Made from linen, it was washable

and protected the clothes from bodily moisture

and the body from the possibly harsh textiles being worn.

It was not meant to be seen. No knickers were worn.

Over the knee stockings, made from wool,

cotton, silk or a mixture of these yarns,

were machine or hand knitted.

They were often decorated at the ankle

with a woven design known as ‘clocks’.

Ribbon garters were tied just above the knee,

however for walking or dancing the garters were often tied blow the knee

and the stocking rolled down over them

to secure everything in place.

The dickey petticoat is a knee length white linen petticoat

worn for warmth and modesty.

Stays were made from layers of linen and boned with strips of baleen.

Some were left plain and others faced with decorative silk fabric.

They altered the body to the characteristic

18th century shape of upright flat back,

narrow conical waist and raised bosom.

Pocket bags were worn at the hips and

carried around the waist on a linen cord.

Side opening in the skirts allowed access to them.

They were made from plain or decorated fabric,

embroidered or, as in this example,

made from a patchwork of pieced fabrics.

It was possible to lose your pockets,

however, if the ties came undone:

Lucy Locket lost her pocket, Kitty Fisher found it;

Not a penny was there in it, Only a ribbon round it.

Paniers or a hip pad were worn to lift and

display the skirts and to emphasise the small waist.

The hip pad was a large roll tapering

at the ends and tied around the waist.

It may have been padded with anything from wool to cork.

At least one full-length linen petticoat was also worn.

In the winter, an under-petticoat wadded with wool and

quilted for warmth may have been worn.

During the day a linen or silk kerchief or fichu was worn

over the bosom for warmth, modesty and to protect from the sun.

It could be worn tucked into the gown or worn over the shoulders,

and sometimes it was crossed over the chest and tied at the back.

The stomacher was a decorative panel of fabric

that filled the centre front bodice of a gown.

It could have been stiffened or just lined

and had three pairs of linen tabs at the sides

to help pin it to the stays beneath.

Stomachers could be highly decorated and worn with many different gowns,

or made of matching fabric.

The gown petticoat could be made of contrasting

fabric or to match the gown.

It was lined with silk or linen and had side openings for pocket access.

Elaborately quilted silk petticoats were often worn in colder weather.

The gown is pinned into place down the side

front of the stomacher with straight pins.

The maid’s linen apron has a bib pinned into position

(the origin of the term pinafore).

She has placed the straight pins in the bib

ready for fastening her mistress’s gown.

Ribbons beneath the gown skirts are tied together

to raise the skirts into a polonaise puff.

Day caps were worn by all classes

and varied from practical to decorative.

Finally, a delicate silk or embroidered muslin apron is added

which serves no purpose, but to indicate the fine status

of the individual wearing it – conspicuous consumption!