chemise

ΜΓ 314 Long-sleeved chemise of thick, loom-woven off-white cotton fabric. The garment flares downwards (évasé line). Its front and back sides consist of a single central fabric panel, 45 cm wide. On the left and right, an added gore widens from the armpit downwards (width: 3-4 cm in the upper part and 37-38 cm in the lower part). On the right side, the gore consists of two equally sized smaller ones. The chemise ends in a bulky, low hem at the bottom. A low upright collar of a separate double fabric band, 2.5 cm high, crowns the round neckline. It is hand-sewn across the edges whereas a sparse basting stitch extends across its middle. The collar closes with a button. The vertical opening on the breast carries on until almost halfway down, at a height of 31 cm. Both sides of the opening have a reinforced placket finish of fabric bands 2.5 cm wide. On the left there are three ready-made white buttons, paired to handmade buttonholes on the right. Beneath the opening, the fabric is gathered by a curved stitch, forming open pleats.  The long sleeves consist of a single fabric piece with an inseam. They terminate at cuffs of double fabric, 8 cm in height, that close with two ready-made white buttons like those on the vertical opening of the chemise. Over the cuff, the sleeve fabric gathers in pleats. The chemise is entirely hand-sewn. Height of the chemise: 82 cm on the front side and 84 cm on the back side. Width: 46 cm on the shoulders, 82 cm at the base. Sleeve length: 50 cm. Sleeve width: 20 cm in the upper part, 10 cm at the cuffs. Date of entry to the Collection: 13.9.1980 Provenance: Polemi, Pafos – Purchased from Ioannis Theodotou.