A luxury hourglass corset from 1878. It features a busk fastening at the front and lacing at the back.

A corset is a garment worn to mold and shape the torso into a desired shape for aesthetic or medical purposes (either for the duration of wearing it, or with a more lasting effect). Image File history File links Size of this preview: 389 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1684 × 2594 pixel, file size: 230 KB, MIME type: image/png) Original comments in Le Corset by Libron: Corset sans couture de Bar-le-duc, 54 baleines, taille 46 c/m, longueur du busc 38 c/m... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 389 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1684 × 2594 pixel, file size: 230 KB, MIME type: image/png) Original comments in Le Corset by Libron: Corset sans couture de Bar-le-duc, 54 baleines, taille 46 c/m, longueur du busc 38 c/m... Corset 1831 The hourglass corset was a style of corset that was in fashion from 1830 to 1900. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... A busk (also spelled busque) is the rigid element of a corset placed at the centre front. ... (See also List of types of clothing) Introduction Humans often wear articles of clothing (also known as dress, garments or attire) on the body (for the alternative, see nudity). ... The human torso Torso is an anatomical term for the greater part of the human body without the head and limbs. ... Aesthetics (or esthetics) (from the Greek word αισθητική) is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty. ...

Both men and women are known to wear corsets. This article concerns how a man differs from women. ... Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ...

Many garments sold as "corsets" during recent years are not technically corsets in the traditional sense. While modern "corsets" and "corset tops" often feature lacing and/or boning and generally mimic a historical style of corsets, they have very little if any effect on the shape of the wearer's body. “Merry Widow” redirects here. ... A is a short Corselette, as only is covering, the chest, to the waist line. ... In corsetry, a bone is one of the rigid parts of a corset that forms its frame, gives it rigidity, and helps to shape the wearers body. ...

In recent years, the term "corset" has also been borrowed by the fashion industry to refer to tops which, to varying degrees, mimic the look of traditional corsets without actually acting as one; such tops are frequently seen in stores which cater to fans of gothic fashion or emo fashion^{[citation needed]}. Many such tops feature lacing or boning and are fairly tight-fitting; however, genuine corsets are usually made by a corsetmaker and should ideally be fitted especially for the wearer. Gothic fashion is a clothing style worn by members of the Goth subculture. ... Look up emo in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A corsetmaker is a specialist tailor who makes corsets. ...

Etymology

The word corset is derived from the Old French word cors, the diminutive of body, which itself derives from corpus - the Latin for body^[1]. Old French was the Romance dialect continuum spoken in territories corresponding roughly to the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium and Switzerland from around 1000 to 1300. ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ...

Uses

Fashion

The most common and well-known use of corsets is to slim the body and make it conform to a fashionable silhouette. For women this most frequently emphasizes a curvy figure, by reducing the waist, and thereby exaggerating the bust and hips (see photo). However, in some periods, corsets have been worn to achieve a tubular straight-up-and-down shape, which involves minimizing the bust and hips. Waistline The waist is the part of the abdomen between the ribcage and hips. ... A bust can be one of: Bust (sculpture), a sculpture depicting a persons chest, shoulders, and head, usually supported by a stand. ... Bones of the Hip In anatomy, the hip is the bony projection of the femur, known as the greater trochanter, and the overlying muscle and fat. ...

For men, corsets are more customarily used to slim the figure. However, there was a period from around 1820 to 1835 when an hourglass figure (a small, nipped-in look to the waist) was also desirable for men; this was sometimes achieved by wearing a corset. 1820 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Corset 1831 The hourglass corset was a style of corset that was in fashion from 1830 to 1900. ... Waistline The waist is the part of the abdomen between the ribcage and hips. ...

An overbust corset encloses the torso, extending from just under the arms to the hips. An underbust corset begins just under the breasts and extends down to the hips. Some corsets extend over the hips and, in very rare instances, reach the knees (example). A shorter kind of corset, which covers the waist area (from low on the ribs to just above the hips), is called a 'waist cincher'. A corset may also include garters to hold up stockings (alternatively a separate garter belt may be worn for that). Look up ARM in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Knee (disambiguation). ... Waistline The waist is the part of the abdomen between the ribcage and hips. ... Waist Cincher 1860 Waist cincher is a type of corset that is used to pull in the waist. ... It has been suggested that Garters be merged into this article or section. ... A stocking is a close-fitting, variously elastic garment covering the foot and lower part of the leg, but usually not intended to conceal the leg. ... A white garter belt A garter belt with guipure lace Garter belt is a womans undergarment consisting of an elastic piece of cloth worn around the waist to which garters are attached to hold up stockings. ...

