A History Lesson: Corsetry Pt 1

 

Woman's corset c. 1730–1740. Silk plain weave with supplementary weft-float patterning, stiffened with baleen. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, M.63.24.5.[1] Wikipedia Image

For centuries, women and men have worn corsets to mold their bodies into the figures they've desired.

The 16th Century, in Europe, is where it began to grow it's popularity. It reached it's peak in the Victorian Era.

Corsets were typically worn as undergarments, though occasionally they were worn as outer-garments in many European Countries.

The term "corset" is from the French word which meant "a kind of laced bodice". In English, "Stays" was used to refer to the garment and was used from the 1600's to the 20th century.

 

16th - 17th Centuries:

The corset originated in Italy. In the 1500's, Catherine de Medici introduced the French court to this figure restricting garment and it was welcomed with open arms. This style of undergarment was a bodice that was tight and elongated. It was thought to be "indispensable to the beauty of the female figure."(Wikipedia) During this era, most corsets were equipped with a farthingale. Farthingales held the skirts into a stiff cone shape. When the corset was on, it molded the torso into a inverted cone shape that matched the cone shape of the skirt. These corsets had straps on the shoulders and flaps at the bottom of the corset. The breasts were squished in flat, which accentuated the cleavage . At this time, the focus of the corset wasn't on creating a small waist, but to accentuate the curviness of the cleavage above the corset. They were made out of fabric, glue, and were very tightly laced. The corsets of this time that did have metal boning are thought to have been for orthopedic use only.

Corsets were the custom attire for both British and European women by mid-16th century. They eventually began to include a "busk", a long flat piece of wood or whale bone sewn into the front of the corset to stiffened the shape. A "Stomacher", or V-shaped cloth, was normally worn over the corset for decoration.

By the Elizabethan Era, using whalebone, wood, horn, ivory, or metal in the busk of the corset, had become mainstream. The bust was commonly tied into place with laces and was removable. The busk was normally only worn at special occasions. It was often given to a suitor when he was interested in a mate.

Since the Victorian Era, corsets have been made with two pieces of steel in the front. One piece has studs and the other has eyes. It was created this way so that it opens in the front, making it so that getingt in and out of the corset more would be more easy. Back in the 1500, the lacing were in front but soon the corsets were designed with the lacing in the back.

Though the corsets popularity was growing, not everyone gave into the fad. One example of this is Mary, Queen Of Scots. She would not wear a corset.

 

To Be Continued...

 

Written by: Kijana C

(References from Wikipedia and other websites)

 

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Waist Cinchers Are Not Corsets!!!

In this post, when I refer to "waist cinchers", I'm talking about those thick spandex bands that have recently gained popularity. They normally close in the front with either Velcro or lots of little adjustable hooks... Similar to bra fasteners.

Waist Trainer (Image from Pinterest)

I often cruise YouTube and watch videos on Corsetry. I've come across many, many videos that review and advertise these garments. 8 times out of 10, the ladies in the videos refer to the waist cinchers as corsets. Quite frankly, I am starting to get pretty annoyed at this reference.

Now according to the marketers, waist cinchers can be worn under the clothing to cinch in the waist, worn throughout the day to "waist train", and worn while exercising to "tone" by sweating out water retention from the mid-section.

I have multiple issues with this. First, by referring to this garment as a "Corset" they are causing a lot of confusion. I understand that they are trying to jump into a market that is starting to gain popularity again, but if they aren't selling the real thing, then they need not call it a corset!

Waist cinchers can reduce the waist by a inch or two, but it's only because of 2 reasons: the wearer has lost water weight, and the abdominal fat has only been squished and redistributed. Both of these will revert back to normal after a day or two. A good glass of fluids and that water is right back where it started.

Also, from my personal experience, waist cinchers are very uncomfortable and they do not give the hourglass/coke bottle shape than most are trying to achieve. Instead I was left looking and feeling like a stuffed sausage about to burst from it's sausage wrapping... Lol. Also the waist trainer I purchased costed about the same price as a steel boned corset... Well maybe $5 cheaper.

To those of you who are new to the field of waist training/corset training, I pose a couple of questions to you:

• What are your goals of waist training?
• Are you looking for temporary results, or long term results that you will be able to see even when you aren't wearing a waist training garment?
• Doesn't it make more sense to get something that has been proven to work for centuries?
• If someone offered you a real Gucci bag and a fake Gucci bag, and said that they were both pretty much the same price, which would you choose? The real one right?!

