Camisole

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A modern camisole Whitecamisole.jpg
A modern camisole

A camisole is a sleeveless undershirt typically worn by women, extending to the waist. The camisole is usually made of satin, nylon, silk, or cotton.

Contents

Historical definition

Historically, camisole referred to jackets of various kinds, [1] including overshirts (worn under a doublet or bodice), [2] women's négligées, and sleeved jackets worn by men. [3]

Modern usage

In modern usage, a camisole or cami is a loose-fitting [4] [5] sleeveless undershirt which covers the top part of the body but is shorter than a chemise. A camisole normally extends to the waist but is sometimes cropped to expose the midriff, or extended to cover the entire pelvic region. Camisoles are manufactured from light materials, [6] commonly cotton-based, occasionally satin or silk, or stretch fabrics such as lycra, nylon, or spandex.

A camisole typically has thin "spaghetti straps" and can be worn over a brassiere or without one. Since 1989, some camisoles [7] have come with a built-in underwire bra or other support which eliminates the need for a bra among those who prefer not to wear one. Starting around the 2000s, camisoles have been known to be used as outerwear. [8]

A variety of sleeveless body shaping undergarments have been derived from the camisole shape, [9] offering medium control of the bust, waist, or abdomen. Such control camisoles are the most casual of shaping garments, covering the torso from above the chest to at or below the waist. They look similar to tight-fitting cotton or silk camisoles, but the straps are usually wider, the hems longer, and the stretchy, shiny fabric provides a smoothing touch.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweater</span> Piece of clothing made out of knit or crocheted material

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shirt</span> Garment for the upper body

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bodysuit</span> One-piece form-fitting garment that covers the torso and the crotch

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blouse</span> Garment for the upper body

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacket</span> Clothing for the upper body

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A babydoll is a short, sleeveless, loose-fitting nightgown or negligee, intended as nightwear for women. It sometimes has formed cups called a bralette for cleavage with an attached, loose-fitting skirt falling in length usually between the belly button and upper thigh. The garment is often trimmed with lace, ruffles, appliques, marabou, bows, and ribbons, optionally with spaghetti straps. Sometimes it is made of sheer or translucent fabric such as nylon or chiffon or silk.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bustier</span> Form-fitting strapless undergarment

A bustier is a form-fitting garment for women traditionally worn as lingerie. Its primary purpose is to push up the bust by tightening against the upper midriff and forcing the breasts up while gently shaping the waist. Nowadays, it might also be worn as a push-up bra under a low-backed dress or as a camisole for outerwear. The bustier can also be worn as a half-slip under sheer upper garments if a bold display of the midriff is not desired.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleeveless shirt</span> Shirt without sleeves, including tank tops, camisoles, and tube tops

A sleeveless shirt is a shirt that is manufactured without sleeves or with sleeves that have been cut off. Depending on the style, they can be worn as undershirts, by athletes in sports such as track and field and triathlon, or as casual wear by both men and women.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bralette</span> Lightweight bra without an underwire

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<i>Dudou</i> Traditional Chinese garment

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References

  1. Little, William G.; Coulson, Jessie Senior; Fowler, H.W. (1975). Onions, C.T. (ed.). The shorter Oxford English dictionary on historical principles . Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 272. ISBN   0-19-861126-9. 1816.... 1. Formerly applied to jackets of various kinds. 2. A woman's underbodice 1894.
  2. Timothy J. Kent (2001). Ft. Pontchartrain at Detroit: A Guide to the Daily Lives of Fur Trade and Military Personnel, Settlers, and Missionaries at French Posts. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. p. 553. ISBN   978-0-9657230-2-2 . Retrieved 2009-01-15.
  3. "camisole definition: Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)". Random House Unabridged Dictionary. Random House. 2006. Retrieved 2009-01-15. 1. a short garment worn underneath a sheer bodice to conceal the underwear. 2. a woman's negligee jacket. 3. a sleeved jacket or jersey once worn by men. 4. a straitjacket with long sleeves.
  4. "AskOxford: camisole". Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved 2009-01-15. a woman's loose-fitting undershirt for the upper body. — ORIGIN French, from Latin camisia 'shirt or nightgown'.
  5. Scott, Lucretia M. (1987-09-22). "Camisole underwire bra garment description - US Patent 4798557". Archived from the original on 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2009-01-15. Up until the present time when a woman wished to wear a camisole due to its loose fitting nature and she still required support for her breasts, she was required to wear a bra underneath her camisole to achieve the desired results.
  6. Thatcher, Virginia S., ed. (1970). The New Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary of The English Language . McQueen, Alexander. Chicago: Consolidated Book Publishers. p.  116. ISBN   0-8326-0021-0. A short light garment worn by ladies when dressed in negligee;strait jacket for lunatics or criminals condemned to the guillotine.
  7. USpatent 4798557,Lucretia M. Scott,"Camisole underwire bra garment",issued 1989-01-17
  8. Ruth La Ferla (25 October 2007). "Now It's Nobody's Secret". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-11-23.
  9. "Composite support system - Application 20060166600". Archived from the original on 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2009-01-15.

Sources