Normally a corset supports the visible dress, and spreads the pressure from large dresses, such as the crinoline and bustle. Sometimes a corset cover is used to protect outer clothes from the corset and to smooth the lines of the corset. crinoline patented Cutaway view of a crinoline, Punch magazine, August 1856 Sequence of posed joke photographs of five stages of putting on a crinoline, ca. ... Bustle apparatus (1881) For other uses, see Bustle (disambiguation). ...

Medical

People with spinal problems such as scoliosis or with internal injuries may be fitted with a form of corset in order to immobilize and protect the torso. However, this may be harmful if not medically indicated.

Andy Warhol was shot in 1968 and never fully recovered, and wore a corset for the rest of his life. Andrew Warhola (August 6, 1928 — February 22, 1987), better known as Andy Warhol, was an American artist who became a central figure in the movement known as Pop art. ...

Fetish

Aside from fashion and medical uses, corsets are also used in sexual fetishism, most notably in BDSM activities. In BDSM, a submissive can be forced to wear a corset which would be laced very tight and give some degree of restriction to the wearer. A dominant can also wear a corset, but for entirely different reasons such as aesthetics. Wikinews has related news: Dr. Joseph Merlino on sexuality, insanity, Freud, fetishes and apathy Sexual fetishism is the attribution of attractive sexual qualities to non-living objects as an overwhelming alternative to the sexuality of a man or a woman, or as an enhancing element to a relationship. ... A collar is a common symbol in BDSM Female bottom in bondage with leather monoglove BDSM is any of a number of related patterns of human sexual behavior. ... In human sexual behavior, a submissive is one who enjoys having any of a variety of BDSM practices performed upon them by a Dominant; or one who holds a submissive position within a relationship based upon Dominance and submission (Ds or D/s). ... In human sexual behavior, a dominant is one who enjoys performing any of a variety of BDSM practices upon a submissive; or one who holds a dominant position within a relationship based upon dominance and submission (DS). ...

Construction

Custom-fitted overbust corset made by a dressmaker in 2005; worn by model.

Corsets are typically constructed of a flexible material (like cloth, particularly coutil, or leather) stiffened with boning (also called ribs or stays) inserted into channels in the cloth or leather. In the 19th century, steel and whalebone were favored for the boning. Featherbone was used as a less expensive substitute for whalebone and was constructed from flattened strips of goose quill woven together with yarn to form a long strip (Doyle, 1997:232). Plastic is now the most commonly used material for lightweight corsets, whereas spring or spiral steel is preferred for stronger corsets. Other materials used for boning include ivory, wood, and cane. (By contrast, a girdle is usually made of elasticized fabric, without boning.) Image File history File links Size of this preview: 489 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (530 × 650 pixel, file size: 76 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 489 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (530 × 650 pixel, file size: 76 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... It has been suggested that Textile be merged into this article or section. ... Coutil (or Coutille) is woven twill cloth created specifically for making corsets. ... Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides and skins of animals, primarily cattlehide. ... In corsetry, a bone is one of the rigid parts of a corset that forms its frame, gives it rigidity, and helps to shape the wearers body. ... For other uses, see Steel (disambiguation). ... Baleen (also called whalebone) is a substance made of keratin and is therefore stiff but somewhat elastic. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Wood (disambiguation). ... Look up cane in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Youths boxing in a Minoan fresco on the Greek island of Santorini The word girdle originally meant a belt (or metaphorically speaking, something which confines or encloses, as in Tolkiens Girdle of Melian). ... Look up elastic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The craft of corset construction is known as corsetry, as is the general wearing of them. Someone who makes corsets is a corsetier or corsetière (French terms for a man and for a woman, respectively), or sometimes simply a corsetmaker. (The word corsetry is sometimes also used as a collective plural form of corset.) A corsetmaker is a specialist tailor who makes corsets. ... A corsetmaker is a specialist tailor who makes corsets. ...

