Mystery front-tie shirt

[Trish]

Hi friends,
I purchased this shirt thinking it was a man's shirt (neck size) whose shirt tails had been made into ties in the front and cut off in the back. Upon closer inspection, it looks as though it was made this way originally, and I need help to know how it might be worn.

Down the front there are two pairs of buttonholes, directly across from each other, but spaced rather far apart. At the tips of the ties there are button holes. At the sides there are two sets of buttons.

I thought perhaps the front buttonholes could be for laces, but they seem to be spaced so far apart, vertically. I tried wrapping the tip of the tails around the waist to reach the buttons, but that didn't work, either.

Your expertise is appreciated,
Trish

 

[Jonathan]

THere were probably two button links - they look like cuff links and were likely made of either white buttons like the ones on the waist to secure the tails, or covered in the same material as the shirt, with a chain link or a tab of material between the two buttons. That way you could hold the shirt closed at front to keep it from gaping open if you didn't wear anything underneath. They were optional and probably removed for laundering so no wonder they got lost.

 

[Trish]

Thank you Jonathan! That makes sense, now--the chest would be secured from coming undone as are the tails. I'll start looking for button links so I can offer a complete product. As always, I'm off to make a donation in appreciation!