The quest for Regency uplift: J.S. Bernhardt’s 1810 Stays, View C
I love ‘Regency’ and Empire fashions: the high waisted silhouette of the 1790s to the late 1810s. However, my body does not. I’ve got small, firm, low-set breasts, very sloping shoulders, a relatively large square ribcage, and scoliosis. It’s a natural fit for 1910s, but not ideal for ca. 1800. Most of the bust supporting undergarments (whether they are stays, long or short, or jumps) of that 25-year span that I have made or tried on haven’t really worked for me. Some are literally painful: twisting my already twisted spine into unhappy positions, or trying to use my shoulders to yank my very-resistant-to-upwards-yanking bust up, and thus cutting into my shoulders. Others are just disappointing: flattening my bust into total nonexistence, or gaping sadly over each cup. Some seem OK at first, and then get progressively less comfortable over hours of wear. I’ve felt like a total costuming failure with all my attempts at making Regency/Empire stays. Some have been so bad I haven’t even been able to make myself blog them. Some of it …