Corsets are held together by lacing, usually (though not always) at the back. Tightening or loosening the lacing produces corresponding changes in the firmness of the corset. Depending on the desired effect and time period, corsets can be laced from the top down, from the bottom up or two laces were used to lace up from the bottom and down from the top to meet in the middle. It is difficult — although not impossible — for a back-laced corset-wearer to do his or her own lacing. In the Victorian heyday of corsets, a well-to-do woman would be laced by her maid, and a gentleman by his valet. However, many corsets also had a buttoned or hooked front opening called a busk. Once the lacing was adjusted comfortably, it was possible to leave the lacing as adjusted and take the corset on and off using the front opening (this method can potentially damage the busk if the lacing is not significantly loosened beforehand). Self-lacing is also almost impossible with tightlacing, which strives for the utmost possible reduction of the waist. Modern tightlacers, lacking servants, are usually laced by spouses and partners. A busk (also spelled busque) is the rigid element of a corset placed at the centre front. ...

Waist reduction

A healthy straight-front corset and its opposite. The unhealthy corset shown pushes the abdomen down (because it has only buttons, no busk).

By wearing a tightly-laced corset for extended periods, known as tightlacing, men and women can learn to tolerate extreme waist constriction and eventually reduce their natural waist size. Tightlacers usually aim for 40 to 43 centimeters (16 to 17 inches) waists. Until 1998, the Guinness Book of World Records listed Ethel Granger as having the smallest waist on record at 32.5 centimeters (13 inches). After 1998, the category changed to "smallest waist on a living person" and Cathie Jung took the title with a 37.5 centimeters (15 inches) waist. Other women, such as Polaire, also have achieved such reductions. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 458 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2345 × 3072 pixel, file size: 228 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 458 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2345 × 3072 pixel, file size: 228 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Cathie Jung (born 1937), wearing a sterling silver corset, holds the Guinness World Record for the smallest waist of any currently living person, at 38. ... Waistline The waist is the part of the abdomen between the ribcage and hips. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The Guinness Book of Records (or in recent editions Guinness World Records, and in previous US editions Guinness Book of World Records) is a book published annually, containing an internationally recognized collection of superlatives: both in terms of human achievement and the extrema of the natural world. ... Categories: 1937 births | People stubs ... Mlle. ...

These are extreme cases, however. Corsets were and are still usually designed for support, with freedom of body movement an important consideration in their design. Present day corset-wearers usually tighten the corset just enough to reduce their waists by 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches); it is very difficult for a slender woman to achieve as much as 15 centimeters (6 inches), although larger women can do so more easily.

Corset comfort

In the past, a woman's corset was usually worn over a garment called a chemise or shift, a sleeveless low-necked gown made of washable material (usually cotton or linen). It absorbed perspiration and kept the corset and the gown clean. In modern times, an undershirt or corset liner may be worn. Fashionable young men in early 16th century Germany showed a lot of fine linen in a studied negligence. ... Fashionable young men in early 16th century Germany showed a lot of fine linen in a studied negligence. ... For other uses, see Cotton (disambiguation). ... Torn linen cloth, recovered from the Dead Sea Linen is a material made from the fibers of the flax plant. ...

Moderate lacing is not incompatible with vigorous activity. Indeed, during the second half of the nineteenth century, when corset wearing was common, there were sport corsets specifically designed to wear while bicycling, playing tennis, or horseback riding, as well as for maternity wear. Cycling is a recreation, a transport across land. ... For other uses, see Tennis (disambiguation). ...

Many people now believe that all corsets are uncomfortable and that wearing them restricted women's lives, citing Victorian literature devoted to sensible or hygienic dress.^{[citation needed]} However, these writings were most apt to protest against the misuse of corsets for tightlacing; they were less vehement against corsets per se. Many reformers recommended "Emancipation bodices", which were essentially tightly-fitted vests, like full-torso corsets without boning. See Victorian dress reform. Queen Victoria (shown here on the morning of her accession to the Throne, 20 June 1837) gave her name to the historic era The Victorian era of the United Kingdom marked the height of the British Industrial Revolution and the apex of the British Empire. ... During the middle and late Victorian period, various reformers proposed, designed, and wore clothing supposedly more rational and comfortable than the fashions of the time. ...

