Doublet-style Bodice advice needed

[Rhia]

Anyone ever tried one of these?

I'm probably going to attempt (wishy-washy enough for ya?) one of these here hopefully before MDRF closes.

The question is, do these have to be worn over a corset or can they be boned? I'm planning on wearing it open so I'm not sure how that would work. I don't know if having it boned would work for something like hook & eye closures or if I need to do something where I have hidden lacings.

I'm playing sort of fast and loose with styles here - I don't work faire, just a playtron so the fashion police can't say too much.

The rogue is looking at privateers this season and I thought a doublet bodice might work well. It wouldn't be upper class (I'm thinking a fine butterscotch courderoy) so I don't think the partlet would really work with it and although it's initially for Maryland, I want to be able to wear it open for the TX heat.

If anyone has any thoughts/experience in this, I would REALLY appreciate it.

Thanks!

[lauradake]

I JUST tried one of these for my personal use on Friday.

For technique--I took the Alter Years Front Lacing Doublet pattern and modified that in the shoulders/waist until it fit me the way I wanted it to. I made it side-lacing, and will probally put 3 rows of big buttons down the front and wind a leather thong through them to keep it closed. (This is being used for a fantasy LARP... NO accuracy here whatsoever.

As for boning--I don't see why you couldn't bone it. I'd probally use an interlining and put the boning in there, so you avoid any unsightly boning channels. I made mine out of black suede, so it offers more than enough support as-is without boning. And I'm lazy when it comes to my personal stuff. ;)

Anyone else?

[LynneD]

I'm a little confused -- when you say you want to wear it open, do you mean just the top (say, bustline to the neck)? If you're going to wear it open the whole way, you wouldn't need boning, would you?

I don't exactly have a doublet bodice, but I have made a couple of front-closing bodices with hook and eye closures. I've found even with boning right to the edge, you need some kind of trim to cover the gap -- if you fit it tightly enough to give you support (and cleavage), there will be a gap. Lacing works better. (And don't forget that there is no forgiveness with hooks and eyes -- no adjustments for losing or gaining weight).

A compromise might be to make a lightly boned doublet to wear over a corset. That way, if you used a man's pattern (the Alter Years pattern is very easy and looks good, too), it wouldn't need so much alteration to be form-fitting for a woman. (And, if you have a fancy corset, you can wear the doublet open or closed, depending on the weather.)

Hope this helps!

[Rhia]

I've got the Doublet Bodice pattern from Margo's Elizabethan Lady's wardrobe that I'm probably using and her design requires a corset under the doublet. I was just hoping to avoid the layers. Also, as I'm planning on wearing the doublet unbuttoned from the neck, how low can you reasonable make a corset cut across the front and still have it be useful? My other thought was to just have the corset be nice, pretty and coordinating and then if it showed, it wouldn't be a problem. Thanks!