A
Chemisette (from French, "little
chemise")
is an article of women's
clothing
worn to fill in the front and neckline of
any garment. Chemisettes give the appearance
of a
blouse or
shirt worn
under the outer garment without adding bulk
at the waist or upper arm.
Chemisettes of
linen or
cotton were
often worn with day
dresses in
the mid-19th century, and could be decorated
with
tucks,
embroidery
(especially
whitework), or
lace.
When wide
pagoda sleeves were fashionable (1860s),
chemisettes might have matching
engageantes (false undersleeves).