Combinations

Combinations combined chemise and drawers in one, as the name suggests. They were introduced for women in the 1870s. They were less bulky than separate underclothes and gave a smoother line to the fashionable slim silhouette. These combinations are seamed to fit the body and fasten down the front with buttons. They are fastened at the rear with a flap. Combinations for men were patented in 1862 and became highly popular in the 1880s and 1890s.

The label 'Robinson & Cleaver, London' is stitched to the inside of the neckline. During the 1890s Robinson & Cleaver advertised that they were specialists in handwoven Irish linen.