--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our underclothes were woolen vests and…" description: "\"Our underclothes were woolen vests and knickers and an extraordinary, but apparently necessary, concoction called a liberty bodice, which had no freedo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/deborah-cavendish-duchess-of-d_buttons_our-underclothes-were-woolen-vests-and-k_3181731.jpg" --- # Our underclothes were woolen vests and knickers and an… ![“Our underclothes were woolen vests and knickers and an extraordinary, but apparently necessary, concoction called a liberty bodice, which had no freedom about it, so how it got its name I cannot imagine. It was made of some harsh stuff, with here and there straps and buttons that did nothing.” quote by Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/deborah-cavendish-duchess-of-d_buttons_our-underclothes-were-woolen-vests-and-k_3181731.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/deborah-cavendish-duchess-of-d_buttons_our-underclothes-were-woolen-vests-and-k_3181731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/deborah-cavendish-duchess-of-d_buttons_our-underclothes-were-woolen-vests-and-k_3181731.jpg) > “Our underclothes were woolen vests and knickers and an extraordinary, but apparently necessary, concoction called a liberty bodice, which had no freedom about it, so how it got its name I cannot imagine. It was made of some harsh stuff, with here and there straps and buttons that did nothing.” [Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-cavendish-duchess-of-devonshire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fashion of the era prioritized modesty over comfort, leading to restrictive garments despite their name. **In simple terms:** Clothing was uncomfortable but called "liberty". Key Takeaway Question comfort over tradition. Themes fashion gender societal norms history comfort Mood reflective critical Type historical cultural When to use this quote - Historical costume design - modern fashion critique - museum curation Key Concepts Victorian dress social expectations body autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How would you redesign a "liberty" garment today? - What does clothing say about freedom? A Different Perspective Modern fabrics can achieve modesty without restriction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) ## Related quotes > [“One of the main functions of a push-up bra is to lower the number of mothers who seem like mothers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/one-of-the-main-functions-of-a-push-up-bra-is-to-lower-the-number-of/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [My hundred dough, Im wherever that money go. Glock 9 in my underclothes, you cop two of them, we frontin 4.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meek-mill/my-hundred-dough-im-wherever-that-money-go-glock-9-in-my-underclothes/) [Meek Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meek-mill/) > [“The psychology of silk underclothes has not yet been fully considered," mused Miss Pettigrew happily.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-watson/the-psychology-of-silk-underclothes-has-not-yet-been-fully-considered/) [Winifred Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-watson/) > [“A commune of library employees in Moscow created an "extreme" commune in which all clothing - including undergarments - was collectivized. According to Mehnert,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stites-richard/a-commune-of-library-employees-in-moscow-created-an-extreme-commune/) Stites Richard > [All share complicity in the destruction of that much under-rated phenomenon called liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-amiel/all-share-complicity-in-the-destruction-of-that-much-under-rated/) [Barbara Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-amiel/) > [For, contrary to the common opinion, it is the wealthy who are greedy of wealth; while the populace are to be gained by talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/for-contrary-to-the-common-opinion-it-is-the-wealthy-who-are-greedy/) [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) > [“The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-world-has-never-had-a-good-definition-of-the-word-liberty-and-the-2/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [A great deal of laziness of mind is called liberty of opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-great-deal-of-laziness-of-mind-is-called-liberty-of-opinion/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The sovereignty of one's self over one's self is called Liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/the-sovereignty-of-one-s-self-over-one-s-self-is-called-liberty/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [When I hear the president of the United States in a great little rhetorical flourish talk about the leavening hand of the government, everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hannity/when-i-hear-the-president-of-the-united-states-in-a-great-little/) [Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hannity/) > [“The British Army and Navy sang a rousing song called "Heart of Oak"; the rebels had writ one to counter it called "The Liberty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/the-british-army-and-navy-sang-a-rousing-song-called-heart-of-oak-the/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-all-declare-for-liberty-but-in-using-the-same-word-we-do-not-all/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [They always call 'Poldark' a 'bodice-ripper,' but I don't think a single bodice has ever been ripped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-tomlinson/they-always-call-poldark-a-bodice-ripper-but-i-don-t-think-a-single/) [Eleanor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-tomlinson/) > [“The