A Thread In Time: Unraveling Corsets
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The idea of wearing corset tops is not very foreign to us, as we see women wearing tops with laced backings tied tightly around their waist. The trend has become extremely popular, as the flattering top can be worn at evening events, formal occasions, and themed parties. The corset is now known as a staple piece and a trendy fashion feel-good item, but the style wasn’t always as glorified as it is today.
One of the most noticeable differences that contrasts corsets today and during the Victorian Era is their use, which plays a defining role in the varying styles. The plethora of styles stemmed from the idea of courtship as women wanted to be seen as more attractive to the male eye, ultimately to be courted and acquire a husband. As a result, women strove to define their waistline figure, as corsets amplified a ‘thin-waist’ illusion. An article on Corset Story states that corsets were “boned with whalebone, steel, or reed, and lacing was used to tighten the corset” to create a figure appealing to others.
Throughout different centuries, the use of corsets has majorly shifted due to the shift in social and cultural ideals. Dating back to the late 1930s and early 40s, we see corsets become this extravagant style, with over-the-top designs ranging from ruffles, lace, and various fabrics. An article in VMagazine by Michaela Zee states that the designs were of utmost importance during this time: “This aesthetic favored ornamentation and extravagance, and often provided audiences a form of escapism during the Great Depression.” With that, the popularity of corsets emerged during the Victorian Era, beginning in the 1830s.
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We often familiarize ourselves with these past fashion trends through films based on different times like the Great Depression, Victorian Era, etc. Some notable pieces of film that contain the idea of lavish corset fashion are favorites such as The Duchess (2008) and Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (2005). These films are set during the Victorian Era, encapsulating ideas on which corset fashion is based. We see various characters in waist-cinching corsets, as an attendant intensely fastens their corsets for several events throughout the film. These films often depicted the wear of the corset as a burden, as the tightness would impede the breath of the women wearing them; however, this was the social norm. As VMagazine says, “those who rejected this modernistic fashion turned towards neo-Victorianism”. Akanksha Kamath at Vogue Business also touches on the past ideas and norms of corsets, stating, “Corsets represented ideas of constraint and confinement, as women were forced to create an unrealistic look, and the symbolism of the corset has drastically changed today.”
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Today, how we wear corsets contrasts with the symbolism of corsets during past eras. There are similarities in why we wear corsets relating to the times of the Victorian Era, such as the flattering, ‘defined-figure’ look; however, now they are more comfortable, provide more mobility, and enhance our figure. Now veering away from the restraint they used to cause, corsets are evoking women’s strength and foreshadowing this shift in social and cultural times between then and now. Now, the pieces are less ostentatious, as we see corsets plain in color, made from leather instead of tough bone, and with zipper backings instead of tight lace. The style and the symbolism corsets has evolved, permitting us to depict how our world concerning women’s rights has improved.
Strike Out,
Writer: Jade Chancis
Editor: Grace Groover
Tallahassee