The corset is a fascinating bit of fashion. It was first popularized as a figure flattener. The idea was to create a stiff cone shaped torso that matched the shape of a dress. Modern corsets tend to be used for lingerie or for fetishes.
There are of course the Dita Von Teese's of the world, who are using the corset to advance a sort of throwback pinup look.
Alexander McQueen loved the corseted look. He used padding in many of his dresses to achieve the look without attempting to cinch an already tiny waist. A model really can't be corseted anyway. What would get cinched? What would be pushed up?
The Metropolitan Museum is opening a McQueen retrospective next week called Savage Beauty. Vogue ran a preview in the May issue. Tom and Lorenzo havve kindly uploaded those pictures here.
Of course the corset also radically altered a woman's internal organs. They caused many bone, stomach, posture, etc. problems. And still do today.
I have to say that the idea of being wrapped in boning and tied up for beauty, while certainly savage, is also appealing.
Jump 5/1
hold
your
breath quickly
take another
it
will
hurt
tight laces tight
hold
you
are
going to look
amazing your waist will
be so damn small
quickly
take a sip of water
you can’t eat until it’s off
shallower
breaths
thoracic
top of the lung
it’s about
to get
tighter
Like.
ReplyDeleteAlso, love McQueen.
You should get the book. It's only $45 and is insanely beautiful. The show runs until July...you could hop a train to NY and we could go see it.
ReplyDelete