Chemise Dress

High-waisted, long women's dress with relatively deep cut, square neckline and short puff sleeves. In the front the chemise flows downwards without wrinkles on the body, leaving the feet visible, whereas in the back the extended fabric is fine-pleated at the waist. Decorative tulle additions combined with vegetal décor in white and silver embroidery above the skirt hem and at the neck give the dress’ simple silhouette an elegant appearance. The light, flowing chemises (so called because of their shirt-like cut), which are preferably made in light cotton, were worn with undercoats, an undergarment or a flesh-colored tricot. The new, light clothing was created in England towards the end of the 18th century and was based on ancient models (fashion à la grecque). Former artificiality in the form of corset and crinoline was replaced by the ideals of simplicity, convenience and naturalness, which were propagated in the course of the enlightenment and the rediscovery of classical antiquity.