Some modern day corset-wearers will testify that corsets can be comfortable, once one is accustomed to wearing them. A properly fitted corset should be comfortable. Women active in the historical reenactment groups (such as Society for Creative Anachronism) commonly wear corsets as part of period costume, without complaint.^{[citation needed]} Reenactors of the American Civil War Historical reenactment is an activity in which participants recreate some aspects of a historical event or period. ... The Society for Creative Anachronism (usually shortened to SCA) is a historical reenactment and living history group approximating mainly pre-17th century Western European history and culture. ...

Modern history

Custom-fitted overbust corset made by corsetière in 2006.

The corset fell from fashion in the 1920s in Europe and America, replaced by girdles and elastic brassieres, but survived as an article of costume. Originally an item of lingerie, the corset has become a popular item of outerwear in the fetish, BDSM and goth subcultures. Image File history File links Purplecorset01. ... Image File history File links Purplecorset01. ... The 1920s is a decade that is sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Youths boxing in a Minoan fresco on the Greek island of Santorini The word girdle originally meant a belt (or metaphorically speaking, something which confines or encloses, as in Tolkiens Girdle of Melian). ... Bra - front Bra - back A brassiere ( ; , commonly referred to as a bra, ) is an article of clothing that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. ... Yarkand ladies summer fashions. ... Assorted lingerie styles. ... Sexual fetishism, first described as such by Sigmund Freud though the concept and certainly the activity is quite ancient, is a form of paraphilia where the object of affection is a specific inanimate object or part of a persons body. ... A collar is a common symbol in BDSM Female bottom in bondage with leather monoglove BDSM is any of a number of related patterns of human sexual behavior. ... This article is about the late 20th / early 21st century subculture. ...

In the fetish and BDSM literature, there is often much emphasis on tightlacing. In this case, the corset may still be underwear rather than outerwear. Cathie Jung (born 1937), wearing a sterling silver corset, holds the Guinness World Record for the smallest waist of any currently living person, at 38. ...

There was a brief revival of the corset in the late 1940s and early 1950s, in the form of the waist cincher sometimes called a "waspie". This was used to give the hourglass figure dictated by Christian Dior's 'New Look'. However, use of the waist cincher was restricted to haute couture, and most women continued to use girdles. This revival was brief, as the New Look gave way to a less dramatically-shaped silhouette. The 1940s decade ran from 1940 to 1949. ... the first thing that was invented was the automatic DILDO. Education grew explosively because of a very strong demand for high school and college education. ... Waist Cincher 1860 Waist cincher is a type of corset that is used to pull in the waist. ... Christian Dior (January 21, 1905 – October 23, 1957), was an influential French fashion designer. ... For other uses, see New Look (disambiguation). ... Haute couture (French for high sewing or high dressmaking; IPA: ) refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted fashions. ... Youths boxing in a Minoan fresco on the Greek island of Santorini The word girdle originally meant a belt (or metaphorically speaking, something which confines or encloses, as in Tolkiens Girdle of Melian). ...

Since the late 1980s, the corset has experienced periodic revivals, which have usually originated in haute couture and which have occasionally trickled through to mainstream fashion. These revivals focus on the corset as an item of outerwear rather than underwear. The strongest of these revivals was seen in the Autumn 2001 fashion collections and coincided with the release of the film Moulin Rouge!, the costumes for which featured many corsets as characteristic of the era. The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Moulin Rouge is a 2001 Academy Award-winning jukebox musical film directed by Baz Luhrmann. ...

