Information on Corsets

A wedding dress may have a corset top.

A corset was traditionally worn under women's outer clothing. It was wrapped around the torso and laced tightly to give the appearance of a smaller waistline and contrast with large, padded skirts.

History

Corsets first appeared in 16th century England. They were commonly made of sturdy linen with whale-bone shafts in the front to ensure the torso remained straight. The use of the corset as an undergarment was popular until the early 20th century, when the roaring '20s saw the last of traditional corsets.

Effects On the Body

Corsets were worn to reduce the waistline, improve posture and shape the upper body. It was speculated by doctors that the tight-laced corsets were to blame for women's fainting spells and back problems. Despite these opinions, corset use continued to flourish for hundreds of years.

Social Acceptance

Corsets were condemned as tools to oppress and control women, even at the height of their popularity. Although the corset as an undergarment died out in the 1920s, is has been revived as an item of provocative clothing. Today, women's corsets serve to display the female body, rather than restrict it.

References

• "The Corset: A Cultural History", Valerie Steele, 2005
• Corsets and Crinolines: Tidbits: End of an Era