Bust Improver

License this image

To license this image or for more information please contact our Licensing team.

We can manage your request more quickly if you include the following information:

Image reference number: XXX
Title and author (if applicable)
Publisher/Producer/Broadcaster
Planned release date
Print run or number of units
Image size and position, example 1/4 page, full screen, front cover, inside
Languages/territorial distribution
Digital rights - format details and license period

+4
images

Not on display

Artist/Maker	Dickins & Jones (retailer)
Place of origin	Great Britain (made)

Bust bodice made from lace and interwoven figured silk satin ribbons, boning, mother-of-pearl buttons.

Object details

Categories	Fashion Underwear Womenswear Europeana Fashion Project
Object type	Bust improver
Materials and techniques	Lace and ribbon, mother-of-pearl Silk (Textile) Mother of Pearl Lace Satin Weave Boning
Brief description	Bust improver, lace, satin ribbons and boning, mother-of-pearl buttons, Dickins & Jones, Great Britain, ca. 1910.
Physical description	Bust bodice made from lace and interwoven figured silk satin ribbons, boning, mother-of-pearl buttons.
Dimensions	Bust measured inside garment circumference: 79cm (Note: Measured by Conservation) Underbust measured inside garment circumference: 62cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
Gallery label	(16/04/2016-12/03/2017) Fitted to the figure Around 1909, the fashionable s-bend silhouette gave way to a more elongated body shape and upright posture. This new figure required differently shaped underwear to control and support it. Bust bodices were designed to lift and contain the bust, which was largely unsupported by the low, straighter, hip-confining corset. Bust bodice Dickins & Jones Britain, London, 1910s Figured silk satin ribbon, machine-made lace, front fastening with mother-of-pearl buttons, boned and laced at the back V&A: T.33-1996 Given by Christina McMillan (2013-2015) Around 1910, the voluptuous ideal of the preceding years was gradually replaced by a more slender silhouette, as Parisian couturiers introduced a more elongated line. Foundation garments were increasingly required to compress and smooth the figure. Bust bodices similar to this were advertised as 'bust confiners', designed to wear over the top of the corset to smooth the contours under the blouse or dress and to control and shape the bust, which was largely unsupported over the low, hip-confining corsets. Bust bodice Dickins & Jones Britain, 1910s Figured silk satin ribbon, bobbin lace, mother of pearl buttons and boning Given by Christina McMillan V&A: T.33-1996
Credit line	Given by Christina McMillan
Object history	Registered File number 1995/2064.
Collection	Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number	T.33-1996

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record created	November 22, 2007
Record URL	https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O140877/bust-improver-dickins--jones/

Download as: JSON IIIF Manifest

Object details

About this object record

You may also like

License this image

Download image

Bust Improver

Object details

About this object record

You may also like