Similarly other films have used these garments as costume features, generally to suggest a period effect, as in Van Helsing where Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale) wears an ornate underbust corset as part of her costume. Sometimes this is used for humorous purposes, as when in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) almost suffocates from wearing a tight corset. One distinctive feature has been to portray them in combination with catsuits, as in Star Trek: Voyager where Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) throughout the series wears catsuits with contained built-in corsets, or Underworld, where Selene (Kate Beckinsale) wears a black leather corset over matching latex catsuit. This article or section contains a plot summary that is overly long. ... Anna Valerious was a fictional vampire hunter in the film Van Helsing. ... Kathryn Bailey Kate Beckinsale (born July 26, 1973) is an English actress, known for her roles in the films Pearl Harbor (2001), Van Helsing (2004), and Underworld (2003). ... Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a movie of adventure and romance set in the Caribbean during the seventeenth century. ... Elizabeth Turner is a fictional character in the Walt Disney Pictures Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise. ... Keira Christina Knightley (pronounced ;[1] born 26 March 1985) is an English[2] film and television actress. ... A woman wearing a black latex catsuit and thigh-high boots. ... The starship Voyager (NCC-74656), an Intrepid-class starship. ... Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero-One, often shortened to Seven of Nine or simply Seven, played by Jeri Ryan, is a character in the television series Star Trek: Voyager. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Underworld is a 2003 action-horror film about the secret history of vampire and werewolves, where the latter are referred to as Lycan as an abbreviated form of lycanthrope. ... Beckinsale portrays Selene Selene is a fictional character from Underworld and Underworld: Evolution. ... Kathryn Bailey Kate Beckinsale (born July 26, 1973) is an English actress, known for her roles in the films Pearl Harbor (2001), Van Helsing (2004), and Underworld (2003). ... Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides and skins of animals, primarily cattlehide. ... This article is about the typesetting system. ... A woman wearing a black latex catsuit and thigh-high boots. ...

And so have done games, especially SSBM, in which Peach can be seen wearing a corset.

The majority of garments sold as "corsets" (or sometimes "corset tops") during these recent revivals cannot really be counted as corsets at all, in the traditional sense of the word. While they often feature lacing and boning and generally mimic a historical style of corsets, they have little or no effect on the shape of the wearer's body; traditional corsets generally require custom fitting by a tailor who specialises in corsetry. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... “Merry Widow” redirects here. ... A is a short Corselette, as only is covering, the chest, to the waist line. ... In corsetry, a bone is one of the rigid parts of a corset that forms its frame, gives it rigidity, and helps to shape the wearers body. ...

Special types

There are some special types of corsets and corset-like devices which incorporate boning.

Corset dress and Post-Edwardian long line corset

Post-Edwardian long line corset, in fashion 1913-1914, very restrictive.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Post-Edwardian long line

See also: Bondage corset

A corset dress (also known as hobble corset because it produces similar restrictive effects to a hobble skirt) is a long corset. It is like an ordinary corset, but it is long enough to cover the legs, partially or totally. It thus looks like a dress, hence the name. A person wearing a corset dress can have great difficulty in walking up and down the stairs (especially if wearing high-heeled footwear) and may be unable to sit down if the boning is too stiff. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 309 × 598 pixelsFull resolution (1587 × 3072 pixel, file size: 403 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 309 × 598 pixelsFull resolution (1587 × 3072 pixel, file size: 403 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Discipline Training Bondage Corset 1950s Discipline Training Bondage Corset 1950s A bondage corset, used for BDSM, is a full-figured corset that is sometimes called a discipline corset. ... A hobble skirt is a skirt with a narrow enough hem to significantly impede the wearers stride, thus earning its name. ...

Neck corset

Main article: Neck corset

A neck corset is a type of posture collar incorporating stays and it is generally not considered to be a corset. A neck corset (sometimes called throat corset or neck lacer) is special type of corset which is worn fitted around the neck instead of around the waist as of with ordinary corset. ... A neck corset (sometimes called throat corset or neck lacer) is special type of corset which is worn fitted around the neck instead of around the waist as of with ordinary corset. ... A model wearing a posture collar and a ball gag A posture collar is a rigid collar that is wide enough to reach from under the chin to the shoulders. ... In corsetry, a bone is one of the rigid parts of a corset that forms its frame, gives it rigidity, and helps to shape the wearers body. ...

