A corset is an item of women's clothing in the form of a wide belt with rigid inserts that tightens the figure tightly, secured at the back (sometimes at the sides) with lacing. It is used to give the figure the desired silhouette (“hourglass”) - with a thin waist, high chest and straight posture. There are models with a front closure - buttons or hooks, with a garter belt or straps that turn the shoulders back.
As a rule, the corset begins under the bust and ends above the hips or below, although there are varieties that tighten only the waist, the so-called “waist girth.”
History of origin
The first mention of corsets dates back to the 14th century., but there is evidence that similar clothes were worn much earlier - 1 thousand years BC. e. in Crete and Mycenae.
In Europe, corsets became widely known in the 15th–16th centuries.. Where exactly - costume historians do not give an exact answer. Most likely, the ancestor of fashion is Catherine de Medici (France) or Juana of Portugal (Spain).
Over time, the shape of the corset underwent changes - the peak of popularity was straight, conical, tightening the chest, shortened and reaching almost to the knees. Initially, they were made entirely of metal and weighed up to 25 kg, but over time, material replaced metal, and bone and whalebone began to be used for inserts.
Illnesses and even deaths caused by wearing shapewear have been repeatedly recorded, but the decline in its popularity began only in the 19th century. The opinion spread that corsets were harmful to women’s health, causing displacement of internal organs, deformation of ribs, tumor growth, impaired respiratory function and blood circulation, and loose-fitting dresses began to come into fashion.
At the beginning of the 20th century, fashion designers finally abandoned corsets as a mandatory attribute of a woman’s appearance.
Corsets and modernity
At the beginning of the 21st century, the corset It is not a main item of clothing and is used rather on special occasions. It has become entrenched in wedding fashion and subcultural styles - gothic, steampunk. His worn as underwear or as a decorative element of a costume. Rigid inserts are now made of steel and plastic.
Important! A corset differs from a corsage, which is similar in appearance, but does not have inserts or a tightening effect.
Types and models
Everyday
Most often worn over clothing (a shirt or blouse), the design is simple, there is a busk clasp at the front for convenience. The area of application is almost any: in a plain corset with a small or medium drawstring without provocative finishing elements, you can even go to work; it will look harmonious with a skirt, trousers or jeans. The only thing it won't go with is a sporty style.
Evening
This is an everyday corset, complemented by bright trim: ribbons, ruffles. It can have a second lacing or openwork sleeves - the variety is limited only by the designer’s imagination. Any color combinations available. Most often, such a corset covers the breasts and fixes them, allowing you not to wear a bra underneath and thus completely open your shoulders.
Evening models in the Victorian style and leather are popular — they are the ones that are used to create images by fans of subcultures and people interested in historical reconstruction.
Wedding
This is a type of evening corset designed for one event. The wedding model is most often white and is combined with a full skirt, trimmed with lace or beads, and may have sleeves. The lace is usually at the back, because it is rare for a bride to have to put the dress on herself. Such outfits are often chosen by plump brides - they make the silhouette more graceful.
Believa
A version of holiday lingerie intended for a romantic date, and in some cases for performing in front of an audience (for example, in burlesque scenes). Trimmed with lace, often worn in combination with stockings, lace panties, and matching gloves. You can find any color on sale, but the most common are white, black and red.
There are lingerie corsets made of thin fabric (usually flesh-colored), which are invisible, but tighten the shape, making the waist thinner and the stomach less noticeable.
Medical and fitness models
Sometimes underwear does not play the role of decoration, but serves to support and properly fix muscles during sports or to correct posture. Wearing such a wardrobe item is indicated for hernias, scoliosis, and to speed up rehabilitation after injuries.
Manufacturing materials
Once upon a time, corsets were made entirely of metal and were worn by girls from 8–9 years old to give the desired silhouette to their developing figure.
Nowadays fashion is more favorable to women, and you can find different materials:
- leather;
- denim - suitable for casual style;
- atlas;
- lace products - both almost completely and with separate inserts;
- cotton;
- silk - lacing tapes are often made from silk.
When choosing a corset, remember that natural fabrics are preferable to synthetics because they allow the skin to breathe and do not clog the sweat glands. This is especially true for shapewear and training underwear.
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