A
bedgown (sometimes
bedjacket or
shortgown) is an article of women's
clothing for the upper body, usually thigh-length and wrapping or tying in front. Bedgowns of lightweight printed
cotton fabric were fashionable at-home morning wear in the 18th century. Over time, bedgowns (also called in this context
shortgowns) became the staple upper garment of
British and
American female working-class street wear from the 18th to early 19th centuries, worn over
petticoats and often topped with an
apron. Made of sturdy cotton,
linen,
wool or
linsey-woolsey, these bedgowns were simply cut to a T-shaped
pattern, and were worn overlapped in front or with the front skirts cutaway.