high-waisted bodice had been cut quite low, much lower than anything she had ever worn before, and she had to resist the temptation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-quick/the-high-waisted-bodice-had-been-cut-quite-low-much-lower-than/) [Amanda Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-quick/) > [“Madeline stood before him in a gown of rich, emerald-green silk. The low-cut bodice did miraculous things for her bosom, and the vibrant color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/madeline-stood-before-him-in-a-gown-of-rich-emerald-green-silk-the/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) ## More by Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire > [Recently a young journalist came to interview me about what I was doing the day war broke out. During the course of the interview…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-cavendish-duchess-of-devonshire/recently-a-young-journalist-came-to-interview-me-about-what-i-was/) [Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-cavendish-duchess-of-devonshire/) > [Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire recounts her decision to leave her husband after decades of struggle with his alcoholism. Several days later, he wrote to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-cavendish-duchess-of-devonshire/deborah-duchess-of-devonshire-recounts-her-decision-to-leave-her/) [Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-cavendish-duchess-of-devonshire/) > [Father was a good driver and enjoyed driving, but the sight of a female in charge of a vehicle was sometimes too much for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-cavendish-duchess-of-devonshire/father-was-a-good-driver-and-enjoyed-driving-but-the-sight-of-a/) [Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-cavendish-duchess-of-devonshire/) > [The word "missing" is particularly cruel, leaving as it does a ray of hope that the person will turn up safe and well, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-cavendish-duchess-of-devonshire/the-word-missing-is-particularly-cruel-leaving-as-it-does-a-ray-of/) [Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-cavendish-duchess-of-devonshire/) [Explore all 5 Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-cavendish-duchess-of-devonshire/) ## More Buttons quotes > [J.D. cleared his throat and pushed the button on the intercom. “Uh, Payton, hi. It’s J.D.” Dead silence. Then another crackle. “Sorry. Not interested.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/j-d-cleared-his-throat-and-pushed-the-button-on-the-intercom-uh/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [Or I could see Fish, Just a button up, Like a Mayor, Like a President, Just demands so much from his teammates, Has played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/or-i-could-see-fish-just-a-button-up-like-a-mayor-like-a-president/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [We are going to die, as is everyone we adore - I hate this! But the question is, how do we live as women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/we-are-going-to-die-as-is-everyone-we-adore-i-hate-this-but-the/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [One thing I like about the United States, and I kind of miss about the United States, is there's an election coming up here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/one-thing-i-like-about-the-united-states-and-i-kind-of-miss-about-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I feel a little more tired than usual, ... Ive had to recover from everything, my illnesses and things this summer. Its not perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/i-feel-a-little-more-tired-than-usual-ive-had-to-recover-from/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [I can't really deal with buttons. 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I think we’ll see newspapers… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-evans/the-web-is-going-to-end-up-being-a-tremendous-advantage-providing-we/) [Harold Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-evans/) > [Any situation that pushes our buttons is a situation where we don't yet have the capacity to be unconditionally loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/any-situation-that-pushes-our-buttons-is-a-situation-where-we-don-t/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [American views today are weak, confused, and divided. On one side, many progressive liberals still think that we humans are essentially good and getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/os-guinness/american-views-today-are-weak-confused-and-divided-on-one-side-many/) [Os Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/os-guinness/) > [Nowadays, people shoot digitally and it's all in color, but you press a button and it all goes to black and white. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/nowadays-people-shoot-digitally-and-it-s-all-in-color-but-you-press-a/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [The best thing to ever happen to marriage is the pause-live-TV button.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-reilly/the-best-thing-to-ever-happen-to-marriage-is-the-pause-live-tv-button/) [Rick Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-reilly/) Browse all 708 Buttons quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our underclothes were woolen vests and knickers and an extraordinary, but apparently necessary, concoction called a liberty bodice, which had no freedom about it, so how it got its name I cannot imagine. 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