Greetings all - After being out last week, I saw this thread and, as a 18th
century living historian (i.e. Rev War reenactor) I had to weigh in. PLEASE
note that stays and corsets are two different garments as Carol has pointed
out. Stays, whilst some may have tabs at the bottom, basically stop at the
waist. Corsets, however, came down further on the hips. They basically
created two very different body shapes - stays, what I describe as an
"inverted triangle" and corsets, the waspish figure. (In the 18th century,
the desired posture or 'look' was shoulders back, a smooth front and a
narrow waist with the bum accented by a bum roll. (Talk about something
that doesn't compute in today's world...padding your bum to make it look
bigger!?! ;-)
In scanning the previous responses, I believe that most of the resources
would provide you with corsets. If, in the course of your research, you
find she was an 18th century person, try googling Revolutionary War clothing
or sutlers and you can find reproduction stays.
Good luck! Best, VivianLea
VivianLea Stevens
Curator
Old Barracks Museum
101 Barrack Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
888-227-7225 phone
609-777-4000 fax
www.barracks.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Carol Kocian
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 11:57 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Reproduction Corset
> I have done a good deal of research, and our "corset lady" was definitely
> a "tight lacer." The 11th and 12th ribs (sometimes call floating ribs as
> they do not attach to the sternum) nearly form a circle when they should
> stop at the sides, and the other bottom ribs are most definitely curved
inward.
She sounds interesting!
The part of your first note that caught my attention was asking for
18th or 19th century corsets. It was the waist-pinching of some eras
in the 19th century that caused the deformities. While a slim waist
was admired, the emphasis of most of the 18thC was pulling the
shoulders back and a high, rounded bustline. If someone was in stays
from childhood, his or her entire ribcage might be rounded more than
the natural oval shape, which is different than you describe.
That's why I was hoping you knew the dates of the woman's life, and
could find a corset style that reflected her shape.
-Carol
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