Guimpe

Guimpe (also spelled as guimp) was a high necked blouse which is not in vogue today. Such type of dress is now a thing of history. Sometimes, a guimpe used to be worn as undergarment showing beneath a low necked clothe worn by a woman. Such a garment was developed in medieval Western Europe.

It was a linen cloth, often starched, which covered the neck and shoulders of the wearer, sometimes the entire chest as well. It was worn as part of the garb of a woman of means, both to show social standing — due to the added upkeep it required, and to demonstrate the woman's sense of modesty.

The word came into English in mid 19th century from French (guimpe).