I had read that to make my costume truly authentic I needed to start with regency-correct underwear, which meant stays. Stays are the foreunner to the corset, and instead of boning they have cording, with a busk centre front. I was keen to get the ‘uplift’ of a corset, especially as I had seen some photos of homemade dresses which had ended up without a great deal of support (it looked like!)
I found this pattern on the Jane Austen centre website - which looked a little daunting. My friend Saira who runs The-Stitchery here in Lewes gave me some advice about corsetry and showed me the Rigilene synthetic boning material that she recommended I use. You can see I was wavering already as regards the period-correct detail!
When I studied the La Mode Bagatelle pattern that I’d bought, I realised it included a ‘bodiced petticoat’, so actually I could get away without the stays. Hurrah! As Jessamyn says, that means about a quarter of the work. Although she also says the bodiced petticoat doesn’t work for large busts, and on this I have to disagree.
Once I got going on the petticoat I decided I would give myself a break. I would wear a bra – one I knew gave me a good ‘uplifted’ shape. Stays or corsets – they would have to wait for another project. I had to think of the principal reason I was making this outfit – to wear on Bonfire night, which means walking in processions through the town all evening (about 6 miles in all), plus all the standing around at the firesite, carrying flaming torches and looking generally dignified in front of a huge audience – I had to think of comfort above all!
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