Popover is a type of dress originally designed by Claire McCardell in 1942. The outfit type became the basis for a variety of wrap-around dresses. It was created as a response to a Harper's Bazaar challenge to create something fashionable one could wear to clean the house and then, wear to a cocktail party. The simple grey dress came with a matching potholder that fit into the dress pocket. The "Popover Dress" sold for $6.95 and more than 75,000 were sold in the first season alone. These dresses became a staple of McCardell collections and over time, Claire McCardell made versions in different lengths and fabrics. The "Popover Dress" received a citation from the American Fashion Critics Association and in 1943, McCardell won a Coty Award.
A versatile wrap dress, the popover dress could be used as a bathing suit cover-up, house dress, dressing gown, or party dress."Claire McCardell: "Popover" dress (C.I.45.71.2ab) | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History" The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Web. 14 Nov 2009. It is often considered iconic of the American Look.
See also
Wrap dress American sportswear Claire McCardell
References
Further reading Works of art MET Museum for an example of the dress. The 1940s by Robert Sickels pages 88, 238 The Little Black Dress and Zoot Suits: Depression and Wartime Fashions by Alison Behnke pages 45, 54