The quotes from these vintage ads (from the 1940s) proclaim: “Every woman has a figure problem!”
These old-fashioned ads (from Corsietere) show great similarities to today’s marketing mix. This advertising brainwashing (complete with ludicrous before and after images) assured women that they were not thin enough or appealing enough for the world . Sound familiar?
A Modern Day Comparison
In my mind, corsets and girdles have always been in the same category as panty hose. They are tight, uncomfortable, and they make woman look superficially unnatural. Though once thought to be necessary for all women, it is my hope that these oppressive articles of clothing can be left in the past.
Have You Ever Worn a Corset?
They are awful! I nearly fainted when trying on a dress with a corset tie in the back. It was an awful experience to say the least. I had it on for about 5 minutes. The mere idea of wearing one for an entire day makes me…well, breathless. Thankfully, it is no longer the “norm” to wear a corset.
An Uncomfortable Reality
But panty hose? I’m afraid they’re still in regular use.
I am stunned when I hear women say that panty hose are “mandatory” at the office. It could be worse, I suppose. At least we are no longer confined to those monstrous corsets.
Are we making headway? You decide.
Corsets were killed by the lie that they are comfortable. When it should be, the look, the shape, the feeling. My wife finds great pleasure in wearing a corset for the look, the shape and the feeling. She says she always feels so sexy laced in a corset and when men notice her it gives her feelings of fantastic pleasure. Also makes her so horny she almost kills me.
All I have to say is look how women from the Victorian era dressed, then look at women today. Who looks better? The women of the past! Because they weren’t afraid to dress and act LIKE WOMEN! I think corsets are BEAUTIFUL! The whole point is to accentuate the curves of a woman’s body. What is wrong with that? I just feel like this article must have been written by some bitter feminist. No, not every woman has a “figure problem” but there is always room for improvement. On anyone. There is nothing wrong with trying to look your best. And ladies, don’t listen to this crap! If you are wearing a well made, proper sized, properly laced corset, it is VERY comfortable. The only time they will restrict your breathing is if you are into tight-lacing or waist training. Its a process by which a woman “trains” her waist to gradually become smaller and smaller by lacing a corset tighter over time, and wearing it 24/7. If you wanna do that, that’s fine, but it can cause internal problems. Most women who wear corsets lace them to where they fit snuggly, like the corset is hugging your body (not squeezing it). When worn properly, they are beautiful and classic. I hope they DO come back into style! Then I could get away with wearing one everyday!
I don’t see anything wrong with wearing a corset if a woman chooses to. They’re not uncomfortable for everybody. I wear pantyhose (which don’t bother me whatsoever), stiletto heels, and bodyshapers/corsets. I think they’re fine. You shouldn’t be on a crusade to get rid of them, because they’re a fashion choice like everything else. Women DO generally have problems with their figures—according to them. This feminist movement that implies women shouldn’t care too heavily what they look like is ridiculous. This life is a mating race, to be honest—and men are VISUAL creatures. They like what they see. I wear sexy things for my husband, and we both love it.
For those corset lovers out there… can anyone suggest a particular place to get one for a natural 36H girl? I have a small waist and curvy hips. Lets face it.. the “ladies” will sweat and it will accumulate underneath them during wear without some support and airflow… I went to vollers & absolutecorsets.com and found nothing I could see as breathe-easy. Does anyone make them with underwires or straps (bra-style) added for support?
I’m quite comfortable in my corsets. I find them both beautiful and supportive. As someone with chronic back problems, they are practically a medical necessity. If I go a day without one, the pain is unbearable!
To each their own.
By the way, I wear a corset and love it. I still acknowledge the fact that i would not be wearing it if i were alone on earth! I always wanted a hourglass figure and is now possible but i still know that i wear it to look more attractive. It is usually comfortable; alot more than wearing stilletos, as i work hours on my feet and have had stress fractures from wearing the wrong shoes for too long!
