Wanted: Lady's Maid....

[j_cheney]

Must be sarcastic and out-spoken, but good-natured, not prone to theivery, and really good at lacing up a corset....

Seriously folks, how the heck did women do this on a daily basis?

I got my corset in the mail today, (plain black Duchesse satin) and immediately tried it on over my jogging shorts (black) and my t-shirt (black). I made a bizarrely Athletic-Goth picture when I looked in the mirror, but was gratified to discover that everything was adequately covered, even my chest (this is an overbust, girls).

But lacing the thing? Wow, I had enough trouble manipulating the busk! (Just nod and smile here, those of you who don't know what a busk is.) Also, the busk allows a narrow sliver (maybe 1/4 inch) to show, so I'll definitely be wearing something under it. (Which is a good plan anyway.)

I'm seriously grateful that displaced_texan will be there to help me lace!

And for sarah_prineas, I now know why he had to use the pen-knife. ;o)

Comments

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Back-lacing is associated with the Victorian and Edwardian periods (don't even ask about the S-curve corset ::shudders::), although I'm not certain about the Georgian. (Just can't remember).

If I recall correctly, our Revolutionary War period was front-lacing also. I have no idea when we switched over, but sometime long before 1863...

I was surprised to find patterns for Civil War (ours) re-enactment dress in the pattern books at the fabric store. And I'm not talking Halloween costume-variety. These were serious, down to the undergarments patterns. Most interesting.

[gabriel-writes.livejournal.com]

Simplicity is stocked well with them. When I worked for a fabric store we had shoppers from the various reenactment groups looking not only for the patterns, but authentic period materials as well. To my mind, they were making museum quality stuff...

A chemise was usually worn underneath the corset, if I'm not mistaken, for the reasons you state...

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much what I figured. You can't replace a corset all that easily or inexpensively, but the chemise can be shredded for rags.

I got a strapless camisole....which should do the job ;o)

It was Simplicity that I noted had the most authentic looking stuff. The Re-enactors blow my mind--it's hard for me to imagine wanting to do that kind of thing....but then again, I fence.....so I shouldn't roll my eyes over other people's weird hobbies....

[tchernabyelo.livejournal.com]

For some reason, I have a complete Costume Gap (and much of a History Gap) from about 1725 through to about 1850.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm, Georgian and Regency....tsk, tsk!