Fully Boned Linen Stays - Bath Fashion Museum

Fully Boned Linen Stays

1700-1799

BATMC 1.27.865

(Image courtesy of Fashion Museum, Bath and North East Somerset Council)

 I had so much fun with this pair of stays.

There were so many details to take shots of and try and keep an idea of the feel of them.

Here's some general measurements:

CF Length = 10 3/4"

CB Length = 15 15/16"

General Waist from CB - CF = roughly 12 1/2"

As far as I can tell the detail under the arm is the same as what trims the edges. It seems to be quite a common thing to trim under the arm with a nice and soft piece of kid/skin so that the pair of stays weren't so abrasive as you moved about, but from my inspection I'd say they also used it to trim the hems.

(Image courtesy of the Fashion Museum, Bath and North East Somerset Council)

In this image above you can see quite clearly the wear and tear this garment has recieved. There's worn patches in the fabric, fraying sections and a missing silk ribbon that was used to cover the stitches used in sewing the panels together.

(Image courtesy of the Fashion Museum, Bath and North East Somerset Council)

In my rather quick diagram (I was beginning to seriously run out of time) I made notes on all the depths and lengths and sizes of the tabs and each seams. 

I hate rushing but needs must sometimes. I put so much effort in my first drawing and had to rush my last....

(Image courtesy of the Fashion Museum, Bath and North East Council)

Here's another example of the stitches used in sewing together the various panels.

(Image courtesy of the Fashion Museum, Bath and North East Somerset Council)

And here's a close up of the kid trim on the under arm.

And here's a photo of our replication of these Stays, made by us at HandBound Costumes.