4.93/5
Bard Vest
Bard Vest
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Bard Vest
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Strike a chord with the Bard Vest, a versatile piece inspired by classic doublets. With four front ties and adjustable side lacing, you can fasten it neatly for a polished performance or leave it open for a saucy, devil-may-care vibe. The jaunty sleeve caps add a dramatic flourish, making it perfect for serenading crowds, spinning tall tales, or charming your way out of trouble. Pair it with our Wide Leather Waist Belt for a princely look, or our classic Darcy Shirt for poetic flair, and let the adventure begin.
This unisex piece is versatile and timeless, and perfect for both men's and women's renaissance faire costumes.
Sizing Guide
Sizing Information
Our recommended sizing may be different for each item. Please refer to the size chart on the product page for finding your correct size in that item.
Taking Your Measurements
- Wear a well-fitting bra: Ideally, wear a non-padded bra or no bra if that’s how you’ll wear the clothing you’re measuring for. This gives a more accurate measurement of your natural bust size.
- Use a soft measuring tape: It’s best to use a flexible cloth or plastic measuring tape for body measurements. Make sure the tape is not stretched out or damaged.
- Stand tall and relaxed: Stand with your back straight but relaxed, with your arms at your sides. Keep a natural posture.
- Take your bust measurement: Wrap the measuring tape around your back, bringing it across the fullest part of your bust, typically over the nipples. Make sure the tape is snug but not too tight, and it should sit level all the way around.
- Take your waist measurement: Wrap the measuring tape around the natural waistline, ensuring it’s level all the way around your body (parallel to the ground). The tape should be snug but not tight—just enough to rest comfortably against your skin without pinching.
- Check the measurement: The number where the tape meets itself is your measurement. Make sure it is measured in inches or centimeters, depending on the sizing system you use.
- Take the measurement with a mirror or friend: If possible, use a mirror to ensure the tape is straight across your back and not twisted, or ask a friend to help for a more accurate result.
Choosing the Right Size Corset or Stays
When choosing the right size corset, it’s important to start with accurate body measurements, including your bust and waist. Our size charts provide recommended measurements for each size, so begin by selecting the size that most closely matches your measurements.
If your bust and waist measurements fall into different size categories, prioritize the waist size first. If your bust is smaller or larger than the recommended size, you can adjust the fit using a chemise or shift underneath for added fullness, or by loosening or tightening the lacing to accommodate your bust more comfortably.
For those with a larger bust, you may need to tighten the corset more in the bust to close the lacing gap, and/or you may have a wider lacing gap than in the waist. Conversely, if you have a smaller bust, you can pad with period-appropriate methods like additional layers or bust inserts.
Ultimately, it’s about finding the balance between a snug, supportive waist fit and comfortable bust shaping. If you’re between sizes, it's usually best to size based on your waist and adjust the rest with lacing or layering techniques.
When selecting stays or a corset, experienced wearers may want to size down for a tighter fit. Typically, we recommend finding a corset or stays that is:
- 2-3 inches smaller than your bust for a relaxed fit
- 4-5 inches smaller for a snug fit
- 5-6 inches smaller for the most snug, cleavage-enhancing fit
However, achieving this level of bust reduction might not always be possible depending on your waist size. If your bust doesn’t match the waist size you select, you can use padding or layering to enhance the bust area for added shape.
For the waist measurement, we suggest:
- About 1 inch smaller than your waist for a relaxed fit
- 2-3 inches smaller for a standard fit
- 4-6 inches smaller for the most snug fit
Keep in mind, the width of the lacing gap at the front and/or back of your stays will also change depending on how small the corset is and how tightly you lace it. Consider how big you’d like that gap to be when picking your size. The recommendations above are based on having little to no lacing gap in the back, so if you'd like more of a gap in the back, you could size down even smaller.
Other considerations:
- Please remember that every body compresses differently, so we can't guarantee an exact fit. To ensure the best results, follow our sizing recommendations on the size chart.
- Larger body measurements are typically are able to squish more than smaller measurements
- If you're planning on changing weight, select a size that fits more in the middle (standard fit). If your measurements increase/decrease, you can utilize the lacing gap to increase/decrease the size of your corset up to 4 inches (back lacing styles only)
Product Details
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Shipping
Most items leave our studio within 1-3 business days. For more information, please read our shipping policies here.
This belt is great quality and fits as expected! I’m very excited to use it for my renfaire costume!
Awesome piece! Perfect for Renfaire.
Awesome piece! Perfect for Renfaire.
Awesome piece! Perfect for Renfaire.
Awesome piece! Perfect for Renfaire.
I love this so much I wear it all the time!
Great quality and it looks just like the photo!
Very nice 👍 It arrived fast and it's very well made..thank u
Love ..fast shipping ..thank u
Item as described great for a belt hanger not for practical use awesome for cosplay
Its exactly what I wanted and at a decent price
Amazing work for a great price! Cant wait to use this at the fair!
I was sent the wrong color by mistake, and I’m pleased they promptly sent me a replacement.
This corset fit amazingly! My body’s been changing so I wasn’t sure if I’d lost enough weight for a 4X to fit, I think my waist is about 47 inches, but it fit wonderfully!!
This was so comfortable and very well made. New favorite!
Super cool belt accessories and good quality!
Well made! Thanks for the fast shipping. Looking forward to adding this to my garb.
Well made! Thanks for the fast shipping. Looking forward to adding this to my garb.
Well made! Thanks for the fast shipping. Looking forward to adding this to my garb.
Well made! Thanks for the fast shipping. Looking forward to adding this to my garb.
Can’t ever go wrong with a skirt with pockets! I would have actually sized down, but overall still very happy with my perfect and would strongly recommend this shop!
Beautify quality and expert craftsmanship as usual ☺️
Beautify quality and expert craftsmanship as usual ☺️
As described and good quality!