Last Quarter of 18th Century

The original to this pair of stays can be found at the Manchester Costume Galleries and have been dated c.1775-1800. But you can have your own pair bespokely created for your own body shape and made using the original sewing techniques.

This pair of stays feature:

• Cotton Herringbone straps that go round the shoulder to pull them back and create a thrusted forward front shape.
• The straps cross over at the back and hook on at the front – as in the original.
• The decolletage is cut low and in a sweeping shape to support the fashion for this era
• That front curve is strengthened by an inner bust bone and layers of canvas around the front tab area beneath the bust
• There is added support by an inner busk sheath and for which we provide a cane busk (the original was whalebone)
• The CF opening is indeed functional and can be let out if needed – but it will only allow upto 1/2″ or 3/4″ probably at max.
• The stays are CB opening
• The  description of ‘half boned’ refers to the fact that there is space between each bone. ‘Fully boned’ denotes no space between each bone – if that makes sense.
• And finally  – the tabs are super fine and spindly on this particular style, and very much part of the design feature of this lovely pair of stays.
• The only part of this pair of stays that ISN’T made using the original methods are the boning channels. This is purely because of pricing issues and time issues. What is useful though is that the sewing machine actaully recreates the same stitch as the original makers used – a saddle stitch. (I know POF5 says its a back stitch but the stays we’ve studied and where we can see the inside have all been sewn using a saddle stitch)
• IF you would like to have the pair completely handsewn then the price would need to be requested and worked out to your size and final choice of styles details.  Lol it would be pricey!

Want to Know How This Works?

We know both how exciting AND nerve-racking it is choosing a new garment and having it made!

We are very happy to chat and explain the process in the introductory emails but before we start on the work we do ask our clients to provide a 25% deposit.  We will then also discuss how you would like to pay the remaining amount – for example we are open to payment plans and spreading the cost over the making period. Most peeps want to split it into 4 – ending with the final quarter being paid on the delivery of the product. 🙂 Please be open to chat about what you feel would best suit your circumstances.

Once we have the 25% deposit we will then also set a delivery and completion date. And if you do or don’t want a fitting as this can effect timings.

The next step, in order to create your bespoke pair of stays, is to send you a measurement form. This will need to be filled in by you unless you are near enough to our area to come to our workroom. We are able to offer an online video call if you feel you need help and there is also a video on our Youtube site that goes through each measurement. Click the link here for the : Stays Mesurement Form.

It also helps to have a picture of you – front, back and side  – which will give us a full understanding of your body shape and stance. This can just be taken with a strappy top on or something – but certainly an item of clothing that is figure hugging and provides us with the best depiction of your body shape.

The next stage will be to discuss the top fabric.

Included in the price are the inner linen layers, the lining, the straps etc etc – all the haby and lining bits that we will need to make your stays. However, due to the fact that you as the client are likely to want to choose your own fabric or colour for the surface layer – AND that prices of fabric can vary from £5 a mtr/yard to £250 (especially in the silk world!) – as a standard rule in our company, we leave the choice and purchase of this top cloth to our clients.

IF you simply like the ivory silk seen in the photo – then that too is fine. We will, at no extra cost, use the silk we have in stock. Please note this can range in quality but is currently a 100% silk dupion with minimal slub marks. If however you have a dream fabric in mind and would like to provide the silk, then the purchase of it and the delivery of it will be something we would ask you to organise.

We are also happy to discuss any variations to the style that you would like to see – though please note this may effect the final price.

Once we have your completed measurement and your choice of fabric in hand we will then commence our making and keep you updated as we proceed.

If you did request a fitting then the way this works is that we pay the postage to get the garment out to you – and we request that you pay the postage to get the garment back to us. We are happy to do this upto 2 times. If you request more fittings than that then we just ask if you would mind paying for both sets of postage.

And that’s it! After a couple emails showing you the progress of your stays we will then arrange for the final postage and the stays will make their way to you.

Any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Mid Eighteenth Century

Based on a pair of stays from the Manchester Costume Gallery this pair of stays will wrap round you a silhouette very much suitable for the mnajority of the 18th century – from the long torsos of the late 1600s, right through to the revamp of that long silhouette in the 1770s.

This pair of stays features:

• the firm front with a sweeping bust curve and which is supported by 3 inner bones as in the original
• It also has the inner front canvas support
• replica boning channel designs
• made up of 8 panels.
• It’s fully boned for that solid 18th c feel
• Made using the original techniques as can be found on the original. And this isn’t just for us to be clever and say how we’ve made it accurately – but those original construction techniques actually work superbly well in creating the right look, feel and wear.
• The only part that gets sewn by machine is the boning channels – but this is to save your pocket and bring the price down a bit –  and as the stitching is the same as achieved by hand we’re happy that you’ll still be getting that historical and accurate feel :).

Want to know how this works?

We know both how exciting AND nerve-racking it is choosing a new garment and having it made!

We are very happy to chat and explain the process in the introductory emails but before we start on the work we do ask our clients to provide a 25% deposit. We will then also discuss how you would like to pay the remaining amount – for example we can offer payment plans and spreading the cost over the making period. Most of our clients tend to split it into 4 payments, ending with the final quarter being made on delivery. Please feel free toc aht about what you feel would best suit your circumstances.

Once we have the 25% deposit we will then also set a delivery and completion date. Opting for a fitting can effect these timings so we will also discuss that.

The next step, in order to create your bespoke pair of stays, is to send you a measurement form. This will need to be filled in by you unless you are near enough to our area to come to our workshop. We are able to offer an online video call if you feel you need help AND there is also a video on our Youtube site that goes through each measurement. Click the link here for the Stays Measurement Form Video.

It also helps to have a picture of you – front, back and side – which will give us a full understanding of your body shape and stance. This can just be taken with a strappy top or something similar – but certainly an item of clothing that is figure hugging and provides us with the nest depiction of your body shape.

The next stage will be to discuss the top fabric.

Included in the price are the inner linen layers, the lining, the straps etc etc; all the haby and lining bits that we will need to make your stays. However, due to the fact that many of our clients often want to choose their own fabric or colour, as a standard rule we leave the choice and purchase of the main cloth to our clients. Fabric prices can vary (from like £5 a mtr/yard to £250!) it makes it very hard to include the price in the costings.

IF you simply like the blue cotton/wool fabric used in the photos then this too is fine, while stocks last. We will let you know if we no longer have this available but we currently have 5 mts in stock.

We are also happy to discuss any variation to the style photographed that you might like to change – though please note this may effect the final price.

Once we have your completed measurement form and your main fabric in our hands we can then commence out making! We tend to send a couple of emails along the way just to let you know our progress.

IF you requested a fitting then the way the fittings work is that we pay the postage to get the garment out to you – and we request that you pay the postage to get the garment back to us. We are happy to do this upto 2 times. If you desire more than 2 fittings then we would ask if you would mind paying for the remaining sets of postage.

And that’s it! Once the stays are completed we will alert you to a delivery date, check the delivery address and send them on their way to you!

Any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!