Ninety-nine years ago, women might have been dreaming about wearing these dresses:
April fashions from Delineator, [EDIT s/b 1920!] 1914.
Butterick patterns from Delineator, April 1920, page 151.
Here they are in detail, in no particular order:
Butterick 2250, with bolero jacket; illustrated in Delineator, April 1920, page 151.
The word “vestee” is used rather loosely. Other Butterick patterns from this year, in the collection of CoPA, have a line on the bodice pattern for cutting the “suspender top vestee.” I would guess that this dress has a side seam opening, closed with snaps, or hooks and bars. (A hook and bar at the waist is always a good idea!) The bolero jacket has an interesting back; close-fitting sleeves, trimmed with many buttons, are an option. Butterick 2250, April 1920.
Two-piece outfit: Butterick waist (bodice) 2265 with pleated skirt 2170. Delineator, April 1920, p. 151.
Alternate views of Butterick 2265 and 2170. Longer sleeves and/or a collar were optional.
Butterick 2229 has decorative buttons running along the outside of the sleeves and the skirt. Delineator, April 1920, p. 151.
Butterick 2272 from Delineator, April 1920, p. 151. It has bust darts at the shoulders.
Butterick also sold embroidery patterns.
Butterick 2241 from Delineator, April 1920. This combines a tunic top with the peg-top look of previous years.
The handbag pattern is Butterick 10810. That hat is rather wonderful and would be easy to duplicate.
Butterick 2264 from Delineator, April 1920, p. 15.
Note the tassel — probably one end of the rope belt.
The skirts of No. 2272 and 2229 stick out from the body in a similar way.
Although perfectly authentic, these styles might be better suited to comedy (or comic characters) than to serious plays. We always have to consider audience expectations — and that includes changing ideas of beauty.
Of these six designs from April 1920, I know which I would rather wear!
Butterick 2250, with bolero jacket; illustrated in Delineator, April 1920, page 151.
witness2fashion 
“Changing ideas of beauty” indeed. It is a rare woman today who wants a hip widener, especially one wide enough to put an umbrella in!
I love your choice for personal favorite. Mine would be the other navy choice: 2241.
That brown number (the upper left picture on the pattern package) is reminiscent of the barrel-on-suspenders get-up that rodeo clowns wear for protection.
Thank you! I knew I’d seen that look somewhere before!
Thank you! Now I’ve seen that I just can’t un-see it!
Lovely designs of their times. I would definitely wear just the “vestee” bolero in #2250 in my own modern way — maybe in velvet.
The other skirt is reminiscent of cartridge pleating on steroids…..
2229 has pockets!! we havent changed so much as women
Now that we need pockets more than ever, they seem to be harder to find on clothes (A pocket takes time and adds to construction costs.) Perhaps the combination belt and pocket of 1917 will make a comeback. (Now, where did I put my phone…?)