Cotton Wedding Lingerie, Met Museum, 1877

Though you can’t see much of it, this is a FABULOUS example of a shift. Though it says 1700s-1800s on V&A’s website, the blackwork looks earlier to me.. But hey, they’re the experts! It is made with a huge amount of linen, tediously gathered at the neck and sleeves. Instead of using seams, the maker attached the sleeves and gussets on with embroidered insertions. I cannot get over how beautiful this is!

Though you can’t see much of it, this is a FABULOUS example of a shift. Though it says 1700s-1800s on V&A’s website, the blackwork looks earlier to me.. But hey, they’re the experts! It is made with a huge amount of linen, tediously gathered at the neck and sleeves. Instead of using seams, the maker attached the sleeves and gussets on with embroidered insertions. I cannot get over how beautiful this is!