I think that many women go the route of the spandex waist trainers because they believe that they are more comfortable. Many women also don't know where they can purchase a real steel boned corset from. And others have either had a bad experience with a corset because they didn't buy one of hquality, or they really do think that their waist Cincher is a corset because it's all they learned. After all, whenever I go out donning a beautiful corset as a part of my outfit, I get stopped by many people with inquiries about the corset. I am usually asked 3 questions... the first being: "Doesn't that thing hurt?!" When I explain that it doesn't hurt, they usually ask: "Well, but doesn't it make it hard to breath?!" Again, I explain that I am very comfortable in my corset. Usually the next question is: "Where can I get one???"

Black Iris Under Bust Corset BI-02

I guess my annoyance is from my feeling that a lot of these women (... And men) are being taken advantage of. When most people look for reviews online, or look for information on corset training, it's because they want to learn as much as they can about CORSETS! But they are being fed this false information. It wouldn't bother me if the waist cincher marketers just called them what they are: Spandex Waist Cinchers! Or an even more appropriate name: A Girdle! By calling them corsets, they are creating a LOT of unneeded confusion.

So to clear things up for those of you who really do want to know what a corset REALLY IS, here's a list of characteristics that most steel boned corsets have:

• High-Quality corsets have 2 types of STEEL BONING in them! The more flexible boning being along the sides so the body can bend at the sides naturally, and the stiff boning being in the front (along and around the "Busk") and in the back (along and around the "grommets") to keep the corset from bending and keep it stiff where it needs to be.
• Corsets NO NOT STRETCH!!! Or have any spandex in them. It important that the corset doesn't stretch so that it puts pressure on the right areas and forces your body to mold into the shape of the corset.
• Most corsets lace up in the back with either ribbon, or cord laces (similar to shoe strings). And snap closed in front (along what is called the "Busk"). But some corsets do lace in the front instead. Most of these types of corsets have to be put on over the head and can be a bit difficult to get in and out of.
• Corsets CHANGE THE BODY PERMANENTLY over a longer period of time. The steel boning in a corset forces pressure on the lower ribs and the organs in the abdomen. Over a long period of time with gradual waist reduction, the rib cage begins to get more narrow and the organs relocate to a lower or higher location in the abdomen. While this may sound scary, experts say that it is no different than when a woman becomes pregnant. The uterus pushes the organs into a new location. Our bodies are designed to handle these changes.
• While, yes, Some corsets don't have steel boning in them, they are not meant for waist training, and especially not meant for tight lacing! Those corsets normally only have plastic boning and are just for fashion or sexy lingerie.

I guess it is worth mentioning that in the CORSET world, there is a style of corset called a "Waist Cincher", but it has no relation to the spandex waist cinchers that I've been talking about. Steel boned "Waist Cincher" Corsets are just corsets that are very short. So short in fact, that many only have room for 3 clasps on the "Busk". The reduction and pressure created my the corset is mostly isolated to the waist just below the rib cage... with very little pressure on the ribs.

The picture is the best example I could find of a Waist Cincher Corset online. I claim no rights. Image from www.whatkatiedid.com

I really hope I cleared up any misconceptions/ misunderstanding of corset training and that I explained the difference between spandex Waist Cinchers and real Corsets. I also hope that you all took no offense to my opinions of waist cinchers. I just get very passionate about this topic.

Thank you so much for reading our blog, and I hope you return for more exciting information on corset training!

Written By:

Kijana C.

 

 

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Corset Sizes and How To Measure For A Corset!

How to measure for a corset!

Measurement Guide:

 

There are 5 basic measurements that are needed in order to insure that your corset fits you properly. All measurements should be in inches:

1) Bust- Measure around your body at the nipple or the widest point at the breast.

2) Under Bust- Slide your hand under your breast. At the point where your hand stops and your breast begins, Measure around your body.

3) Waist- This is your MOST IMPORTANT MEASUREMENT!!! Measure around the waist at the point where you naturally bend. This is not necessarily the smallest point of the waist.

4)UPPER Hip- NOT THE SAME AS A HIP MEASUREMENT! Measure around the body at the point where the top of your panties are supposed to sit. Or the top of your hip bone. It is NOT the widest point of your hips.

5) Torso- In a seated position, measure from your under bust to your lap.

 

Corset Sizes-

Real Steel Boned Corsets are generally sized by the inches around the waist. So a size 30 would mean it is 30" around the waist when it is laced totally closed.

 

Choosing your corset size-

It is generally suggested to get a corset sized 4-6 inches smaller than your natural waist measurement. This allows your waist to be reduced while cinching down the corset. The more plus-sized you are, the more reduction you will get from the start because of "squish factor". Plus sized individuals may be able to fit a corset up to 8 inches smaller than their waist. But it depends on how long the laces are on the corset, so keep this in mind when purchasing.

 

 

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