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The Vintage Corset

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A Group for lovers of vintage corsetry!

Website: http://loveforvintage.ning.com/group/vintagecorsets
Members: 8
Latest Activity: Feb 14

Corsets first appeared in the 15th century and were worn by women of all classes at all times until the outbreak of World War One. The idea was to change the natural shape of the body in to what ever was the fashionable shape of the time.
A very low waist and flat chest for the Elizabethans, narrow shoulders and a small waist
for the Georgians, to the infamous "S" curves for the Victorians, and numerous variations in between.
In the eighteenth century, the corset imposed a more-or-less conical configuration to the upper torso. By the late nineteenth century, a more softly rounded female form was preferred.
This extended even to the body in profile. The straight and rigid busks of the eighteenth century gave way to busks that not only curved into the waist ,but also rounded out over the belly.
The imposition of the extremely small waist without the assistance of overly voluminous skirts was made possible by continuing advances in corsetry.
In the late 1860s, a steam molding process was introduced wherein a garment would be starched and dried on a metal mold.
The spoon busk came into use in 1873.Even elastic was being used sparingly in late nineteenth-century corset making. The result of all the technology bearing down on the woman's waist was that by the end of the nineteenth century, the compression possible was considerable.
This led to a controversy over the health effects of the corset. Although most of the negative
effects were probably experienced only by women who engaged in extremely tight lacing,
the reputation of the corset as a dangerous article of clothing remains.
Consequently, it has been used by numerous twentieth-century scholars as a metaphor for the nineteenth-century oppression of women.

Discussion Forum

Old Corset Advertising 3 Replies

Corset Advertising Continue

Started by Lady Estelle. Last reply by Lady Estelle Jan 25, 2011.

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Comment by Lady Estelle on November 23, 2012 at 10:07am: Thanks for sharing this great Link. I do so love to wear the corset on a daily bases. I like the look and feel of them.. It is truly a great source of support for my back.

Comment by Elizabeth Wallis on November 23, 2012 at 6:10am: I just HAD to join this group....not because I wear (or would wear...) a corset.... but I do so admire them.... and wanted to share this site with those of you who do have the courage to wear one....Do have a look at this site....it is just too beautiful to pass by..... without 'oogling'.....

https://www.facebook.com/v.couture.de"

P.S. the only reason I would never wear one...is because of the internal 'combustion' I live with.... and have had a problem with since I was about 37.... not nice or cool for me anyhow...(and NO pun inteneded here!!) But the corset certainly does appeal to me... and my younger daughter Liza -simply loves them (and looks great in one!)

Comment by Lady Estelle on June 19, 2010 at 4:48pm: This antique Edwardian era pink coutil white lace garter corset dates from 1910. It is made of a pink coutil fabric, with white lace trim edging around the top woven through with pink silk ribbon, and a rosette bow trim on the front. This lovely lingerie longline style corset has a busk hook front laced closure, boned stays sewn inside, with two adjustable stocking suspender garters attached on the bottom front. It comes with the original long pink corset string laces for lacing up the back. The corset measures 17 inches long, with additional 8 inch long garter straps, 38 inch hips, a 26 inch adjustable waist, and 32 inch top bust. It is in good wearable condition with some discoloration along the fabric stays. Item number z1615

US $300

Comment by Norma Tumlin on June 14, 2010 at 1:17pm: Thank You Lady Estelle. The corset shown has one of the most reasonable prices I have seen. I do appreciate the time you took to look up this web site for me. I will certainly tell my husband about it.

Comment by Lady Estelle on June 14, 2010 at 11:51am: Here is a good and reliable website for corsets and under garments.
http://www.abrahamslady.com/underpinnings.html

Comment by Norma Tumlin on June 13, 2010 at 9:17pm: I agree. This item of clothing had many layers attached to it. Which I think is why it still has soo much fasination for so many people. Unfortunately many reenactors still do not understand the significance of wearing this particular itme of clothing. Nor do they believe it is essential to wear it. THen of course you have the people who are trying to get the smallest waist possible in the world and risk their health to do so. This of course does not take into account the people who have fetishes. I do like this picture though as it shows clearly how the corset was/is supposed to be worn. I still am working on getting a better made corset to wear with my victorian clothing. i do not think I am that good of a seamstress to try to make one one myself, although I have thought about it. It is too bad the really well made ones are so expensive.

Comment by Lady Estelle on June 13, 2010 at 7:04pm: As I do more research on the corset, I am finding it so interesting. What a amazing under garment.

Comment by Norma Tumlin on June 13, 2010 at 6:13pm: This is very interesting. I never heard about this as my grandmother was not alowed to do any strenous sports. She said "ladies" did not do those things. I think it was really because she was not interested. I do like this picture as it clearly shows how ladies rode sidesaddle.

Comment by Lady Estelle on June 13, 2010 at 6:09pm: Women's tennis, bicycling and horseback riding were conducted fully dressed and corseted, which did pose a limit on the level of exertion. The restricted lower ribcage encouraged breathing with the upper chest, which was deemed attractive. However, it was recognized that the corset provided valuable support for the torso and this enabled women to compete in sports that did not depend on flexibility at the waist.

For example in 1907, a tightly corseted May Sutton competed in the US tennis championships and won. Before her, Irish Maud Watson, played tennis and won the inaugural ladies' championship in 1884 and '85. During both matches she was formally dressed and corseted, demonstrating that women who were used to being corseted, were less inhibited by the practice than is often presumed. Most of the inhibition was actually caused by the dress style itself.

For example a promenade dress would only allow small steps to be made, whereas the dresses worn for sports allowed much more freedom around the legs. Removing the corsets during sports activity was usually discouraged, as it turned out that after a day of sports without the support, it would require a lot more effort to close the night corset. To address this problem, shorter corsets were developed, and by wearing these "sport" corsets (shorter on the hip) the wearer would maintain the upper torso and waist dimensions and avoid the nighttime struggle.

It is interesting to note that a growing number of women horseback riders are returning to wearing traditional corsets again, to improve posture, and for abdominal and bust support.

Comment by Norma Tumlin on June 12, 2010 at 8:59pm: I am glad I never had to wear this! i am sure it was verrrrrrry uncomfortable, as well hot or cold depending on the time of year.

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