| tional corsets of olden days were painful garments | | | | During 1790s, following the French Revolution, there |
| and strained stays for taut waistlines. New age | | | | came a drastic break from the prevailing fashion and |
| corsets however are made for ease of use and | | | | loose and flowy. It was then that the corset went out |
| trendy dressing, mixing style with comfort. What was | | | | of fashion as dresses became high waisted. |
| once worn as a chemise is now a big fashion fad. | | | | Again, it was in the 1820s that fuller skirts came back |
| Corsets are said to go as far back as the Greek | | | | in fashion and once more it was the waist in vogue. |
| times. One of the most striking images of corsets is of | | | | The corset was back with a bang and continued to |
| the vivacious Scarlett O’Hara in the epic | | | | dominate the fashion trends for most of the remaining |
| “Gone With the Wind”, as she struggles | | | | 19th century. It was also at the same time that corsets |
| to fit in a corset to make her waist size a mere 18 | | | | received a lot of bad press for being unhealthy but |
| inch. Thankfully in our day and age we do not need to | | | | fashion diktats were not to be overruled by such |
| fit in one of those tiny ones but we sure can still wear | | | | interventions. |
| them to accentuate the curves for a flattering figure. | | | | Though laced corsets had always been considered |
| Also called stays, corsets were worn as a bustier, | | | | cumbersome, at the end of the 19th century they |
| which opened in the middle. | | | | came to be associated with sports and related |
| The word is originally derived from a French word, | | | | activities. Special moderately laced ones were specially |
| ‘cors’ meaning ‘body’. | | | | designed for cycling, riding, playing tennis as well as |
| ‘Corsetry’ is both the art of making | | | | maternity clothing. |
| corsets as well as wearing them. A corsetiere is the | | | | In the 20th century, corset evolved into yet another |
| traditional French word for a corset maker. The word | | | | form and came to its longest length. Starting from the |
| corset gained general acceptance in 1785 when it was | | | | bust line it went down till the thighs. Another long kind |
| used in a popular magazine for women called, The | | | | of corset began from below the bust line and had to |
| Ladies Magazine. Since then it came to define the | | | | be worn along with a bra. The new style was |
| corset from the very similar but bulkier stays. | | | | supposed to complement and lend credence to the |
| Corsets have constantly evolved in form and design | | | | new type of silhouette. This one resembled a modern |
| since the 16th century. During most of that time, flouncy | | | | girdle more than a conventional corset. |
| full-length skirts were in style and many variations of it | | | | Corsets hit the fashion shelves next in the 1940s, |
| existed in different countries. Regardless of the type | | | | inspired by Dior’s hourglass figure look. From |
| and pattern, corsets would always be worn | | | | that time the corset has remained popular in haute |
| underneath the dress to make the waist look smaller. | | | | couture. The corset slowly turned into an outerwear |
| Corsets would be worn over cotton/linen chemises. | | | | item than innerwear. In its present form it is hugely |
| The latter helped in absorbing sweat so as to keep | | | | popular both as outer and inner wear. |
| the corset and the gown clean and unspoiled. | | | | |