A clean shirt was a public signal
Before easy access to modern laundry, keeping clothes fresh took time, supplies, and paid labor. Linen undershirts sat against the skin, absorbing sweat and oils beneath more expensive outer clothes. Changing into a clean one was therefore a practical way to feel—and appear—fresh without washing an entire outfit.
The shirt could also be seen. Its collar and cuffs often showed at the edges of a coat, so clean linen offered a bright, orderly contrast with darker clothing. A fresh layer communicated care and respectability; repeated changes could turn that impression into a display of means.
The luxury was in the upkeep
Changing shirts several times in a day required a supply of spare garments and someone to wash, dry, and prepare them. The garment itself was only part of the expense: clean linen depended on ongoing household work. For a wealthy wearer, changing again could signal that there was no need to make one shirt last.
Four changes a day was not simply a fashion preference. It made cleanliness visible through a routine that most people could not afford to repeat so often. The message was sewn into the clothes: even the layer normally hidden beneath an outfit could reveal who had the resources to keep changing.