It is difficult to defend both sides, as i love the look of the corseted body, but i would not want to be with a man that would prefer women that are corseted. That is no longer realistic and and discouraging for the rest of women that are not totally satisfied with their figures… by the way, people that wear corsets like them, because they have a proprer fitting one and because they really change someone’s shape. It is nothing like controlled pantyhose or spanks or even those cichers that are sold in department stores. They usually are more comfortable that these common bodyshapers or cinchers! The thing is, it is difficult to find the right clothing to wear so that your corset stays discrete and your own business!
wearing a proper fitting corset is nothing worse than a brasiere! in fact it can be more comfortable. what about those hight heels especially the ones that are thin and pointy! that is, in my opinion, not better than wearing a corset, in fact, they produce foot problems, make you walk slowly and cautiously and are painful if you actually walk with them for more than 5 minutes! Just because it is fashionable in our times does not make it better! I’d rather wear a corset than take a chance at getting a fracture for tripping because im wearing abnormal footwear! Plus, stilletos only exists for the same reason the corste did, for attracting attention from men. actually, wearing them is not considered “the norm” as the corset was in the past even for men! They are worn by women who want to be seen as sexy, which demonstrates that a new generation is blinded by the present fashion that pretends that women have become more empowered by loosing old habits, when in fact constrictive wear has only shifted to another area!
The idea that a lady would wear a corset shows that she cares enough to try to look her best. These women who want to be taken as they are or just left, I prefer to leave. There is nothing like hugging a woman in a corset and making love to her corseted is just nothing short of fantastic
where did you get all yours at?
all the ones i see..are slip on ones that dont tie
Hi. I am 19 years old and I love corsets. I have the underbust kind.I have one on right now. I love the way I look and feel on the inside. i slouch really bad and the corset forces me to stand up straight. The only thing I didn’t like about it is that it makes my really small breast look kinda ugly. But it gives me the shape I wis I had normally well mostly it doese. It also either pushes all me fat to the top or to the bottom of the corset makking either a lump at the tom or my hips look kinda ugly. I love the colors of my corset also. For 4 years I’ve been looking for a good corset that wasn’t like 500 dollars and this year I finally did. It cost a 100 instead. i do admit they are a bit expesive but considering that hardly anybody else has one and all the other amasing qzulities of it I feel I did really well. I deffinity will be buying more as time goes along. As for panty hoes. I hate them with a passion. I think it makes people look ugly. and as far as that commercial goes it makes me angry. Stupid people
You know they make Spanx now, right? You don’t need a corset, you can just “wear your lycra” in the words of Dolly Parton.
I love corsets. They’re just beautiful and sexy, esepcially Victorian-style corsets. It makes the girls move north and the rolls move south.
If you’ve worn a corset and found it uncomfortable, it could be for several reasons:
1) it was too tight.
2) it was poorly made
3) a million other things.
If you bought a corset for less than $100, you probably bought a cheap piece of junk with plastic boning. The corsets they sell at Torrid and Frederick’s are not true corsets at all. Try brands like Vollers or go to absolutecorsets.com.
I use modern day corsets…control top panty hose. I can so tell, it takes the jiggle out of my wiggle in 30 seconds flat. When I wear certain type dresses, if I don’t have on my control top, my rear end looks like (this is what my mom said, thanks mother), “pigs fighting in a blanket”. When I have them on, people assume I exercise. Which I do, it’s just things like: getting out of bed, walking from my car to the office, picking up donuts, etc.
Thank you Sheer Energy!
The word “corset” carries a lot of history with it, causing adverse reaction in some. Large busted women find them infinitely more comfortable than underwire bra’s for example. As has been pointed out above, those of us who have rediscovered corsets generally have a positive reaction. Of course, poorly made, flimsy styles don’t help and don’t wear well. The modern makers make truly beautiful garments, and I have been enjoying wearing them for many years and can highly recommend them to anyone who has to stand a lot, or sit in front of a computer terminal. It needs to be fitted properly, otherwise it can be uncomfortable. They are supportive and just give a great look.
