Modern Corsets: A Comprehensive Guide

How did every one of those European noble ladies in the paintings manage to look like an hourglass a few hundred years ago? Those women used to lace up in a tight corset and squeeze their upper body inside it to get that look.

Corsets are an undergarment that has been popular among women since the 1560s. Women used them to reduce their waistline and lift the bust to give an illusion of a lean and long torso. They are made of various fabrics, including cotton, leather, brocade, velvet and lace fitted with garters perfect for any occasion.

How Are Modern Day Corsets Different From the Traditional Ones?

Corsets have gone through immense transformations over the centuries. Some of the main changes seen are in regards to the perception of the body shape and the needs of women. While the focus was more on getting slimmer waists back in the olden days, the modern ones, in addition to that, also focus on providing the utmost comfort and convenience to the women wearing them today. There are numerous types available today, depending on the garment, budget, occasions, and functionality. The modern-day corset does more than just reduce the waist, as it minimises the shape of the bust, thrusts the breasts out, and smoothens the hip shape and more.

 

Types of Corsets

Hourglass Style

One of the most traditional styles found in the market today is the Victorian hourglass. It gives them a perfect figure with a really small waist starting from the overbust, mid bust or underbust, along with a sweetheart or a straight neckline. This is the best one for ease of dressing, comfort and maximum waist reduction.

 

Pipe Stem Style

This compresses the body throughout the torso giving it a long appearance. This illusion of a lengthy torso is achieved using rigid boning. But one of the main disadvantages of pipe stem style is that one needs waist training to fit into it and cannot be worn for long.

 

Under Bust Style

As the name suggests, an underbust type sits below the bust on the waist to reduce its size. It does not offer to support the bust, and so, one must wear a good bra for support. This type is used as a supportive undergarment to improve posture and help the back,  and it showcases a classy fashion statement when worn on top of clothing to show off the lean waist.

Waspie Style

Waspie is a type of underbust, but it is shorter. It creates impossibly small waists using a wide belt to pull on the torso. These are one of the waist trainers that used to deliver permanent waste reduction results, and it has been named so because the waist and the body look segmented like a wasp. But, it might cause some strain on the abdomen and the ribcage for those who are not trained for it.

 

Ribbon Style

This is an everyday corset made of light materials and strips of fabric. It is easy to wear, comfortable and not too tight-fitting. It is also a perfect modern garment for beginners to try on and experiment with the look.

 

Laced Style

Most types can come under laced if they have lacing as a part of the garment and can have laces in the front or in the back, both front and back and triple lacing. These are used by women mostly during special occasions.

*This is a collaboration post