Chastity corset

A chastity corset is a corset that incorporates chastity device, usually a Florentine design chastity belt.^[2] Such corsets are usually lockable. A chastity device part can be either attachable to the bottom of the corset or it can be integral part of the corset. In its lower part, former type of the chastity corset is like bodysuit without crotch opening. A chastity belt is a locking item of clothing designed to prevent sexual intercourse and possibly masturbation. ... Venetian chastity belt on display in the Doges palace. ... A bodysuit is a leotard-like undergarment, sometimes used to provide support and shaping, sometimes simply as a top that cannot become untucked from ones trousers or skirt. ...

Advantages and disadvantages of corsets

Bianca Lyons show the female curves made by corset. 1902

There are several advantages and disadvantages to wearing a corset. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 351 × 598 pixelsFull resolution (722 × 1231 pixel, file size: 132 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Date c1902. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 351 × 598 pixelsFull resolution (722 × 1231 pixel, file size: 132 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Date c1902. ...

Advantages

A redresseur corset specially designed for safe body modification without any pressure on the entrails.

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 305 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1564 × 3072 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 305 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1564 × 3072 pixel, file size: 1. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Health benefits

• Corsets promote good posture.
• Corsets can reduce pain and improve function for people with back problems or other muscular/skeletal disorders, such as Lordosis.
• Some large-breasted women find corsets more comfortable than brassieres, because the weight of the breasts is carried by the whole corset rather than the brassiere's shoulder straps. Straps can chafe or cut the skin. However, if a bra is properly fitted, the weight of the breasts is carried by the band and not by the shoulders, thus eliminating this problem for even women with very large breasts.
• Some large-breasted women find some corsets more comfortable and practical than brassieres, because a corset can support the Lordosis in back (a common balance problem on large-breasted women), and because the shoulders are free. And some find the broad-shoulder straps on big brassieres unsightly.

Lordosis is a term used to describe the direction of the curvature of the five lumbar and seven cervical vertebrae of the vertebral column. ... Bra - front Bra - back A brassiere ( ; , commonly referred to as a bra, ) is an article of clothing that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. ... Bra - front Bra - back A brassiere ( ; , commonly referred to as a bra, ) is an article of clothing that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. ... Lordosis is a term used to describe the direction of the curvature of the five lumbar and seven cervical vertebrae of the vertebral column. ... Bra - front Bra - back A brassiere ( ; , commonly referred to as a bra, ) is an article of clothing that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. ...

Personal, social and aesthetic advantages

• Corsets can give a straight masterful posture.^[3]
• The straight posture accentuates the bosom.
• Corsets can instantly reduce the waistline by 5-10cm (2-4").
• Corsets can spread the weight of big gowns.
• The corsets can show social status, as the corset-wearers are different from other people. In the old days, the upper-class wore corsets to demonstrate distinction from lower classes. Today, some subcultures wear corsets to be opposite to the conformity.
• Some corset-wearers enjoy the feeling of being "hugged" by the corset.
• Due to their tightness and close proximity to the body, corsets can make the wearer feel very warm. They have historically been worn in cooler climates.
• Some corset-wearers believe the shallow breathing imposed by the garment may charm men.

Shallow breathing is the drawing of minimal breath into the lungs, usually by drawing air into the chest area using the intercostal muscles rather than throughout the lungs via the diaphragm. ... This article concerns how a man differs from women. ...

Long-term advantages

• The abdominal pressure maintained by frequent corset use can help wearers reduce body fat by inhibiting the appetite without conscious dieting, slimming drugs, or cosmetic surgery. ^[4]
• Training with corsets can reduce waistline by 18cm (7") or more. See: Tightlacing

Measuring body weight on a scale Dieting is the practice of ingesting food in a regulated fashion to achieve a particular objective. ... Plastic surgery is a general term for operative manual and instrumental treatment which is performed for functional or aesthetic reasons. ... Cathie Jung (born 1937), wearing a sterling silver corset, holds the Guinness World Record for the smallest waist of any currently living person, at 38. ...

Disadvantages

Many corset design have difficulty by the correct lift of the chest, on beginners. This example is breaking the ribs on the middle, opposite the correct redresseur corset which bend the ribs up close at the spine.

The result of a bad corset: crushed lower chest, touching ribs, displaced kidney, sagging bowels. Deformed long-bodied, narrow-chested form is the result of early corset use.

