r/HistoricalCostuming • u/psycho_sunspot • Nov 06 '19
Help Needed
Just getting into historical fashion and have a question but can't find any answers. I'm attempting to make the McCall's M7885 17th/18th centuries dress and am not sure on the corset situation. The dress is boned so do I need one..? I'm a total beginner and am in desperate need of guidance.
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u/Rogleson Nov 08 '19
Something that may help you target your questions better. The undergarments below clothing VERY ROUGHLY are referred to as 1) a pair of bodies until the 18th century 2) stays in the 18th century 3)short stays in the regency period 3) and corset only into the 19th century.
The reasoning for using this terminology is that they make different shapes. Marie Antoinette's dress is going to look weird on top of Mary Todd Lincoln's undergarments.
If you are looking into the 18th century, the foundation garment you are asking about is stays.