Summary: Old English and Irish Dress - voluminous gowns and Flemish kirtles
Key dates:
For Irish women there were basically three styles of dress. The first was this voluminous style which was worn by women of means. It was really a status symbol. It was made from heavy wool which was in thick tubular folds. The neckline was V shaped and had reveres. There were bagpipe sleeves which had turned-back cuffs showing the buttoned forearms of the kirtle underneath. The belt was worn at a high waist, natural or at hip level. It was buckled and knotted so that the end hung down the front of the skirt. Some belts were very ornate. A 'Flemish' kirtle is illustrated here by Lucas De Heere. It is very similar to the Shinrone gown. Sleeves may be of the hanging variety like the Shinrone gown (and a léine worn showing through). Other sleeve options include fitted sleeves or sleeveless. If the gown is worn sleeveless, a long-sleeved linen underdress or léine must be worn.
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