“Renaissance Memories” Chemise Dress

Renaissance Chemise dress with square neckline

I always loved the mornings on the hottest days. They would start out crisp and cold, often misty, and the temperature would climb during the day. She would always walk through the garden on those mornings, her underdress floating in the breeze, her hair uncovered and gleaming in the sun… As I grow older, those mornings truly have become a warm memory.

Our “Renaissance Memories” collection is a new series of items that combines historical beauty with ArmStreet’s unique design principles to create something beautiful and unique. All of the items from this collection are familiar yet still new and fresh, made to flatter the modern body and accentuate feminine beauty. It is easy to imagine a number of different characters wearing these items, from noblewomen to merchant’s daughters, politicians and even fashionable townsfolk.

A chemise is the medieval equivalent of underwear for a woman. Usually in the form a loose fitting dress, these undergarments were crafted from thin, soft textiles that would feel comfortable against your skin, even after a long day. These dresses would absorb sweat, oil, and protect the more expensive outer garments from unnecessary damage they would experience if the chemise was not worn. When it comes to creating a realistic costume, a chemise is also an excellent way to add an extra skirt and make everything else more voluminous and layered.

This chemise features a lot of soft curves and gentle shapes. The shoulder seam is closely fitted, puffing out slightly with the help of a number of delicate pleats, and gathering again at the bicep with a linen drawstring. From there the sleeve becomes less fitted, flaring out to an attractive bell shape that drapes from your arm. We’ve evoked the renaissance silhouette with the square neckline, which is complemented with even more pleats along the bust similar to those you’ll find on the shoulders. From here the dress billows out to create a dreamy silhouette, loosely draping across your body in what becomes a generously sized skirt. As you walk, this chemise will hug your upper body and dancing in the breeze below the waist.

We have crafted this chemise from our fine linen, which is the same linen we use for all of our other chemises and medieval underwear. The linen is light, tightly woven and soft, making it the perfect base layer for your medieval outfits. We have gone the extra mile and finished the seams on this garment in an elegant way, including cotton lace to finish the main inside seam.

To check how to measure yourself please click here.

Please contact us if you have any additional questions.