Renaissance Bodice

Welcome to our Renaissance Bodice advanced search facility. The purpose of this page is to help you quickly and easily find the Renaissance Bodice you're looking for.

Today, the term bodice refers to an upper garment that either has removable sleeves or no sleeves. They are often low-cut and were worn in Europe from the sixteenth century to the eighteenth century.

Bodices were worm over a corset or sometimes, in lieu of one. They cover from the waist to the neck and typically to achieve the required shape and to support the bust, they sewed things into them to stiffen them. Mostly they used bents (a type of reed) or later, they used whalebones.

Modern bodices are more comfortable, but in order to achieve the 'proper' shape, the wearer still has to cinch them up pretty tight.

Bodices are commonly seen today at SCA events and Renaissance Faires.