Poet's Shirt from 1820's-1830's - Pattern for shirt for Men & Women by Folkwear

The Romantic Revival of the early 19th century found expression even in the way the poets dressed. Byron, Shelley, and Keats wore their collars open - a revolutionary digression from fashion. French authoress George Sand took not only a man's name, but men's colthing to express her views on the equality of the sexes. Our Poet's Shirt dates from the 1820's and 1830's and was worn by non-poets with the collar turned up and wrapped with a carefully tied cravat. Boys' collars often had an added ruffle, as in View B, and were worn open. All the pieces of the shirt are rectangular, except the neck facing. Full sleeves with underarm gussets are gathered at the shoulder; the straight collar falls back from a faced front slit opening.