Sleeveless Bodice

THE SLEEVELESS BODICE is an indispensable work and undress garment, sometimes called the "French style" bodice. Ours are reversible and come with a pair of metal stays that slide into a casing each side of the center front. These stays keep the front from doing the "crumple" when laced up snugly. The sleeveless bodices come in sizes SMALL (actual waist measure is 29"), MEDIUM (measures 33"), LARGE (41") and QUEEN (47"). Please note that these measurements are what the bodices themselves measure but because of the laced-up front they do have quite a size leeway. We will also make them small or larger by special order. By the way, they also come with a black cotton tie.

Our STRAW HATS come in two sizes and several styles. The larger makes an excellent sun shade, while the smaller size can be turned up in the back and trimmed from plain to saucy. The other style for the smaller brim is the "bergere" , in which the brim is left flat. These can be fabric covered --or not, trimmed with flowers or other items of nature--or not . They can be done up to match a specific gown or to go with everything. The "bergeres" are worn tipped over the forehead and were very popular evidenced by the number existing in collections today. (Annie's favorite)

The famous ATTITUDE HATS are of wool or fur felt and can come in a wide variety of colors (but please call for availability of your color choice!) Black, however is usually in stock. The hats can be done up in two basic styles--with one side up or two sides up. If two sides are put up the front is sharply pointed. We trim them with luxurious ostrich plumes and finish it off with a ribbon cockade of an appropriate color centered with a pewter button.

A possible "progression" of a gown………………….

We propose that a gown could go from new and lovely to well used, outdated, stained or torn to a new life as another garment. The new garment would of course take less fabric as in a jacket from the petticote or a as in a sleeveless bodice, made from the top of a gown with the sleeves out, the arm opening would necessarily be larger to cut away the sweat staining and rotting fabric. Fabric was dear and expensive and those ladies were very clever and thrifty. Waste not - want not. Could this have happened - sure. Did it happen - probably. Can we prove beyond a shadow of doubt that it did indeed happen - NO.