SO MANY important issues have been discussed here lately that you may have missed the recent entry on corsets. Perhaps no topic of conversation at this site will confirm its image of evil, reactionary thought than this. I have decided to plow ahead with this pressing matter. The state of women’s clothing is in disarray. That includes undergarments, with their straps that frequently slip off the shoulders and padding that is either too much or too little. The fundamental problem is a lack of underlying structure. Even though I have never personally worn a corset, I recommend that traditional women stand together and at least consider radical change in this area. For the sake of future generations! Feminist readers of this blog (Hello! I know you are out there) will find this hilarious and will immediately take to their computers to reflect on how wonderful the latest bras are and how corsets are the chains of slaves, the whalebone remnants of patriarchal oppression. Here are thoughts by Lydia Sherman on the science of corsetry.

 Lydia Sherman writes:

I wear a corset, made by my daughter on her sewing machine. She downloaded a free pattern from a sewing site somewhere and she made herself one too. It is made of 100 percent natural wovens, like cotton, and is so well constructed, that I do not even know I am wearing it. From what I can see, there is no boning or plastic of any kind, and is made with cotton cording, covered in a casing of cotton. Many women have narrow, sloped shoulders and cannot keep the straps of bras on, and others have heavy busts that are supported only by bra straps. 

I have to say that the science of the corset is just brilliant. It supports from the waist, rather than from the shoulders. No more sore shoulders and back aches. It supports the back as though it were one of those velcro contraptions that people wear when they have to lift patients or heavy things. It holds the abdomen in better than support hose, and it leaves no red marks on the body. Whoever invented the bra was not thinking straight. Look at photographs of women in their clothing in the 1800’s and compare them to photographs of the 1940s and you can see the difference in the way the garment support their bodies. One of your readers mentioned the amount of hard work her grandmother did. When an undergarment does not pinch or creep up, it restricts you less, as does the corset. The corset had to have bad press in the early 20th century so that the designers could get rid of it. There was actually nothing wrong with it, except that it would not go with the modern clothes, which were more revealing.

I should add also that corsets give a woman a lot more privacy, or at least, a feeling of it. It makes you feel less exposed in public, because it has a few more layers on it than the modern bra. Instead of defining every bit of her anatomy, the corset covers it and disguises it, while still being true to the female shape.

                             — Comments —

Inga D. writes:

I really enjoyed reading what you and Lydia Sherman had to say about the corset. I was thinking another good reason for a corset is to prevent over indulging in food. Loose and baggy clothing make it far easier to participate in undisciplined eating habits. Wearing a corset, it would seem to me, would allow you to more mindful of your figure and take notice of how much you are eating. 

Thank you for talking about corsets. Now I’ve got to find that online pattern and make me one. :)

Laura writes:

I have a great name for a new organization of radically traditional women: the Corset Revolution. I can just see it now: all of us streaming down the Mall in Washington, D.C., holding signs that say “Down with the Women’s Vote!!” with corsets under our clothes. Years from now, there will be photos of us in history textbooks and the Corset Revolution will be on every secondary school timeline of American history.

Jenny L. writes:

I agree that corsets can be a wonderful thing. I had to wear one at a museum event. as part of a nineteenth-century hoopskirt costume. To my surprise, the corset was extremely comfortable to wear (the hoopskirt, not so much!). It was laced snugly but not tightly which, researchers told me, was how most women wore it, unless vanity encouraged them to
lace it extra-tightly, Scarlett-O’Hara style, in which case they were willingly choosing to sacrifice comfort for the appearance of a more slender waist. No one was FORCING them to bind themselves so tightly, contrary to myth.

When worn properly, I found that the corset gave wonderful back support. Plus, I found it impossible to slouch. I’ve since bought myself a twenty-first-century version, which was called something other than a corset but essentially does the same thing. I enjoy wearing it. My only complaint is that it can feel too hot in the summertime.

Laura writes:

What about washing corsets? I imagine you have to wash them by hand. I guess you would need to own a minimum of three if you were going to switch to full-time corset wear.

Drina writes:

Count me in on the Corset Revolution!

Laura writes:

I’ll see you on the Mall.

Please follow and like us: