Chemise

Art Historical Context

Step into the intimate world of 18th-century American fashion with this delicate chemise, a linen undergarment from 1780–1800, crafted by an unknown artist. Dating to the early years of the American Republic, it served as the foundational layer of women's attire—a loose-fitting shift worn directly against the skin beneath corsets, petticoats, and gowns. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume through the Irene Lewisohn Be in 2005, this piece offers a rare glimpse into everyday life during a transformative era. Made from fine linen, a breathable and absorbent natural fiber prized for its durability and comfort, the chemise was essential for hygiene in an age without modern undergarments. Hand-constructed with precise stitching, it highlights the skilled needlework of American women, who often produced such items at home amid post-Revolutionary self-reliance. Linen's prevalence underscored economic practicality, as it was locally grown and woven, reflecting colonial resourcefulness. As a testament to unspoken domestic artistry, this chemise reveals how fashion's hidden foundations shaped social norms and personal comfort, inviting us to appreciate the quiet elegance of historical underlayers.