What is a "partlet"?

A partlet is a type of garment that was popular among women in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was a sleeveless undergarment worn over a woman's dress or gown and designed to cover the neck and chest. Partlets were often made of fine linen or lace and were typically decorated with embroidery or lacework. They were a practical garment, as they helped to keep women warm in chilly weather, and also served to provide modesty and decorum by covering the exposed areas of the upper chest and neck. Partlets were worn by women of all classes, from the wealthy upper classes to the working poor.