Thursday Thirteen

Today, I thought I would share my interest in corsets with you. A quick visit to my page at MySpace or to my website will show you how much I adore this item of underwear. Since Dita Von Teese came on the scene, the corset has risen in popularity and now can be worn as an item of evening wear, rather than just being kept to the bedroom.

1. A corset is a garment that girds the torso and shapes it according to the fashionable silhouette of the day. Most often it has been used for cinching the waist and supporting the breasts.

2. Contrary to popular myth, the corset was not as restrictive as is generally believed.

3. Vain women tended to wear corsets tighter than necessary and buy corsets with smaller waists, but most women, although they purchased an 18 or 20 inch waisted corset left a gap at the back closure to accommodate a more realistic 22-26 inch waist measurements.

4. 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.

5. The word corset came into general use in the English language in 1785. The word was used in "The Ladies Magazine" to describe a "quilted waistcoat" called un corset by the French. The word was used to differentiate the lighter corset from the heavier stays of the period.

6. 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.

7. Andy Warhol was shot in 1968 and never fully recovered, and wore a corset for the rest of his life.

8. Aside from fashion and medical uses, corsets are also used in sexual fetishism, most notably in BDSM activities.

9. 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.

10. In the past, a woman's corset was usually worn over a chemise, a sleeveless low-necked gown made of washable material (usually cotton or linen).

11. 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.

12. Corsets can instantly improve the figure without dieting, slimming drugs, or cosmetic surgery.

13. Vollers Corset Company is one of the oldest established corset makers in the world. They continue to produce traditionally made, steel boned corsets, renowned for their high quality and authenticity since 1899. Each Vollers corset is individually crafted from start to finish in their own factory in Portsmouth England, using the finest steel hardware, materials and fabrics available.

Information taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_corsets
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsets
http://www.corsetheaven.com/