Shirt

Unknown

ca. 1780 · linen · Costume Institute

This nicely finished example of a late 18th-century men's shirt shows the typical cut of the period. Gussets below the arm were used to allow freedom of movement while the gusset on the shoulder assisted with fit, allowing the fabric to not pull tightly through the neck and chest. The unique piecing on this shirt approximates the shape of the body and allows for more fullness at the front without adding bulk at the waist.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1780

Medium

linen

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of the D. A. R. Fort Greene Chapter, Brooklyn, 1924