A habit shirt was worn by ladies in the 18th century with the riding habit, a 3 piece suit for women. While a man wore a pair of breeches, a waistcoat and a frock coat, a lady wore a petticoat, waistcoat and jacket. Underneath, both genders wore white linen shirts. Ladies had the option of either plain collars, worn with a cravat or stock, or ruffled collars, worn with contrasting ties. This style of shirt was also worn with the redingote which became popular in the 1780's.
The habit shirt closed at center front like a modern shirt. Where an 18th century man's shirt was of equal proportion both front and back, the woman's habit shirt was longer in the front and shorter in the back, which reduced bulk around the torso. The woman's shirt also had linen tape ties that held the shirt securely closed and in place under the waistcoat.
This original pattern is based on habit shirts in the collection of The Hereford Museum and Art Gallery, Hereford, England. These examples have plain collars, front ruffles and sleeve ruffles. Habit shirt cuffs were either fastened with Dorset thread buttons or had buttonholes for sleeve-buttons, the 18th C. term for cufflinks.
