Corset comeback

[grimbletart]

fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG11484732/The-great-corset-comeback.html

I am horrified by this. Because I am an older MNer I remember my mother wearing corsets, laces and all - truly an invention of satan.

They are a health hazard if worn too tight and in any case do what your own muscles are supposed to do.

What the fuck are women thinking? Are we really that stupid?

'Women come in the shapes and sizes they come in and to deem tall slender figures "the fashion" one year and small curvy people "the fashion" a few years later and all variations of athletic, breast sizes, emaciated etc etc etc it's just awful. You can't change your body to meet these things like you can change your hairstyle, it's just so grim.'

Yes, absolutely. It's like objectification taken to its logical conclusion and totally forgetting that women are people.

PilchardPrincess
"I thought women sometimes had their lower ribs taken out to achieve the shape aimed for with corsets? I'm sure I heard that."

I'm sure I heard AIDS can be cured by taking vitamin supplements.

PilchardPrincess
"The woman in the film has said that she was on a liquid diet to achieve the look and for me that in itself is a terrible message. If you want to look good don't eat solids, quite aside from (and in addition to?) the whole trussing yourself up factor."

That's a great message - 'To achieve and maintain this emmaciated look I couldn't even shit properly '. That should be more than enough to put most people off trying to strangulate their waists.

PilchardPrincess
"Corsets are why women used to faint the whole time aren't they?"

But did they 'faint the whole time', whatever that means? Maybe the should have taken more vitamins.

i happen to be one of those women who love wearing corsets i feel and look good in them and NOT STUPID by all means, i dont wear them every single day i wear them once or twice a month depending on the occasion , i wear them as a fashion status not to achieve a certain body shape

corset have been part and parcel of the alternative fashion scene for a long, long time.

Goth, steampunk, rockers..etc, corsets, the real steel boned one have been worn by women who dress in modern variations on Victorian clothing. You need only attend Whitby Goth Weekend to see corset wearing is very much alive and well.

All this move into mainstream is about, is the fashion industry deciding, once again, to hijack the alternative fashion scene. It happens every now and again. They've done it with military gear, tie dye, tartan, army boots, leather jackets, skinny jeans, band tshirts (people wearing ramones/motorhead tshirts when they've never even listened to them anyone?)...etc.

I've been part of that scene for a lot of years, as have older friends of mine (now in their 60s) and its something we often talk about, once the scene picks up on a 'fashion' you can pretty much guarantee it will crop up in the mainstream within 2-3 years.

ftr, i have about 5 or 6 steel bones corsets, which i do and have worn regularly on nights out to Gothic night clubs and concerts over the years.

Very Gone With The Wind, the whole thing

I was under the impression corsetry etc was v much an alternative fashion (or even fetish) thing - ok, so now mainstream fashion would like to cash in on it. Same old, same old…

Much as I mourn the passing of what used to be my natural waist, I cannot see myself ever wearing a corset.
If others wish to, fine by me.

I do think that v restrictive and uncomfortable clothing has been a mean to suppress women in the past, however even if every Primark starts stocking laced corsets I cannot see the same happening now. We do have more of a choice what we are wearing, thanks the heavens above!

There seems to be quite a lively gay corset scene btw (google 'man corset' at your peril)

Horses for courses IMO on this one.

corsets started going out of 'fashion' when women took to bicycles, they started replacing the boning with heavily elasticated material, it was all part of the health movement about getting out in the fresh air, alongside the promotion of womens lib.

Fashion with the crinoline style of the first world war era began the final death knell, and the corset migrated to being a girdle style.

Dior was responsible for a brief come back during the 50s with their fashion for small waists, but it was gone again with the hippy movement of the 60s/70s.

however, they've still always been around as part of the erotic sub culture, and as i said in my previous posts, as part of the alternative fashion scenes.

Most of the stories surrounding severe waist training are myths, or were done by people purposely trying to make a statement/spectacle.

Strange this topic should appear now. I owned one a good few years back (when I was very much part of the goth scene) but it got a bit worn out and I've also put on weight so it no longer fits. I had an underbust corset and I loved the back support as well as the shape it gave me. I'm a natural hourglass shape anyway so it just enhanced the shape I already was.

I've actually just gone for a fitting for a new underbust corset yesterday. (It will be ready in 2 weeks and I can't wait to get it) The lady who sells them is very knowlagble and the majority of her work is actually for the NHS. She fits corsets for people with twisted spines, people in wheelchairs, and various other conditions that are helped by wearing a corset. I when my new corset arrives I will be fitted again and she won't let me leave the shop until she is satisfied I can do it up properly and get it back off again. She is also very strict about age and won't sell them to anyone under the age of 18 as they are still growing.

They are actually quite comfortable to wear once they mould to your shape. My posture is greatly improved (I tend to subconsciously slouch due to the weight of my boobs) and to be honest as I will mainly wear it under my clothes most people will be unaware I'm even wearing one. You would be surprised how many people actually wear corsets as underwear on a day to day basis. Just because you don't see your neighbour out in a full Victorian style overbust corset doesn't neccessarily meen they aren't wearing one.

As for the squishing of internal organs - well yes it does do that to an extent but no more than pregnancy does. If our organs weren't designed to move around a bit then they wouldn't. If worn correctly (ie not too tight) then corsets don't cause fainting. The reason women would faint more in Victorian days was probably due to lack of proper nutrition than corset wearing.

I think the reason that corsets went out of fashion was more to do with the invention of the bra. Corsets used to be used to support and lift boobs so when the bra came along it gave women the option to choose between the two.

But yeah, thanks for calling me stupid over my choice of underwear. I don't particuarly like thongs as an underwear choice. I don't see how having your bum hanging out and a thin strip of cloth between your cheeks would be comfortable. I could argue it's more about the aesthetics and for the benefit of men to look at but I wouldn't call someone stupid for choosing to wear them.

I don't think a corset or a basque is paticularly alternative. There's nothing unusual in a ballgown with a fitted corset type top. I agree re thongs.