At 16:08 12/04/2006, you wrote:
> In a message dated 4/12/2006 9:36:06 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > Many extant corsets use chamois leather, like the leather you can use > to wash a car with. There is often a small piece, about an inch deep > inside and out, (sort of crescent shaped) under the arm towards the > front armscye, to prevent chafing.I've heard about using a wider piece of leather under the arms, although I haven't seen the originals with it. The extant stays I've seen have a thin white leather for binding, with a smooth surface. The chamois that I've seen is yellow, and has a suede-like surface. I know people like to use chamois because they can find it easily and it's thin (nicer for hand stitching). But I would like to hear more about the extant stays that use chamois leather for binding, and also those with the underarm reinforcement. Where are they? How often do those features show up in extant stays? Or do you mean something different for chamois - is it available white and with a smooth surface?
The stays that I wore belonged to Jean Hunnisett and were sold some years ago. If I had realised they were for sale I might have bid for them. I will look through my photos of originals and see whether the chamois shows up in any of them. Probably that chamois ones will be the ones I couldn't photo!
Suzi _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
