Composite garment and method to manufacture same

Abstract

The present invention discloses a composite garment that includes an attached liner including a bodice support which effectively supports and enhances the bust while supporting, smoothing and elongating the bodice of the dress. The present invention is suitable for most figures and can be tailored or customized to compliment most dress styles and body types. In one embodiment, the bodice support is attached to the top edge of the special occasion dress. The present invention allows the outer garment to hang free from the bodice ensuring that no stress points or stretching of the fabric or seams is created and that no stays are visible from the outside of the dress.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A composite garment, comprising:
 a dress having a top edge and a bodice portion, said bodice portion having a fastenable opening;   a bodice support having a top edge and a bottom edge, said bodice support sized to fit inside said bodice portion of said dress; and   a slip having a top edge;   wherein said top edge of said dress is attached to said top edge of said bodice support, said top edge of said dress and said top edge of said bodice support having no seam allowance for alteration;   wherein said bodice support further comprises a fastenable opening coexistent with the fastenable opening of said bodice portion of said dress;   wherein said bodice support further comprises at least eight stays; and   wherein said top edge of said slip is attached to said bottom edge of said bodice support.   
     
     
         2 . The composite garment of  claim 1 , wherein said fastenable opening of said bodice portion of said dress comprises a zipper, and wherein said fastenable opening of said bodice support is made of hooks and eyes. 
     
     
         3 . The composite garment of  claim 1 , wherein said at least eight stays are spaced between zero centimeters to seven and one-half centimeters apart. 
     
     
         4 . The composite garment of  claim 3 , wherein said at least eight stays are spaced between zero centimeters to three and one-half centimeters apart. 
     
     
         5 . The composite garment of  claim 1 , wherein said bodice support further comprises:
 two side seams; and   two side panels, one each extending from one of said two side seams;   wherein said side panels each comprise an opposing portion of said fastenable opening of said bodice support.   
     
     
         6 . The composite garment of  claim 5 , wherein said bodice support further comprises one or more side seam panel extenders extending from one or more of said two side seams. 
     
     
         7 . The composite garment of  claim 1 , wherein said bodice support is approximately one-half inch smaller than said bodice portion of said dress. 
     
     
         8 . The composite garment of  claim 1 , wherein said dress is backless. 
     
     
         9 . The composite garment of  claim 1 , wherein said dress has seam allowances located on each side and a center back of said bodice portion of said dress. 
     
     
         10 . The composite garment of  claim 9 , wherein said seam allowances are between three and five inches. 
     
     
         11 . The composite garment of  claim 1 , wherein said bodice support has seam allowances located on each side and a center back of said bodice support. 
     
     
         12 . The composite garment of  claim 9 , wherein said seam allowances are between three and four inches. 
     
     
         13 . The composite garment of  claim 9 , wherein at least one stay is placed in the reverse side of each of same seam allowances in said sides of said bodice support. 
     
     
         14 . The composite garment of  claim 1 , wherein said bodice support further comprises two bust cups. 
     
     
         15 . The composite garment of  claim 14 , wherein each of said two bust cups comprises at least one vertical stay which traverses each bust cup and runs continuously into the midriff and abdomen areas of said bodice support. 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a composite garment, the method comprising:
 obtaining a dress having a top edge, a fastenable opening, and a seam allowance;   obtaining a liner comprising a bodice support and a slip, wherein the liner has two side seams, wherein the bodice support has a top edge and a bottom edge and two side seam panels each extending from the side seam of the liner, wherein the bodice support has a fastenable opening coexistent with the fastenable opening of the dress, wherein the bodice support has a plurality of stays which extend from substantially the top edge of the bodice support to the bottom edge of the bodice support and which are placed in close proximity to each other, and a seam allowance, wherein the slip is attached to the bottom edge of the bodice support;   altering the seam allowance in the dress to accommodate the wearer of the dress;   altering the seam allowance in the bodice support of the liner to accommodate the wearer of the liner; and   attaching the top edge of the dress to the top edge of the bodice support.