To think shapewear is just modern day corsetry?

[Justheretoaskaquestion91]

But isn’t it? Thought it would make for an interesting discussion - I think corsets are beautiful and women’s dresses from 100+ years ago, but appreciate they were restrictive and women got rid of them as they were seen as oppressive. But then women today willingly purchase and wear, frequently, restrictive shapewear garments for the same purchase. Only they don’t actually look as nice. I would rather have kept the corset 😬 AIBU?

They look way better now. Wasp waists are creepy.

Corsets are less comfortable, less washable, more expensive by far and harder to get on and off.

Can't imagine driving, working or shopping in a corset! Can't even imagine where the time would come to get in and out of it! Never really worn 'shape wear' mainly because I don't know which ones are the most effective 😂 - or more effective than breathing in anyway.😂

If you know - do tell........

Wasp waists weren't the norm.

Stays and corsets were partly boob holders like our bras and partly to give the fashionable silhouette so yes they are the old version of spandex shape wear. They also had bum pads and frills to give volume where they didn't naturally and we have chicken fillets and padded shorts.

The only time I’ve tried to wear shapewear it made me feel very uncomfortable and I couldn’t leave the house in it! It just feels odd that we got rid of corsets and. then decided we did, in fact, like being sucked in with fabric. I get it’s not as restrictive but surely it’s just a matter of what you’re used ti

They also had bum pads and frills to give volume where they didn't naturally and we have chicken fillets and padded shorts

This is v interesting. Particularly as bum padding is back in vogue!

Have you got ver worn a corset? A well made one is a beautiful thing to wear. No generally it’s no different. Clothes designed to give a different shape according to the fashions of the day.

The big difference of course is in regards to waist training, which physically alters a woman’s body, and displaces organs, and is generally a bad idea.

Bernadette Banner on YouTube is interesting to watch on this

YANBU, shapewear is the devil's stuff.

When Debenhams was closing down, all the shapewear was down from £28 to 50p, so it seems lots of women agree, OP. I still bought some

It definitely a case of what you’re used to, and what you’re used to will depend very much on the prevailing fashions.

Women are turning away from underwired bras because they’re so uncomfortable, but it’s hardly a coincidence that a more natural bust line is also fashionable now, as opposed to a pushed up style that relies on underwiring.

Fashions change and part of that is the undergarments that help create the desirable body shape.

I read the headline as “a modern day courtesy” and wondered how I was being rude by not wearing it!

I’ll just leave this here

m.youtube.com/watch?v=sF9UxDhrEfs

I think Spanx are the modern version of roll-ons, which my mother wore. My generation wore suspender belts and stockings (uncomfortable).

There are loads of historical costumers/ Fashion historians on YouTube who will tell you that modern day shape wear is more restrictive and less comfortable than well fitted stays and corsets and these women wear corsets regularly.
Tight lacing wasn't the norm and corsets were used to support the bust and evenly distribute the weight of the clothes. Also they were never worn next to the skin but over linen chemise.
Women were able to do everything, including hard manual labour and exercise is corsets and stays
Bernadette Banner and Abby Cox have some great videos about corsets. Abby has actually just posted a video with 3 others discussing Vouges all you need to know about corsets video which is funny and insightful.

A link to Abbys video

Ive just googled wasp waists. Surely those women didnt wear those long term?!

@Letsallscreamatthesistene don't believe every thing you see

Ok you you've made me go dig out my half finished corset. Took me less than 7 mins to untangle and put it in with my toddler "helping" (tying the laces in knots behind me), people spend longer on make up.

Feels firm on my ribs and I'm sneezing so that's not great BUT I'm sick, I could loosen it AND it was made before I had two kids and they spread my ribs out. It's made from a pattern taking from a Victorian corset but it was adjusted to my body at the time, my waist was too small for the original so I had to tweak.

And I'm wearing a vest under it, corsets aren't supposed to go against the skin which is what you see on tv and what actors complain about being uncomfortable all the time

I think it can be, definitely, but isn't necessarily the same. It depends how it is being used and why, and also whether it's to fit in heavily with societal expectations.

I don't like anything tight around my middle but have occasionally worn shapewear that isn't very tight but has more oomph to it than normal pants etc. to give a better line under a dress than I can get with underskirt alone, or occasionally trousers in a fine or clingy fabric.

Don't get me wrong, I'm fine with my body. It just looks better in certain "night out" styles of dress and fabrics. I don't wear it with daywear/workwear, and have no problems walking about naked or wearing a swimsuit, I just prefer to accentuate the line of the outfit rather than the rather odd shape my stomach/hip area can look in some outfits that otherwise fit, post-children.

@Letsallscreamatthesistene

Ive just googled wasp waists. Surely those women didnt wear those long term?!

No, they didn't. Very few women did tight lacing, the majority would barely have reduced their waist at all, instead using padding in order to create the fashionable silhouette.

The advantage to corsets with historical dress is less about a smaller waist, and more about smoothing and also distributing the weight of the skirts/crinolines/bustles etc.

I used to have a custom made corset that I wore every day, even during fairly physical work. It was very comfy and supportive, much more comfy than any modern shapewear I've ever worn.

I'd go back to wearing a corset daily again if I wasn't too lazy to do the lacing every day and they weren't so expensive.

Also for those saying they weren't washable, because you aren't meant to wear them against the skin that's not necessarily a problem.

@olderthanyouthink

Ok you you've made me go dig out my half finished corset. Took me less than 7 mins to untangle and put it in with my toddler "helping" (tying the laces in knots behind me), people spend longer on make up.

Feels firm on my ribs and I'm sneezing so that's not great BUT I'm sick, I could loosen it AND it was made before I had two kids and they spread my ribs out. It's made from a pattern taking from a Victorian corset but it was adjusted to my body at the time, my waist was too small for the original so I had to tweak.

Ooh I really want to make my own corset, how are you finding it?

I have a corset that I rarely wear but it's not that restrictive. On the other hand my drunken attempts to go to the toilet while wearing shape wear have been a disaster. It's a miracle I never knocked myself out wrestling with it.

@Mammyofasuperbaby

That’s fascinating, thank you. Some really interesting comments on here/thinks to read/watch online!