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All about 'Corsets'

Shilpa Shetty
Nov 20, 2015
6 min read

Updated: May 25, 2021

Hi how you guys doing? . Post Diwali it's time to now gear up for the upcoming party season. It's the best time of the year .The weather is changing for good and the so called winters we Mumbaikars experience is begining to set in. So what are we doing to look our best this upcoming party season? It's time for a wardrobe makeover .... Pack aside all your ethnic Diwali suits and lehangas and anakarkalis and bring out your hot party clothes.!!!! But before you try on that sexy outfit don't you want to shed some calories which you gained with all the festive Diwali bingeing. So either you hit the gym with vengeance or if you want to have the easy way out then add in some basic essentials to your wardrobe ... This magical thing called "Corset".

Corset is every woman's best kept secret. If you don't already have some, it can be a great piece to have in your wardrobe.

So here i have collated some interestings facts about corsets and shapewear.

Which associations do you have when you hear the word 'Corset'?

Maybe fainting, discomfort, agony, etc.? Unfortunately this is the case with many people. Based on my own experiences, I want you guys to do away with the corset's negative reputation, to list its positive effects and to inform you about the practical use of corsets.

What is a corset?

The corset has been part of female undergarments for a long time now; it has a long tradition. It has been worn since the 16th century; and it is still worn today. The corset's great period was around the turn of the century, during the so-called 'Belle Epoque', about 100 years ago. Fifty years ago it was a very fashionable garment, as well. Many link the corset to Catherine de' Medici, wife of King Henry II of France, because she banned thick waists in court during the 1550s. In reality, corsets may go back as far as Ancient Crete.

In the 16th century, they were made with fabrics like silk and cloth, and the boning in them was actually bone. Whale bone was preferred to make the stays and busk, while steel stays came a bit later. Ribbon was used to lace up the back, though at first this was only used for the wealthiest of wearers.

Corsets were used to shape the body, slim the waist and conform a woman's figure to a fashionable silhouette. The goal was to emphasize a small waist, and a full bust and hips. Some were kept so tight that the women wearing them were said to have "wasp waists", because their nipped-in figure was so small. Corsets often included a garter and suspenders to hold stockings up.

In extreme cases, some practiced "tight-lacing" -- when a corset was worn extremely tightly for long periods of time to permanently reduce waist size. While the goal was between 16-17 inches, many were satisfied with 20. Still, this caused major complications, such as broken ribs and only being able to breathe from the top of one's lungs.

Shapewear, it seems, has never gone out of style. With the introduction of Spanx in 2000, the slimming garments again became a part of a woman's every day wardrobe . Now, there are multiple brands creating shapewear for every woman, so that curves can be embraced with smooth lines. Many celebrities are vocal about their love of control garments, and corsets have even become a fashion statement, making up the tops of many dresses on the runway and red carpet. Women love the way they feel and look while wearing shapewear, and the greatest plus -- they're now made for comfort.

Today, shapewear has gotten a makeover and is much more comfortable and less constricting. Depending on the areas you wish to target, shapewear is sold in the form of tank tops, briefs, leggings, and slips

Why should women wear corsets?

Generally speaking a corset has three effects on your body:

it makes your waist smaller,
it lifts and supports your bosom,
it improves your posture.

Aside from these main effects corsets have, of course, other, agreeable impacts on your body:

if the corset is long enough below the waist, then it makes your stomach perfectly flat,
if the corset is long enough above the waist, then you can dispense with bras, for your bosom is supported by the corset,
the corset supports your back when you have to sit on a chair for a long time; this is comfortable and it makes sense from an orthopaedic point of view.

Every woman can benefit from corsets—regardless of your figure or fitness level. Anytime you wear fitted clothes, you can use them. Whether you are wearing casual attire, such as jeans and a t-shirt, or you need to get dressed up in an evening gown for a formal event, shapewear will help to make sure that your body looks its best in your clothing.

Shapewear can be used to help you fit in a smaller size while still dieting to reach your desired size. Shapewear is not only used for reduction purposes; it can also be used to lift and firm trouble areas, like the stomach and the buttocks.

To sum up it can be said that corset-wearing has the following effects: a small waist, a beautiful bosom, a flat stomach and an erect posture. Aren't these things desirable for every lady? They all influence your appearance positively.

What features must a corset have?

One important tip to remember when purchasing shapewear is to resist the urge to buy pieces that are too small. Though it can be tempting to buy shapewear in a smaller size, this can actually be counterproductive and create additional rolls and bulges.

The most effective shapewear pieces will be true to your own clothing size and have a comfortable fit.

General recommendations say that the corset should reach at least up to just under the bust. If it includes the bust, you need no bra, which is a considerable advantage if you want to wear low-necked summer or evening dresses. The corset automatically lifts your ribcage and thus makes your bust look more attractive. A corset that includes the bust is very effective in supporting it.

A corset should be tightest where the body is easily formable. This is the case round the waist and round the lower ribcage (the lowest 3-4 pairs of ribs can easily be compressed!) Conversely the corset shouldn't be too tight where the body cannot easily be formed, that is round the hips and round the upper ribcage. There it should only support the body and prevent ugly bulges. So especially the upper and lower edge must not be too tight, otherwise it 'cuts' into the skin, which is ugly and unhealthy, as the skin suffers from it. It's ideal if there's a smooth line from the firmly laced waist and lower ribcage to the upper ribcage and to the hips, which are not so firmly laced.

Who can wear a corset?

Every lady! But caricatures often depict corpulent women who are squeezed into a corset. Certainly a corset can be used to control "fat masses", but the main purpose of corsets has always been to form a smaller waist in slim or reasonably slim women. By using a corset you can get an aesthetically pleasing body shape and you won't suffer from any health problems if you apply an adequate method to get accustomed to corset-wearing.

One can wear corsets and shapwear under any type of clothing. Shapewear gets rid of bra bulge, underwear lines, and muffin tops (the bulge that can hang over the tops of your jeans).

Women who have recently given birth love shapewear because it gives them the confidence to wear their pre-pregnancy clothes much sooner.

Even if you are in great shape it’s still possible to experience unsightly bulges and rolls when trying to wear certain contemporary fashions.

Often, no matter how small you are, some clothing designs will look better with the addition of shapewear. Women who have toiled for hours to reduce their waistlines often experience muffin tops even though they are in good shape due to the cut of trendy, low-rise jeans and shapewear can fix this problem.