fichu
Posted by Patricia Bingham on November 13, 1997 at 21:40:46:
In response to fichu, written by Kathy Hammel on October 22, 1997 at 20:58:58
I'll start with the beginning. a fichu was a small triangular lace or thin fabric worn knotted around the neck, with the ends falling on the chest to fill in a low neckline. This was worn in France from 1779 on. It was worn in Enlgand as well as I have seen many pictures of women wearing them, especially during the Regency and in the countryside.
In the early nineteenth century it was a large triangle of net edged in lace and worn as a capelet. A capelet was a small shoulder cape with a collar.
A canezou would be similar to this later form; a waist-length jacket, sleeveless and made of lace or richly embroidered. In the 1830's it was a cape cut short and pointed, covering front and back but not the arms. By mid 19th c. it was an elaborate fichu, of muslin, lace, and ribbons covering bodice of dress.
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