MovieChat Forums > Journey to the Center of the Earth Discussion > what are 'stays'?

what are 'stays'?

posted 14 years ago by his__shyness
15 replies | jump to latest

When they are in the crystal showers, Mason asks Dahl if she's wearing "stays". Yes, I get that they are some type of woman's undergarment. But what type?

[–] DryToast 14 years ago

Stays are pieces of metal or plastic or even whalebone that provide the stiffness in a corset (a garment like a girdle). The word "stays" could be used to refer to the garment itself.

"I don't seem able to strike the congenial note."

[–] b17g1630 14 years ago

I think the Professor was referring to the garment itself. Since the expedition was fixing to enter hot regions (he thought), wearing something that would restrict your ability to breathe (normally or deeply) would be undesireable (at a minimum) and potentially hazardous to the wearer's health.

The only reason stays existed was to give women an (idealized) 'hourglass' figure. Don't believe this? Take a look at some of the ads for women's garments from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Nowadays, we have plastic surgery: liposuction your waist, get your boobs done, and now also get butt cheek implants. The only thing that's changed is the technology. The shallowness remains. (Isn't it ironic that it's called 'plastic' surgery? I refuse to use the term 'cosmetic' except in cases of surgical reconstruction following accidents, disease, etc.)

All Carla had to worry about was breathing. Today the worry is infection, leaking implants, scarring...the list goes on.

Someone please tell me how this is an improvement.

[–] Eric6655 14 years ago

"blah blah blah blah..."

[–] MystMoonstruck 13 years ago

Those garments were capable of causing major internal damage according to doctors but denied by many wearers. There was quite a furor over the topic for a very long time. You can read about it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corset_controversy

~~MystMoonstruck~~

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] dbrockskk1 10 years ago

lol you must be a jr high kid eric 6655

suzycreamcheese RIP Heath Ledger 1979-2008

[–] sleepybone 8 years ago

re: b17
YES!! Thank you!
This plastic surgery business is outright scary. After about the third surgery, people start to look very, very strange...

[–] Calico_9 12 years ago

The undergarment that Arlene Dahl wore contained "staves". Staves are curved pieces of wood that are used in barrel-making. Not "stays".

[–] efs2 12 years ago

The undergarment that Arlene Dahl wore contained "staves". Staves are curved pieces of wood that are used in barrel-making. Not "stays".

You think she's wearing barrel parts?

Yikes! Per Merrian-Webster, I think DryToast above got it right.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stay?show=4&t=1324158664

2: a thin firm strip (as of plastic) used for stiffening a garment or part (as a shirt collar)

3: a corset stiffened with bones - usually used in plural

Somedays it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.

[–] denmoab 12 years ago

Even women's garments as late as the 1960's some times had metal strips in them. They were called "stays", as I remember.

Lay on, McDuff, and damned be him who first cries 'Hold, Enough!'

[–] hankpac 11 years ago

Take a trip to Victoria's Secret, they still have corsets with stays.
the older one used Whale baleen strips for stays, now they are metal or plastic.
Also called "boning".

[–] tobian85 11 years ago

Also, please recall the amusing scene in GWTW where Mammy persuades Scarlett to consume a fairly substantial breakfast before the Wilkes's barbecue (so she won't "eat like a field hand and gobble like a hog"), and Scarlett exclaims just before she exits: "Goodness! My stays are so tight, I don't know how I'll get through the day without belching!"

You play that kling-kling-kling jazz, or you won’t get paid tonight!

[–] osmundbullock 10 years ago

STAVES, Calico??? I am at a loss to understand why anyone would 'correct' someone else's post without checking first that they are not talking nonsense...the mind boggles!

[–] lastmidnite2 10 years ago

Yeah, "staves" gave me my laugh for the day! Thanks Calico!