A few weeks ago we posted this photo and told you a little about our textile collection. The corset is always a popular subject when visitors see it at the Relic Home. The description you see with the corset in the photo the following:
CORSETRY
In Europe the corset has been in use since the middle ages.
In the 1830’s the corset was thought of as a medical necessity. It was believed that a woman was very fragile, and needed assistance from some form of stay to hold her up. Even girls as young as three or four, were laced up into bodices.
Gradually these garments were lengthened and tightened.
By the time they were teenagers, the girls were unable to sit or stand for any length of time without the aid of a heavy canvas corset reinforced with whale bone or steel. The corset deformed the internal organs making it impossible to draw a deep breath. Because of this, Victorian women were always fainting and getting the vapors.
(And that is probably why they invented fainting couches.)
Tight lacing was considered virtuous.
A loose corset was probably a sign of a loose woman.
The most widespread use of corsets was in the 19th Century. Almost all women of every class were users of this fashion device.
(taken from Corset history @victoriaspast.com)
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