Quote Originally Posted by OC Richard View Post
It's the "supposedly" part I worry about. I'd like to see the paintings.
Well, that's why I put the "supposedly" in my statement. Grain of salt and all.

I looked at the paintings they referenced in that pattern, and it does seem to be pretty accurate on all the details except the ties. (Note, I was referencing fabric ties at the top, not the leather laces you're talking about on pirate shirts.) From the paintings I see, the collars were either closed with a button or a tied kerchief, even though the chest area of the shirt remained open/gapped below the collar. Perhaps the sewn-in fabric ties were added to the Folkwear pattern just for convenience, to allow some sort of integral closure.

If nothing else, this stands as an example of how historical styles can be manipulated by modern costumers and passed off to the public as being authentic when they're not.