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 579 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2223 pixel, file size: 668 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 579 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2223 pixel, file size: 668 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 328 × 598 pixelsFull resolution (1684 × 3072 pixel, file size: 288 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 328 × 598 pixelsFull resolution (1684 × 3072 pixel, file size: 288 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ...

Health risks

• Glénard's disease is the most common illness caused by prolonged corset use. It is characterized by lack of abdominal muscle tone and visceral displacement.^[5]
• Wearing tight-laced corsets over a long period of time may cause the lower ribs (floating ribs) to become deformed and pushed inwards. This can lead to organ failure, dehydration, or broken ribs.
• Improper corset use may deform the stomach^[6] and liver.^[7]
• Developing children are far more vulnerable to the potential health risks of corset use. As such, corsets should only be worn by fully-formed adults, never by growing children.

Frantz Glénard Glénards disease is a medical condition of the relocation of abdominal viscera. ... the four floating ribs Four of the ribs (two pairs) in the ribcage are said to be floating ribs because they are attached to the vertebrae only, and not to the sternum or cartilage coming off of the sternum. ...

Difficulties finding a corset

• Low-quality corsets. Finding a well-fitting, good-quality corset among the many imitations can be challenging. The potential wearer must try on and inspect any corset being considered for purchase for quality and fit. An ill-fitting corset will chafe, impede digestion, and ultimately cause damage to the ribs^[8] and pinch nerves.^[9]

The difficulties in getting used to corsets

• Fainting. If the wearer is unaccustomed to shallow breathing, the muscles soon tire and work too slowly, severely reducing oxygen supply. Would-be wearers must train up their breathing gradually.
• It is important that the corset lengthens the waist, like a redresseur corset, for better shallow breathing. A waist cincher is too short to accomplish this.
• A corset must be worn every day for five weeks before it has fully molded itself to the wearer's form (and the wearer has fully adjusted to the corset).^{[citation needed]}

It has been suggested that Central Ischaemic Response be merged into this article or section. ... Shallow breathing is the drawing of minimal breath into the lungs, usually by drawing air into the chest area using the intercostal muscles rather than throughout the lungs via the diaphragm. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Shallow breathing is the drawing of minimal breath into the lungs, usually by drawing air into the chest area using the intercostal muscles rather than throughout the lungs via the diaphragm. ... Waist Cincher 1860 Waist cincher is a type of corset that is used to pull in the waist. ...

References and further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Corsets

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Category:Corset

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Corset

Look up Corset in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Doyle, R. "Waisted Efforts, A Illustrated Guide To Corset Making". Sartorial Press Publications, 1997. ISBN 0-9683039-0-0
• Valerie Steele, The Corset: A Cultural History. Yale University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-300-09953-3
• Larry Utley, Autumn Carey-Adamme, Fetish Fashion: Undressing the Corset Green Candy Press, 2002. ISBN 1-931160-06-6
• Norah Waugh, Corsets and Crinolines. Routledge (December 1, 1990), ISBN 0-87830-526-2
• Category:Corset
• Categorie:Corset

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File links Wikisource-logo. ... The original Wikisource logo. ... Image File history File links Wikibooks-logo-en. ... Wikibooks logo Wikibooks, previously called Wikimedia Free Textbook Project and Wikimedia-Textbooks, is a wiki for the creation of books. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wiktionary (a portmanteau of wiki and dictionary) is a multilingual, Web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in over 150 languages. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 403 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2066 × 3072 pixel, file size: 831 KB, MIME type: image/png) Faithful reproductions of two-dimensional original works cannot attract copyright in the U.S. according to the rule in Bridgeman Art Library v. ...

