CORSETS
The corset is a restricting undergarment which cinches the waist in extremely tightly while pushing the bust out and up. While it had been around for many years, the corset's swan song was the latter portion of the nineteenth century, and the early years of the twentieth century. They were extremely unhealthy, causing the common fainting of women, as well as causing significant internal damage due to the realignment of vital organs. Alternatively made of rubber, steel, whale bones, or fabric, they were all extremely restrictive and inflexible. Garters attached to stockings held the woman in place like a giant rubber band until the replacement of garters with suspenders beginning in 1878. Suspenders wrapped around the shoulders from the shortened corset and a second pair were attached to the stocking to mold the body.
Dolman Style Jacket, Pattern Picture. December, 1984
Wien c.1880, L'Atelier
Corset with folding wire bustle, front and side views, 1883. (Victoria and Albert Museum, London)
Madam Foy's Improved Corset and Skirt Supporter, 1884
Thompson's Patent Corset, 1885
Corset, 1890
Two Corsets: Spring,1895.
"medium high shape with real left and kora whale bone. . .available with 58-72 cm waist. . . ."
"Lightweight Sport and Health Corset" 1895, with side lacing
Corset, 1902
Corset Covers
Round or squared neck, fastened with button and laced
Plain corset cover, and button front and drawstring neckline
Plain Corset Cover, 1858
Photograph of Corset Cover Shop. Musuem of Chicago, 1891
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