stays

[robinsnest]

Okay people lets talk stays. I have one pair that I've always worn for all things 16-18th century. I know horribly wrong but close enough for me to get away with it. But I've decided it's time for new stays. For several reasons.

1. I'm fat. My old stays are just not comfortable anymore. 

2. I'm going to be volunteering at a local historical site, dated to 1750, and I want to set a good example. It is a working farm, but they've got the "farm worker" look more than covered, pretty much everyone is in short gowns, and the family took several trips a year into Philadelphia for business so I'm aiming for what the lady of the house would have worn.

3. I have an occation to wear a francaise for the first time evah and I want nice comfy stays so I can look my bestest.


SO, what pattern have you used? 

And Straps vs strapless? What's the deal? Mine currently have straps..and I guess I'd say I like them...I'm prone to slouching so anything to pull my posture up seems smart. But I read a vague reference somewhere when I googled it that strapless stays were for working..so is that more in line with what I should be doing for the historic house? OR could make ones with straps and tie them loosely or tuck them in if I found i needed to do more worky things?

Boning?

Comments

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

I can't recall which pattern I used but I went with strapless because the way the stays are constructed, the tightness of the stays and the way they sit on your hips should keep everything from moving (it does). They aren't necessary and you don't have to deal with the strap showing under the gown issue.

Duct ties for boning. I've used them on both my stays and my Mom's stays. It's comfortable, conforms to your body, can be cut to any length, and it's cheap to work with.