Confusion -- partly due to use of a slightly unfortunate word...

Posted by The Mysterious H.C. on February 27, 1998 at 19:03:56:

In response to And the actors use corsets too, written by Caroline on February 27, 1998 at 16:32:34

I think it's frankly best to avoid the word "corsets" when speaking of this period, since that tends to call to mind images of 1895-type corsets etc., which were not at all what was worn in the Regency -- and anyway, the word that was used most often by Englishwomen (certainly the word that Jane Austen used) was "stays".

The absolute degree of constraint can be debated, but I think that debates over the reality (outside of Parisian high-society circles) of such things as gown-wetting and wearing no undergarments at all tend to obscure the fact that there doesn't seem to be any real room for doubt that, overall and on the average, women of the early 1800's were definitely less constricted than those in 1750 or 1850.

The Jane Austen quote:

"I learnt from Mrs. Tickars's young lady, to my high amusement, that the stays now are not made to force the bosom up at all; that was a very unbecoming, unnatural fashion."

-- letter of September 15 1813

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REPLIES:

• The zona Marie Bernadette 19:09:38 2/28/98 (5)
  • Zonė The Mysterious H.C. 21:55:09 3/01/98 (4)
    • Bathyzonos vs. Hypsizonos The Mysterious H.C. 18:11:01 3/03/98 (2)
      • Since your on the subject of Greek & Roman... P. Bingham 23:33:23 3/03/98 (1)
        • You've have got that right, Patricia! Marie Bernadette 11:35:36 3/04/98 (0)
    • Striving for the "Grecian look" but not quite committing, eh? nfm Marie Bernadette 00:21:14 3/02/98 (0)
• I knew I could rely on you! Caroline 20:35:41 2/27/98 (0)
• Ahem.... Myretta 20:34:03 2/27/98 (0)

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