Myths About The Corset

Every day we hear strange rumors and statements about corsets. Corsets used to be a high fashion item worn by socialites but they have now gained a strange reputation for being something worn only by fetishists and costume dressers. Even with the corset’s newfound popularity in steampunk styling and corset tops, the humble corset can’t seem to shake its negative associations. Here are some of the most enduring myths we’ve heard about corsets (and a few facts to set the record straight). Myth 1: They’re always uncomfortable Custom-made corsets, as they were up to the late Victorian age, were quite comfortable. They did not pinch or poke (unless your boning was coming out and that meant you needed a new corset) and they did not make it impossible to breathe. With exception to the mid to late 1800s, corsets were not actually used to cinch the waist but, instead, to lift and accentuate the bust. In fact, until the metal grommet became common, you couldn’t even tighten a corset enough to change your figure since the fabric would have given out. Myth 2: They make you faint In the Victorian era when corsets were used to alter a woman’s figure, it was feasible that a woman may have tightened her corset enough to cause shortness of breath, especially if she had exerted herself. This does not happen in modern corsetry. Developments in design and a better understanding of lacing and waist training (if this is what you are using your corset for) means that there is no reason a well-made corset should cause someone to feel faint. Of course, the onus is on you to make sure your corset fits properly. Badly fitting shoes can do a lot of damage and a corset is no different. Myth 3: Corsets deformed women’s internal organs Corsets were credited with causing a whole host of physical and medical problems over the years. One of the greatest enduring myths was that corsets actually damaged the internal organs of its wearer. Doctors believed that corsets could deform internal organs due to pressure and, most notably, that they would cause misshapen livers. This misdiagnosis was caused by a simple lack of understanding of the human body. Doctors at the time were unaware that livers could vary in size and shape with each person. So when they came across autopsies of women with different livers, they attributed these changes to the corsets. We hope you’ve enjoyed our debunking of these common corset myths and that we’ve made you a bit more curious as to what a gorgeous, traditional corset would feel like on you.

#traditionalcorset #moderncorsetry #waisttraining #Custommadecorsets #Victorianage #newcorset #steampunkstyling