Drawers

Like the shirt, linen drawers were part of 18th-century men’s underwear, although less commonly worn. They were usually made of linen, a washable and durable fabric, in a simple construction. The stitching on 18th-century underwear is extremely fine, in order to prevent the seams from fraying during the harsh hand-laundering process.

Drawers copy the shape of the breeches worn over them, with linen tapes fastening at the knee and holding up the stockings. The waistband buttons in front and usually features eyelet holes at the back. These were tied with linen tape, allowing a degree of ‘give’ in an age before the use of elastic in clothing.