Category: Female Clothing > Body Linen

Tight linen chemise

Tight linen chemise

Century: XIV, XV

CODE	Material	Standard ?	Price
BKLE0047	L i n e n	Machine-made	57.00 EUR
BKLR0049	L i n e n	Hand-made	80.00 EUR
BKLS0048	L i n e n	Mixed	62.00 EUR

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Our tight linen chemise is a type of women's medieval shirt worn in 14th and 15th century. It is a basic element of women's medieval underwear.

This tight linen chemise is closely fitted to body shape, it has shoulder straps and it is widened with gussets in waist area. The length of this medieval underwear ends under the knee. Our chemise is made of linen in natural or white color. On customer's request, we can make this medieval shirt in other colors or we can use a different type of fabric, like silk or cotton.

*Please write the chosen size in the additional information field while placing the order.
If needed, there is an option of ordering a chemise in a custom size.

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Sources for tight chemises

Examples of tight chemises can be found on illustrations in the Bible of Wenceslaus IV.

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Main Features

- made of natural, sheer linen
- with historically correct sleeveless design
- fitted to body shape

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Underwear in the Middle Ages

The role of medieval underwear was to isolate body from outer clothing, which was often made from wool. Underwear was the only part of clothing which was washed regularly.

Usually medieval underwear was made from linen, later also from cotton. Wealthier people wore underwear made of silk. It is a basic part of any medieval set of clothing.

Medieval underwear for men consists of braies and shirt, later also a suspender belt. Underclothing for women consists of a long medieval shirt – often called a chemise.

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Medieval chemise over centuries

It is believed that a chemise was the only part of women's medieval underwear. Depending on the reenacted century, chemise can be loose (like our chemises from 13th and 14th century) or closely fitted to the body with shoulder straps.

In the15th century, women's dresses were already fitted to body shape and low-necked. This is the main reason of creating a new type of chemise which would match such type of outer garments.

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