Never tried a corset, but I am convinced that pantyhose are from hell. I haven’t worn a pair since I moved out of my parents house and away from their nutty ideas of how I should dress and wear my hair. (They made sure I never had a boyfriend in high school ha ha)
I have worn corsets and otherfoundation wear for many years and very rarely find them uncomfortable.
I wore an extra long Vollers corset under my wedding dress and it felt fantastic. What a lot of women forget is that you cannot just put on a proper corset and expect to be at ease with it straight away. They need to comply to your body shape which will atke a while, also you should not try and lace it tight to quickly, do it over a period of time. I wore my wedding corset for about a month before the big day so it would fit and feel perfect, and it did. I love tights (panythose) but not with a corset because of he obvious problems of going to thee loo? As the old adage goes “you get what you pay for”, buy a decent corset or foundation wear and you will be comfortable but do not expect it straight away, get used to it first. By the way if you are thinking that i might be pensioner i am not, i am 38!
I’m 22 and have been wearing corsets for the best part of the last decade. I think they are gorgeous and proper fitted ones are very comfortable – I have a much harder time with high heels and avoid them like the ebola virus! I have a terible natural posture and my back would ache if I didn’t wear them. Fortunately, I have an hour glass figure, so they mould to fit my shape. Although I can sort of understand how less naturally curvy women might find them restrictive. I have never found corsets to be too hot, but then I live in rainy England, so any added warmth is a bonus!
I’m not entirely sure what a pantyhose is, so I can’t comment there.
Says who? =D
I was required to wear corsets in the convent. It made the habit lay nicely, but damnation, those staves nearly killed me! I am a large lady and staves don’t lay smoothly – they stick and jab. They stuck and jabbed my poor widdle midriff.
I was born in 1941. I can see how even then the advertising said “You are not okay the way you are. You need xxxx product.” Grrrrr! I detest manipulative marketing that plays on innocence, ‘specially when they “got” moi!
Well, thank god for being able to reason my way out of this dank, dark sack!
Pat Matson
The Wise Weight Woman
http://www.theworldofwithin.com
I’m an actor/singer/dancer so as per period costuming I’ve worn quite a few corsets and have even figured out how to sing/breathe in them no matter how tightly they are laced. Some are comfortable, and some aren’t, obviously the boning in important in that aspect as well as the fact that many garments today are marketed as corsets, and aren’t really true corsets. Many of them are more uncomfortable then true corsets are. My body in and of itself conforms to standardly sized corset measurements so I wouldn’t need one except where costumes dictate.
I’m just old enough to remember the 1960s when light girdles were the “natural” thing to wear. Believe me, not more uncomfortable/ restricting than tight Levis today. However, in the 60s frim control garments wre still thought essential for best wear. I have been really uncomfortable in boned girdle, boned long line bra asa teenager. And they could be hot too. At that time you were not expected to llok relaxed in best wear, so – in context, not restricting.
Annie
As to the comment about how oppressive the clothes would be to put on tight jeans, i think part of the point of the article was that ads use brainwashing to tell you how you should Look, and what you should show. If you are wearing jeans that are that tight, they are probably too tight (like most women) and you show allll your curves and butt in tight jeans. There is a point in between totally natural and overly exposed that is comfortable, put together looking, and allows a woman to show what she wants when she wants.
Being an unconventional and old-fashioned young lady, I find that corsets smooth my stomach and support my bosom. They smooth bulges made by tight jeans and skirts. Girdles are also very useful, and it feels so . . . I don’t know, sophisticated to wear undergarments to hide stray curves. I can be myself whenever I want. . . but being someone else can be really fun sometimes.
To add to what the other women have said . . . pantyhose aren’t that bad, as long as you get the cheaper kind that breathe well . . . and you can throw them away if the feet wear out.
Slips are also becoming out of style. . . they prevent embarrassing, ahh .. . wedgies.
That was in the case of olden times and now more often in certain youth scenes like Goth, where women had to wear corsets to look curvy.
