Corsets are one of the most enduringly popular pieces of lingerie around today. Despite a reputation for causing health problems and being put forth by feminists as something to keep women down, corsets are being worn by more and more people. Women love the way that a corset can help them change the shape of their body in a way that dieting and exercise cannot. If you are interested in purchasing a corset for yourself, here is some information you might be interested in knowing.
For centuries, women have worn corsets to provide support and reshaping for their bodies. At their most extreme, a very tight corset allowed women to achieve a narrow, wasp-waisted appearance that was further accented through the use of bustles and petticoats. The idea was that a woman's waist would be extremely small while her bosom and hips were larger and fuller. At this time a corset was made of panels of fabric that were stitched together. Stays, strips of metal or whalebone, were put in to give the corset strength to shrink the waist almost beyond belief. Often a woman's waist was so small that a man could circle it with his hands. This was considered a physical ideal despite how extreme it was.
There were actually health problems that could develop as a result of wearing a corset. Long term wearing of a corset often caused a woman's internal organs to become displaced. They were forced up into the ribcage or down lower into the abdomen. As women tried harder and harder to shrink their waists, the problems became more severe. There were often cases of women fainting repeatedly from an inability to breathe properly. This was the reason that women gained the reputation for fainting at the sight of a mouse. It also led to the invention of the fainting couch.
Women stopped wearing corsets as much for a while. The feminist movement decried them as a way to keep women tied down and powerless. As women left the home and became more active, they needed to move more freely and corsets were simply unacceptable. As well, styles changed and the wasp-waist fell out of fashion. A corset used stays that were traditionally made of whale bone. When the hunting of whales fell out of favor, so did whalebone stays and these foundation garments fell even further out of popularity. The bra was perhaps the final nail in the coffin for some time. Suddenly, women could support their breasts without the restriction of a full corset.
This is changing back again. The trend is moving towards the wearing of corsets again. Now, with body conscious people trying to shrink their waist, a corset is becoming the shapewear item of choice. Women love the long, lean look of a corset since it is harder for people to see lines where a corset starts and ends. Now, modern verions use plastic stays or metal ones in order to give support since whalebone is no longer an option. Even men are beginning to wear them although this is often for medical reasons such as back pain.
A new section of the population also wears them for various reasons. Fetishists and body modification fans are returning to the extremely small waist. Both men and women are wearing corsets made of PVC, vinyl and leather and love the way it changes the shape of the body. They often wear versions which are studded, decorated with metal pieces or are elaborately decorated.
You can find corsets online and in lingerie stores. There are versions which cover the bust and ones that stop below the bust line. Some are designed so that they really reduce the circumference of the waist and others are more for looks than they are to shrink the waist. You can find models in a range of different materials such as brocade, silk and satin. There are also versions which are made out of leather, vinyl and PVC for a more hard core look.
Proper fit is key with a corset. You need to be measured accurately and decide how much you want your waist reduced. Often, people will purchase a corset one to two sizes smaller than would normally fit them. This is so that they can shrink their waists even further. You may be more interested in a corset for its looks rather than its function. Taking the time to shop carefully is your best way of getting one that is beautiful and that makes you feel wonderful too.
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