Bodice
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A bodice is an article of clothing traditionally for women and girls, covering the torso from the neck to the waist. The term typically refers to a specific type of upper garment common in Europe duri
Line art drawing of a bodice
Countrywoman's bodice, 19th century (detail of The Hay-Harvest by Belgian painter Julien Joseph)
Sketch of a separate, corset-like bodice
A woman wearing a dirndl
Corset
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A corset is a support garment worn to constrict the torso into the desired shape and posture. They are traditionally constructed out of fabric with boning made of whalebone or steel, a stiff panel in
Bodice
…into channels to shape and support the torso. Until the later 17th century, the bodice of gown was often stiffened enough on its own to make a separate Corset unnecessary; only towards the end of the century did rigid stays emerge as their own distinct undergarments, worn beneath an outer bodice or gown. The…
Pair of stays, c.1780s. Fashion Museum, Bath, England.
Humorous illustration of a variety of corset styles and designs published in La Vie Parisienne in 1881, including one for young girls (lower-left), one from the Regency era (upper-left), and one from the 18th century (upper-right). The caption in the gold frame reads: "The best thing is, without a doubt, not to wear a corset, but you have to be able to do without one, and that is, frankly, rare. One needs them, more or less (generally more than less); some corsets are beautiful, some are ugly and stupid."
Actress Bianca Lyons shows the exaggerated female curves achieved by corsets and padding, c. 1902
An award-winning advert from the back cover of the October 1898 Ladies' Home Journal