
The stomacher, a V-shaped triangular panel, wore on the front of a woman&rsquo;s open gown in the 18th century. To keep the bosom from standing out, the stomacher was extravagantly adorned with embroidery, laces, rows of ribbon bows called &ldquo;&eacute;chelle&rdquo; (ladder) and sometimes with jewels. Since a stomacher needed to be pinned to the dress each time it was worn, this style was time-consuming.
