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| Front- and backlaced stays with tie-on sleeves, ca 1750, Italy |
There are a few of them around, all, as far as I know, have been from the first half of the 18thcentury. It seems to me that it was an informal fashion, being a bit more dressed than just wallowing around din your stays. Most extant examples I have seen have been Italian or French, so it might have been a pretty local fashion as well.
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| Stays, 1735-50 |
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| And the sleeves to go with it |
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| Stays with tie-on sleeves, 1760, possibly France |
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| I don't know anything about these, but they are beautiful! |
There are also a few paintings.
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| Well, I admit that you can't see what it looks like underneath the neckerchief, but the sleeves are tied on. A Young Lady With Two Dogs by Giacomo Ceruti |
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| Watch the reading girl! Women Working on Pillow Lace by Giacomo Ceruti, 1720's |
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| Portrait of a Lady by Francesco Zuccarelli |
I have a pair of stays that I made a couple of years ago that fit well, are structurally sound, but have started to look pretty shabby. They are also strapless, which I don’t like. If I cover them with a nice shell fabric I can add straps and if I make a matching petticoat I think I will look quite presentable, if undressed. Also, for evening I could just lace myself in a bit better, loose the sleeves and don my evening garb without much fuss.
For some reason I am stuck with thinking it should be pink. Why I do not know, as I’m not a pink sort of person. Though with a green ball gown accented with gold, a glimpse of a pink petticoat underneath would probably look quite nice. I have been drooling at Pure Silks and I’m now stuck with these three.
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| I confess, my heart beats a bit harder for this pink/gold silk brocade. But would teh fabric work for the 18th century. I want to say yes, but perhaps it is just because I want it. Any takers? |
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| Pinkish lavendel shot with gold is pretty nifty too |
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| On the other hand, my skin tone is better with cool shades. |