…became popular. This decorative element would show under the open-front mantuas that were popular at the time. Typically this type of stays was flat lined to a decorative fabric like silk brocade. (Sketch from Doyle’s “Waisted Efforts”: 1730’s-1740’s stays)
…stays had become their own garment and they were being constructed in worsted wools, linens and leather for common people as well as the beautiful silk preferred by the wealthy. (Extant linen stays for the common woman of the mid-18th century) Excerpt from “Reconstructing History 2008”, available at your …
…(Direct excerpt from “Reconstructing History 2008 Copyrighted Available from your favorite historical pattern shop”) Since the 1660’s, stays and bodiced gowns without their skirts were practically synonymous Except for a place to attach sleeves and skirts, stays and bodiced gown linings were the same in construction. One would think stays …
.. because they were made at home as well as by professionals. Boys as well as girls wore them as soon as they were able to walk. (Extant: girls’ 18th century stays; low class (left) and high class (right)
was less rigid than in France, and the heavily boned bodice was reserved for coronations, Royal weddings, and high formal affairs. These, being well ornamented, were most likely worn on the outside of a dress. (Extant: featured and below, 1780’s silk damask English stays)
… or le corps de cour” was a boned bodice of French Court Dress. When the shoulder and neck were exposed starting in 1680 with the rounded stays, women realized it was a great way to show off jewelry, laces, and other fancy work. This bodice was worn with straps …
… short, while the back remained long. (Extant: approximate 1785 stays with back longer than the front)
… it was the direction of the bones and supporting inside bones that were important, so less seaming was used, and more boning. These later stays were often covered in plain silk or cotton and were very stiff but subtle in form. They were shaped using a steam iron. (Extant: …
…the French. French stays had more subtle shaping. In the first half of the century a long, loose robe was worn open in France to show off the decorative stays beneath. (Extant: 1770 French robes a la francaise)
…were decorated and often worn with the dress front open to show them off. Beautiful fabrics such as silk or brocade with embroidery were used as decorative features. (Photo: 1740’s decorative stomachers)
