Spanish Jerkin, ca. 1580

Myth: Things are "always" a certain way, or it "never" happens at all.

Don't believe anyone who claims it always happens one way, or never happens another way. Costume research for this era is a working theory in progress. We can develop the best theory of how garments were created or worn, but it will be hard to find definite proof on most items, unless it has survived time, like extent garments.

This garment looks like it opens down the front, like many jerkins and doublets do. But to say such garments always open down the front, or never lace up the back would be a mistake. This is what the museum writes about this doublet, even tho' you don't get to see the back.

Decorative buttons made of boxwood at the center front give the illusion of a closure, when in reality the wearer would have required help getting dressed due to the laced closure located at the center back.

Metropolitan Museum of Art. Jerkin, ca. 1580, Spanish, Brown silk voided velvet trimmed with metallic bobbin lace (26.196). Retrieved January 4, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/expl/hod_26.196.htm