Stays of Red Brocaded Floral Silk with Shoulder Straps, ca. 1780-1797, KSUM 1986.97.24

Whether these leather trimmed boned stays were worn underneath an eighteenth or nineteenth century gown or were a visible component of a fossilized regional costume is yet unknown. The extremely elaborate fabric would serve the later well. However, their structure is comparable with other late eighteenth-century laced stays which usually closed at the back (these stays fit a mannequin better with the lacing in front). Similar in hue to the mid century man's vest, this could indicate that cochineal was used as a dye source.