Category: Female Clothing > Body Linen

A long shirt called 'tightness'

A long shirt called 'tightness'

CODE	Material	Standard ?	Price
BKLE0047	L i n e n	Economical	57 48.45 EUR
BKLR0049	L i n e n	High	80 68.00 EUR
BKLS0048	L i n e n	Average	62 52.70 EUR

"Tightness" is another type of chemise (a smock, type of women's camisa) mostly used from the end of 14th century to the beginning of 15th century. An essential part of women's medieval underwear. This smock is tightly fitted to the body, it has shoulder straps and gussets from the waist. The length of this chemise ends under the knees. This part of women's underwear is made of linen in natural or white color. However, on customer's request we can make a chemise from other fabrics, such as silk or wool.

Medieval chemise over the years

It is believed that a chemise was the basis of medieval underwear for women. Depending on the reenacted period, this medieval smock could be loose and not fitted to the trunk (like our long shirts from 13th and 14th century) or fitted, with shoulder straps (just like "tightness").

In 15th century women's medieval dresses were fitted and low-cut. There was a need for underwear which could fit beneath those dresses — this is the reason why it started to be tighter.

A sample of a "tightness" long shirt can be found in the Bible of Wenceslaus IV.

The task of medieval underwear was to isolate the body from the outer woollen clothes - it was the only element of garments that was regularly washed. Usually it was made of linen, for wealthier users of silk, and in the late part of the Middle Ages of cotton. It is a basic and inseparable part of medieval clothing. Medieval men's linen consists of a shirt, braies and sometimes an underwear belt, and medieval women's linen consists of a long shirt.

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