External links

• Corsets at the Open Directory Project
• Selection of 19th and early 20th century texts about corsets
• The Secret History of the Corset and Crinoline A seminar by the Victoria and Albert Museum
• Corset.dk - The Corset Site News and links about corsets and tight-lacing
• Overview of the corset
• Long Island Staylace Association-Laced Corsetry & Stays Site It is a support site for corsetry enthusiasts, but many information.

v • d • e Corsetry
	The modern corset: Body modification · Bondage corset · Corsage · Fetish fashion · Modern hourglass corset History: History of brassieres · Hourglass corset · Metal corset · Redresseur corset · Tightlacing Corset parts: Bone (corsetry) · Busk · Spoon busk · Stay-lace Accessories: Bustle · Crinoline · Garters · Lace Related concepts: Abdominal belt · Corselet · Girdle · Liberty bodice · Neck corset · Waist cincher · Waspie Body concepts: Floating ribs · Visceroptosis · Shallow breathing · Spinal adjustment  · Training corset · Wasp waist Corsetmakers: C & S Constructions · Spencer co. · Spirella · Warner's · Wasp Creations Categories: Corsetry · Fashion · Foundation garments The Open Directory Project (ODP), also known as dmoz (from , its original domain name), is a multilingual open content directory of World Wide Web links owned by Netscape that is constructed and maintained by a community of volunteer editors. ... The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the worlds largest and finest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4. ... A corsetmaker is a specialist tailor who makes corsets. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 472 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (836 × 1061 pixel, file size: 109 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Discipline Training Bondage Corset 1950s Discipline Training Bondage Corset 1950s A bondage corset, used for BDSM, is a full-figured corset that is sometimes called a discipline corset. ... Corsage refers to the bodice of a dress. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Corset 1831 The hourglass corset was a style of corset that was in fashion from 1830 to 1900. ... The word corset is derived from the Old French word cors, the diminutive of body, which itself derives from corpus - the Latin for body[1]. A corset is a garment that girds the torso and shapes it according to the fashionable silhouette of the day. ... // Main article: History of brassieres The history of the bra is inextricably intertwined with the social history of the status of women. ... Corset 1831 The hourglass corset was a style of corset that was in fashion from 1830 to 1900. ... Example of an iron corset. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Cathie Jung (born 1937), wearing a sterling silver corset, holds the Guinness World Record for the smallest waist of any currently living person, at 38. ... In corsetry, a bone is one of the rigid parts of a corset that forms its frame, gives it rigidity, and helps to shape the wearers body. ... A busk (also spelled busque) is the rigid element of a corset placed at the centre front. ... The pads E will prevent the lower ends of the steels A B from hurting the wearer when she sits down. ... Bustle apparatus (1881) For other uses, see Bustle (disambiguation). ... crinoline patented Cutaway view of a crinoline, Punch magazine, August 1856 Sequence of posed joke photographs of five stages of putting on a crinoline, ca. ... It has been suggested that Garters be merged into this article or section. ... For other uses, see Lace (disambiguation). ... A corselet is a bra, girdle and panty all in one sometimes with laces in front or back. ... Youths boxing in a Minoan fresco on the Greek island of Santorini The word girdle originally meant a belt (or metaphorically speaking, something which confines or encloses, as in Tolkiens Girdle of Melian). ... The liberty bodice (Australian and British English), like the emancipation bodice or North American emancipation waist, was an undergarment for women and girls invented towards the end of the 19th century, as an innovative alternative to a corset. ... A neck corset (sometimes called throat corset or neck lacer) is special type of corset which is worn fitted around the neck instead of around the waist as of with ordinary corset. ... Waist Cincher 1860 Waist cincher is a type of corset that is used to pull in the waist. ... Waist Cincher 1860 Waist cincher is a type of corset that is used to pull in the waist. ... the four floating ribs Four of the ribs (two pairs) in the ribcage are said to be floating ribs because they are attached to the vertebrae only, and not to the sternum or cartilage coming off of the sternum. ... Visceroptosis is a prolapse or a sinking of the abdominal viscera below their natural position. ... Shallow breathing is the drawing of minimal breath into the lungs, usually by drawing air into the chest area using the intercostal muscles rather than throughout the lungs via the diaphragm. ... Spinal adjustment and chiropractic adjustment are terms used by chiropractors to describe chiropractic approaches to spinal manipulation. ... This is an example of a training corset. ... Wasp waist (1885) Wasp waist by hip form girdle (1901) Wasp waist refers to a style of corset and girdle that has experienced various periods of popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries. ... A corsetmaker is a specialist tailor who makes corsets. ... Spirella was a company which manufactured made-to-measure corsets. ... The Warnaco Group, Inc. ...

See also

• Bondage corset
• Fainting room
• Fetish clothing