I wear corsets pretty often. I am very interested in tightlacing. I found mine pretty comfy and supportive. Everything you do looks so graceful.
To be comfortable you must wear an protective chemise under the corset. The corset must be somewhat high-quality. Lingerie corsets DO NOT COUNT.
I also wear my corset for Renaissance Festivals and it makes me feel so gorgeous. I highly recommend them if you can pull off the look.
I think they are a torment, im glad we dont need to wear them anymore and that it is an optional garment. But im just disturbed by the ad….so all this marketing and brainwashing about how a woman’s shape should look has been torturing our femenine psychology for how long now? This is ridiculous!!
I have no idea how women wore those things as I have enough trouble putting on my jeans when they came right out of the wash. Hopefully this way of dressing is over.
I kind of like corsets. I have one I wear under my Renaissance Festival costume and I wish I could wear it more often. It supports my very large bust beautifully without shoulder straps (no bra straps digging in) and smooths out the “bra bulges” on my back. It also forces me to sit and stand more upright, thereby helping my bad back. As someone else mentioned, about the only thing I can’t do in my corset is tie my shoes, but my RenFest shoes are slip-on’s so that’s not a problem. It can be a little uncomfortable when it gets hot, though. But I find any underwear is uncomfortable in hot weather.
Panty hose are disgusting. They are hot and make my skin smell bad. As for a corset, maybe I would try one if it was velcro and would release immediately. All in all, women’s undergarments are scary and confusing. Too bad I have to wear them.
hate*, not had.
I really don’t mind pantyhose. But I had wiring in my bra already, forget it about a corset.
Now, those super tall panties that come to under your bra are great under lighter-fabric dresses, and they are not uncomfortable at all.
I stand corrected and amazed that not all women despise corsets along with me! Perhaps I had a bad experience with one, along the lines of comfort.
But, along the “symbolic” lines of corsets, I will say that I still despise them! I think they hold a standard which is unrealistic, and fake. They are simply not for me.
Health purposes are one validation, but societal standards are a different story…
I like my curves the way they are. I don’t want to smush them around.
I had a corset to wear under my wedding dress to make the silhouette smoother. It was horrible…it made my dress too big and it itched and the boning kept poking me in the side. Although, my husband DID think it looked kind of sexy. Not something I’d wear all the time though.
Oh, and I HATE pantyhose. I avoid them whenever possible just because they are so tight and itchy and uncomfortable.
Great posting – I’m always fascinated on the ways advertising has – and hasn’t – changed.
Corsets have changed, though. There’s an excellent summary on the topic here. My favorite quote from the article:
I don’t even like shoulder pads in a jacket. Feels like I’m wearing a backpack or something. And they make women look like androgynes.
Corsets make women look like wasps. Forget it. I like my women to look as close to natural as possible. To question “What are you?” is not very attractive.
I like corsets… I don’t wear one though, because they’re annoying and hard to tie tightly enough by yourself, and wearing one during intense activity like I participate in would just not be a good idea. My SO and I have thought about buying one though.
I am an opera singer and have worn many corsets under costumes over the years. I actually like them. The one thing you really can’t do once they’re on is tie your shoes. Shoes have to go on first or you’re gonna need help. I corset, despite what you may have read in Gone With the Wind, shouldn’t be so tight that you can’t breathe, might faint, or might bring your lunch back up. Cotten corsets, like the ones worn under costume, tend to relax to fit your shape. All that being said, no WAY would I wear one for my own purposes. Too inconvenient! Too bulky! Too hot!
I do not agree!
I think corsets are comfortable, because they support the back and force me to maintain a good posture. Both my mother and my mother-in-law wear them. They have special corsets for bad backs, and it helps them a lot.
By the way, I think that they do give a good-looking figure as well, with a nice hourglass form. Unfortunately they are expensive and not really compatible with modern clothing.
Panty hoses on the other hand, eew! Luckily there still exist long stockings to fasten in the corset