Man's Shirt

Man's pullover 18th century shirt with shoulder reinforcement panels, neck and underarm gussets, to be made plain for the common man or fancy with chest and wrist ruffles for the gentleman.

This shirt was the basic all-purpose undergarment of its time. Therefore, it is much larger and longer than a conventional shirt. Sleeves are extremely full and long. View A is a common working man's shirt with plain front, cuffs, and button fastenings. View B is a gentleman's shirt with front neck ruffles and wrist ruffles, to be worn with cuff links. In the 18th century the presence of wrist ruffles stated that the wearer did not work with his hands.
This pattern incorporates features from 18th century shirts in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, The National Museum of American History and Gunston Hall Plantation Museum.