Monday, January 16, 2012

Corset history, construction, information and terminology

What's a corset?



A corset is really a foundation garment worn to mold and shape the torso into a desired shape via the use of rigid panels, boning and tight lacing. Usually they are worn to slim the body and make it conform to a fashionable designer corsets hourglass silhouette. For ladies, this means emphasizing a curvy figure, by reducing the waist, and thereby exaggerating the bust and hips. The word corset is derived from the old french word "cors", the diminutive of body, which itself derives from corpus, Latin for body. The word corset came into general use within the English language around 1785 and remains with us today.



Corsets all through history



The corset evolved from the bodice in the middle ages. This was a fabric cincher that was worn about the mid-section in the body and frequently laced together within the front. You can see great examples of these at Renaissance fairs these days. Throughout the 18th century in Europe and North America, the bodice evolved into an increasingly ornate and sculptural foundation garment and became the corset. Examples of these can be noticed in paintings of Marie Antoinette, as well as other royalty from that time. As the Victorian era of the 19th century got underway, the corset became increasingly high quality corsets restrictive and was fairly the figure shaper. Although the Victorians are popularly described as prudish, this foundation garment was regarded as highly feminine and fairly erotic during those days. As the 20th century began, the writing was on the wall for the corset. Probably the most popular styles had been brief underbust corsets known as "cinchers" which allowed for much more freedom of movement. By the time 1915 rolled around, the girdle and corsolette had nearly replaced the corset in women's fashion. Only the older generation of ladies kept the corset industry from closing their doors.



Corset styles



One may usually classify most online sale corsets into two groups or styles, the underbust and also the overbust. An underbust corset begins just under the breasts and extends down towards the hips. A shorter kind of underbust corset, which covers just the waist region is sometimes known as a waist cincher. An overbust corset encloses the torso, extending from just under the arms to the hips. The effect is to lift or compress the breasts whilst exaggerating the narrow waist. Some corsets, based on individual style stop in the top of the hips whilst other people may extend down over the hips.



Corset construction



Corsets are usually constructed of fabric panels with stiff boning (also known as ribs or stays) inserted into channels in the fabric. Popular fabrics consist of satin, cotton, rayon, polyester, silk, PVC and leather. Within the 19th century, steel and whalebone had been favored for the boning. Plastic is now the most generally used material for lightweight corset boning and all the corsets at Kuhmillion. Corsets get their iconic reputation by use of hook and eye fasteners in the front and lacing, usually in the back. Tightening or loosening the lacing produces corresponding changes in the fit and firmness of the corset. Corsets could be laced from the leading down, from the bottom up, or each up from the bottom and down from the top, utilizing two laces that meet within the middle. It is extremely difficult, even though not impossible for a back-laced corset wearer to complete their own lacing. Once the lacing is adjusted comfortably, it is feasible to leave the lacing in place and take the corset on and off using the front opening (busk). A corset might also consist of attached garters to hold up stockings and historically, this was 1 in the essential functions of the corset, as it was an important foundation garment.



Corsets today



In current years, the term "corset" has also been borrowed by the fashion industry to refer to tops which, to varying degrees mimic the look of conventional corsets. While these modern corset tops often feature lacing and boning to appear like true corsets, they frequently have a minimal impact on the shape in the wearer's body. Some lingerie corsets nevertheless do provide a nice compromise of each the shaping power of a accurate corset and also the sensual expertise of intimate wear.



Conventional corset construction has undergone a renaissance in current years having a wide range of beautiful, high quality corsets now accessible from talented craftsmen. It has by no means been simpler to locate a actual corset that fits your personality and body like a glove.

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