A lightweight, short jacket or shawl worn by women in the 19th century, often made of lace or fine fabric.
From French 'canezou,' possibly from an African word or Creole origin, though the exact etymology is uncertain. The garment became popular in European fashion during the 1800s and the name traveled with the fashion.
Fashion historians love the canezou because it represents Victorian women's practical adaptations—they needed something warm but not as restrictive as their main gowns, so this lightweight layer solved the problem. It was especially popular in French fashion!
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