Bodice

A bodice ( /ˈbɒdɪs/) is an article of clothing traditionally for women and girls, covering the torso from the neck to the waist.

To achieve a fashionable shape and support the bust, the bodice was frequently stiffened with bents (a type of reed) or whalebone.

One-piece construction became more common after 1900 due to the trend for looser, more simply-constructed clothing with narrower skirts.

[2] In the 19th century, in parts of Europe, styles reflected local folk dress, so that the bodice in France was frilled, in Austria took the form of the dirndl, and in Bulgaria, it had a gold stomacher.

They are also commonly seen today at gatherings celebrating archaic European customs, such as Oktoberfest, Society for Creative Anachronism events, and Renaissance Fairs.

[5] Some Asian cultures also feature bodices, including the Indian choli, Chinese dudou, Vietnamese yếm and Indonesian kemben.