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Chemise, or shift, was a kind of garment (often feminine, but broadly gender neutral) that resembled a smock, typically made of linen. A chemise could be worn as a simple overgarment (as favored by commoners) or layered under more fancy clothing like a cote, dress, robe, or doublet to protect them from sweat and bodily oils.[8][15][6][16] Chemise was a common type of garb born by rich and poor alike.[11]

Beneath robes of kings and yokes of slaves, there lies a chemise.

Description[]

A typical chemise was a smock that covered a woman beginning from her shoulders and to her thigh or mid-calf. Some were sleeveless, while others had short or long sleeves.[16] Some were designed to be held together with ties. Light colors, like white or yellow, were used to dye chemises in Halruaa in the Shining South.[8][17] Tightly laced chemises were known to wrap bodies of women in the Savage Frontier[2] and in West Faerûn.[18]

Variants[]

Chemises sold via Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue were sturdy and pretty enough to be worn as outerwear, not just undergarments. The chemises were priced depending on the material: simple sackcloth was valued at 8 copper coins, linen went for two golds, imported Maztican cotton – three gold pieces, and silk – six gold pieces. Aurora's chemises came only in white, beige, or gray colors.[11]

Cormyrean chemises were dyed in loud red color, but, unlike other variants, were fitted and woven of fine silk.[3] When white chemise of any sleeve length was worn, it was topped with a smock or a bodice.[19]

Commoners of Tethyr wore a significantly simpler variant. Their chemises were drab and brown, made of simple burlap.[4]

Chemise weaved by the drow of Underdark were made of light, almost whisp-like gauzy fabric that offered little to no warmth to the wearer.[20] Elvish chemises were made using pale gray silk and worn underneath gowns.[13]

History[]

Female chemises were worn as far back as the days of the ancient Netheril.[9] Some of the Netherese wearers included the Church of Shar, whose priestly garb included black velvet chemise for the women.[14] That fashion was still worn by Shar's clergy into the late 14th century DR.[21]

Notable Users[]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Adventures

Novels & Short Stories

Organized Play & Licensed Adventures

After the Ball is Over

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Erik Scott de Bie (April 2009). Downshadow. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 5. ISBN 978-0-7869-5128-4.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Elaine Cunningham (July 2003). Daughter of the Drow (Mass Market Paperback). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 12. ISBN 978-0786929290.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (January 2012). Cormyr: A Novel (ebook ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 9. ISBN 978-0-7869-6207-5.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Victor Milán (October 1995). War in Tethyr. (TSR, Inc), chap. 17. ISBN 0-7869-0184-5.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Thomas M. Reid (November 2003). The Sapphire Crescent. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 13. ISBN 0-7869-3027-6.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Pauli Kidd (November 1996). The Council of Blades. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 2. ISBN 978-0786905317.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Template:Cite organized play/LC/After the Ball Is Over
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Elaine Cunningham (April 2001). The Floodgate. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 15. ISBN 0-7869-1818-7.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Clayton Emery (May 1996). Sword Play. (TSR, Inc), chap. 3. ISBN 0-7869-0492-5.
  10. Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 76. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 80. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
  12. Eric Cagle, Jesse Decker, Jeff Quick, and James Wyatt (March 2003). Arms and Equipment Guide 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 29. ISBN 978-0-7869-2649-7.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Richard Baker (June 2006). Final Gate. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 7. ISBN 0-7869-4002-6.
  14. 14.0 14.1 slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). Netheril: Empire of Magic. Edited by Jim Butler. (TSR, Inc.), p. Cannot cite pages from this boxed set. See {{Cite book/Netheril: Empire of Magic}} for a list of citations that may be used.. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
  15. Philip Athans (July 1999). Baldur's Gate. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 3. ISBN 0-7869-1525-0.
  16. 16.0 16.1 Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 118. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
  17. Erik Scott de Bie (March 2010). Depths of Madness. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 1. ISBN 978-0-7869-5674-6.
  18. Elaine Cunningham (June 1998). Realms of Mystery ("Speaking with the Dead"). (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-7869-1171-9.
  19. Eric Menge (January 2012). “Backdrop: Suzail”. Dungeon #198 (Wizards of the Coast) (198)., p. 72. Archived from the original on 2015-11-02. Retrieved on 2017-07-07.
  20. Richard Lee Byers (July 2002). Dissolution. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 7. ISBN 0-7869-2714-3.
  21. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 141. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  22. R.A. Salvatore (August 1994). Starless Night. (TSR, Inc), chap. 2. ISBN 1-56076-880-0.
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