With its original, hand-written tag still attached, this vintage dickey (or, if you prefer, dicky, or dickie, or false front, or false shirt) is a convenient replacement for (and is much cooler in warmer weather than) a blouse, sweater, or other bulky items beneath a jacket, cardigan, or low-cut dress. 

Dickies were all the rage from Edwardian times through the 40s, and made a comeback in the 70s, although those were usually knit turtlenecks.

We're perplexed about the vintage of this one. The tag, fabric, and construction details all suggest early-mid-century 30s/40s. Perhaps it was repackaged by a previous seller, using a (more) modern tagging gun and plastic bag (which does not fit perfectly, so that may be a clue that it isn't original? 

Labels: original, illegible label at lower edge

Fiber/Care: the front feels like acetate or rayon blend, the back and lace feel like a cotton blend, and the side ties are rayon / washable with care

Condition: No flaws; it's brand new. BUT... although I normally clean everything so it reaches you fresh and ready to wear, I didn't want to remove the original tag to do so for this new-old-stock piece. You'll want to wash it before using it, as it's a bit musty. The ties on the sides may not be long enough for you, but you can just tie on any piece of string or leave it untied. Also, there is no closure at the back neck. Probably never was and you don't really need one. You never take off whatever you wear over it (or you'd be wearing not much at all).

Garment Measurements:
This item will fit a wide range of sizes and shapes, as it doesn't have armscyes (arm holes). It just depends on how much of your front you want it to cover and how far you want it to reach. 
 width across front is about 10"/25.5cm, back is a bit narrower.
 length of front is 19.5"/49.5cm