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A bodice is a usually sleeveless, women's undergarment for the upper body. Through history there have been various styles of bodice including supportive and restrictive corset styles and delicate styles.
In dressmaking, the term bodice refers to the top part of the dress.
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A busk was a stiffener made from wood, whalebone, metal or other material inserted in the front of a corset. The name was also applied to a corset containing such a stiffener. Busks were made in various shapes with matching names such as 'spoon busk' 'swan bill busk' and 'pear shaped busk'.
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A camisole is a woman's under-bodice with shoulder straps. Camisoles were originally developed as a cover for the corset. During the 20th century the term camisole became applied to a simple cotton top for women, often decorated with lace.
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A corps de fer is an iron corset covered in fabric.
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A corps pique is a quilted corset.
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A corselette is a woman's undergarment combining a girdle, usually a short girdle, with a brassiere, and forming a lighter weight version of the corset.
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A corset is a tight-fitting article of dress, worn principally by women, to give shape to and support the body. A corset consists of a sort of closely-fitting jacket, usually stiffened by strips of steel, whalebone, or other means, and tightened by a lace. The materials of which it is made should be smooth and elastic, and it should be specially fitted for the individual wearer, as no two human figures are precisely alike. It is likely that in the Victorian era women did abuse corsets in order to compress the body, and texts at the time reminded their readers of the dangers of such actions, stating that corsets are meant to preserve a good figure, not to make one, and any forcible compression of the shape, especially on young persons, will only end in destroying natural grace of movement and in serious injury to the health.
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A girdle was originally a type of belt or cord worn around the waist to both secure the clothing and provide a means for carrying a purse or weapon. During the early Middle Ages a woman's girdle would hang down her centre front and at the end would be a book, pomenade, mirror or similar object.
A girdle is a woman's body-shaping undergarment consisting of an elasticised corset which usually extends from the waist to the thighs. Shorter girdles are often known as a 'pantie girdle'.
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A gourgandine is a soft corset without support staves.
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Planchette is a French term for a padded corset.
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The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
©1993 - 2009 The Probert Encyclopaedia
Southampton, United Kingdom
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