Summary: The kirtle and the Shinrone Gown
Key dates:
The second style of dress for the well to do woman was this one with a low neckline which shows the chemise underneath. The wide vent of the wool bodice was laced and the quality of tailoring was very high.
A distinctive Irish style was the addition of a strip of fabric covering the top of the arm and extending to the wrist. In Shinrone, Co Tipperary a gown very similar to this was found. Many of these were very colourful. These kirtles are simple fitted dresses popular in Europe around the 14th century. In the 16th century, Lucas De Heere sketched Irishwomen wearing kirtles with contrasting petticotes, tucked up in a belt to show different coloured fabric or fur lining. The garment laces closed in the front with zig-zag lacing. The sleeves may either be of the "hanging" type shown on the Shinrone gown or tightly fitted with cuffs as shown in the picture below. The tucked-up kirtle is worn with a bag-sleeve léine or a fitted-sleeve underdress.
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