fans, this tumblr.)