Clothing Definitions — definitions of garments and clothing terms from Apparel Search
A bodice is an article of clothing for women, covering the body from the neck to the waist. The term comes from pair of bodies, because the garment was originally made in two pieces that fasten together. In historical dress the bodice was the structured upper part of a gown, often stiffened and shaped to the torso, worn over a chemise and combined with a separate skirt. This page explains the bodice's construction and history, and how the word is used today for the upper section of a dress as well as for separate tops in traditional and formal wear.
A bodice is an article of clothing for women, covering the body from the neck to the waist.
The term comes from pair of bodies (because originally made in two pieces that fasten together, frequently by lacing).
In common usage, bodice refers to a sleeveless upper garment, often low-cut, worn in Europe from the sixteenth century to the eighteenth century, either over a corset or in lieu of one. To achieve a fashionable shape and support the bust, the bodice was frequently stiffened with bents (a type of reed), or whalebone. Bodices survive into modern times in the traditional folk dress of many European countries.
Bodice continues in use to refer to the upper portion of a one- or two-piece dress to distinguish it from the skirt and sleeves.
| The above article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/bodice ). 8/8/05 |
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The Bodice in Dress ConstructionIn dressmaking, the bodice is where fit is won or lost. Darts, seams and sometimes boning shape flat fabric to the curves of the torso between neck and waist, and the waistline seam where bodice meets skirt sets the proportions of the whole dress. A well-fitted bodice sits smoothly without pulling across the bust or gaping at the neckline, and in formal and bridal wear the bodice often carries the dress's main decoration — lace, beading or embroidery — while the skirt stays comparatively plain. The separate bodice survives in traditional costume, where it is laced over a blouse and skirt, and in historical re-creation dress. Understanding the term also helps when reading older fashion writing: references to a dress's bodice, its bodies, or a pair of bodies all point to this same upper section, the tailored foundation on which the rest of the outfit is built. Common QuestionsWhat does the word bodice come from?Bodice comes from pair of bodies: the garment was originally made in two pieces that fasten together, and the plural-sounding bodies gradually contracted into the single word bodice. The name is a reminder that the garment began as constructed pieces rather than one cut of cloth. What part of the body does a bodice cover?A bodice covers the body from the neck to the waist. In a dress it is the upper portion, joined at the waistline to the skirt; historically it was a separate, often stiffened garment laced or fastened over the torso. How is a bodice different from a corset?A bodice is the outer upper garment of a dress or outfit, while a corset is a structured undergarment worn to shape the torso. Historical bodices could be boned and firm, but their role was to form the visible top of the dress, not solely to reshape the figure underneath. More to ExploreMore from Apparel Search: Clothing Definitions | Clothing Industry Glossary | Fashion Terms | Apparel Search Home
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