Wearing a petticoat under a high waisted dress is a problem – you need to have a way to hang it from your shoulders. The classic Regency way to accomplish this is the bodiced petticoat. These petticoats have a very short sleeveless “bodices” to which the actual petticoat is attached. This one is designed to be worn over stays. It is possible to make them with lightly boned bodices that would function as the short stays shown above with a petticoat on the bottom.

This bodiced petticoat has a waistline of beaded eyelet through which a ribbon is drawn for a tied closing in the back. The neckline also has a thin ribbon threaded through it for fitting and ties at the back. The arms and hem are finished with scallop embroidery. Some of these petticoats had a ruffle around the bottom, but as I intended to wear this under straighter early Regency gowns, I did not add a ruffle.  These were made using the La Mode Bagatelle Regency Wardrobe pattern.