Medieval Female Underwear

This is a post about my research about male underwear during the middle ages and renaissance. It is mostly a photo reference post. At the end there is a list of neat links.

Women wore a number of layers of clothing nearest the skin was the chemise or shift. She would also wear stocking. Some new sources show that at least some women wore clothing with sown breast support.

The shift, chemise or smock

Women would wear chemise or shift (særk), which could have long sleeves, short sleeves or shoulder straps. The length could vary. More often than not the chemise was made from uncolored and unbleached linen. As time goes by the simple shifts become quite elaborate chemises.

Shifts with shoulder strips or short sleeves

It would seem that the shifts with shoulder strips are used for bathing or by bathing assistances as well as for underwear. Some of them are very sheer, while others looks like supportive clothing.

Women in a shift c. 1376. Here I notice that it is two parts with a waistline just under the breast.
Bathing attendens in shifts and head wrappings, late 1300’s
Bathing attendens in shifts and head wrappings, late 1300’s
Woman with bath equipment. 1390-1400 No I don’t know what the beast is
Women in her very see though shift c. 1390
Bath assistent in shift, c. 1400
Bath, c. 1360-1410
Fancy lady in her shift c. 1450
A man making shifts. They look to be either ready made or made to order in bulk, 1467
A woman working in her shift. Second half 1400’s
Woman in a shift, possibly bathing wearing a little hat, 1514
bathmaid in shift with narrow shoulder strips and weird hat, 1585.

Long sleeved shifts and chemises

Chemise, 1378 Note center core and inside and outside sleeve seams.
Lady in her shift, 1400’s
Woman in bed wearing her chemise, early 1400
Lady in her smock, c. 1420–1468
Female shield supporter wearing a see-through chemise & henin
Very thin shift c. 1494
Young women in shifts 1485
Notice the women’s smock; linen head coverings, c 1500
Notice the women’s smock; linen head coverings, c 1500
Bathing woman some in shifts, c. 1525
Long sleeved shift c. 1550’s
Smocks of the 1500’s

 

Stockings – short hose

Women also wore stockings or short hose (korthoser) – normally the short version that ends under the knee and is kept up with a garter – either made from leather or woven tape.

A woman with an open hood and long liripipe. She is showing her short hose and poulanes. late 1300’s
Short hose, late 1400’s Warming by the fire
She is wearing black hose and small black shoes. She is lying on her floor while her husband beats her. c. c 1490-c 1500

 

Unmentionables

Breast bags, knickers and bras

Useful links

 


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