Le site utilise des cookies pour le fonctionnement des boutons de partage sur les réseaux sociaux et la mesure d'audience des vidéos et des pages de ce site. En poursuivant votre navigation sur ce site, vous acceptez leur utilisation. En savoir plus et gérer ses paramètres ici. > Fermer

  • Jump to Navigation
  • Jump to Content
  • Jump to Footer
Palais Galliera
en
  • en
  • fr

Main menu

  • Palais Galliera
  • Collections
  • Exhibitions and Publications
  • Workshops
  • Professionals and researchers
  • Prepare your visit
  • Collections
    • 18th-Century Dress Department
    • 19th-Century Costumes Department
    • Fashion of the first half of the 20th-Century
    • Haute Couture
    • Contemporary Department
    • Undergarments Department
    • Accessories Department
    • Prints and Drawings Department
    • Photography Collection
  • Vogue Paris Foundation
  • Donations

ABOUT OUR COLLECTIONS

Dear visitors, 

After the success of "A History of Fashion", our second collections tour will open to the public in June 2023.

This next collections tour will be an opportunity for you to discover a new history of fashion, from the 18th century to the present day, through our exceptional collections presented in a new theme dedicated to the body in motion.

The link between fashion and sport will be the subject of the second display of this new collections tour, echoing the Olympic Games that will be held in Paris in 2024.

You are here

  • Home »
  • Collections »
  • Collections »
  • Undergarments Department »
  • Bodice

Bodice

  • Gift of Vernes
  • Circa 1820
  • White cotton
  • GAL1957.16.17
  • Palais Galliera, musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris

This undergarment is rarely found in museum collections. Its unusual structure of overlapping strips and laces makes it a challenge to fit it on a dummy and restore its original shape. Worn over a long chemise, this undergarment replaced the conical stays of the ancient régime: it provides support, but unlike the traditional model is left unboned, and does not give a conical shape to the waist. After the French Revolution, old silhouettes were rejected completely, and clothing became inspired by those of antiquity: dresses were usually made of pleated cotton or linen, with the waistline ending just under the bust.

The required support is obtained from the way it is put on: from the securing point beneath the bosom it goes around the waist and then over each shoulder. In the interests of a close fit, straps cross at the back and are tied together at the waist. Thus the undergarment provides support like modern pushup bra, surrounding the upper body with a ribbed fabric that opens out towards the top via a system of gussets. The resulting body shape also suggests the fashionable silhouettes of a century later. The fluid shape known as the "Empire" line, which originated during this time period as a result of the French Revolution, was notably practiced by couturiers like Paul Poiret in the 1910s.

Notice's author : Anne Zazzo

view of the bodice
  • view of the bodice
  • view of the bodice
Enlarge image
  • « Previous piece
  • Return to the collection
  • Next piece »

Discover the 14
city of Paris’ museums

  • Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris
  • Balzac’s house
  • Bourdelle museum
  • Carnavalet museum -
    History of Paris
  • The catacombs
  • Cernuschi museum,
    Museum of asian art
  • Cognacq-Jay museum,
    museum of 18th century art
  • Archaeological crypt
    of the Île de la Cité
  • Palais Galliera, museum of fashion
  • General Leclerc museum,
    Jean Moulin museum
  • Petit Palais,
    museum of fine arts
  • Museum of romantics
  • Victor Hugo’s houses
  • Zadkine museum

Explore the web
of Paris Musées !

Discover the collections of all
the city of Paris’ museums.

Discover

Access the Paris Musées website

Palais Galliera

10 avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie,

Paris 16e, 75116 Paris

01 56 52 86 00

Suivez-nous :

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Paris Musées
  • Palais Galliera
    • The palace
    • A city of Paris’ Museum
    • Restoration laboratory
    • News and highlights
    • Donate to the Palais Galliera
  • Collections
    • Collections
  • Exhibitions and publications
    • On now
    • Coming soon
    • Archives
    • Publications
  • Workshops
    • Calendar of worshops
  • Professionals and researchers
    • Library and documentation
    • Private events, shooting
© Palais Galliera, 2022. Tous droits réservés.
  • Accessibility
  • Terms of use
  • Credits
  • Contact
  • Display cookies management