1750-1760 ca. Brown Silk Brocade Stays With Both Front and Back Lacings. 

These silk stays have a small repeat floral brocade in rose, white, and green. There are cream, leather-backed waist tabs, stitched eyelets, and pink and tan linings.  These stays, or corset, are unusual because they have both front and back lacings.  This means that a lady could step in and out of her stays and then tighten the front lacing herself, thereby eliminating the need for assistance from a  maid or dresser. 

Women of the middle and lower classes needed to be able to dress themselves as they have no one to assist in tightening their lacings when they dressed. Most upper class ladies would be able to call upon a maid to help and would therefore generally use back lacing stays.