Size 22 18th Century Half boned Stays

Pattern by: JP Ryan

Made in the USA

Stays in the 18th century were worn to reshape the upper body. High fashion stays with shoulder straps were designed to create a fairly straight line from the bosom to the navel. Stays were the basic foundation garment upon which all subsequent garments were built. In The Virginia Gazette of 1774 “Run away . . .  a Welsh woman . . .  had on, and took with her . . .  an old pair of green coloured stays” as cited in Wives, Slaves, and Servant Girls.