Corsets are underwear worn by women and sometimes men to support the bust and define the waist. They can be used for medical or cosmetic purposes and are made of cloth, leather, or other materials with hard strips called boning. Corsets can vary in design and purpose, and are usually laced in the back to adjust the fit. While some wearers take corsets to the extreme, when worn correctly, they are not harmful or uncomfortable.
A corset is a type of underwear that serves to support the bust and define the waist. It is most often worn by women, but sometimes also by men. Corsets can be used to support the spine for medical reasons or to create a certain shape for cosmetic purposes. The corset was commonly worn by women in the Western world until the use of bras became widespread in the 1920s and 1930s.
Corsets vary widely in design and purpose. Most are made of cloth, leather, or other flexible material and are applied with hard strips called boning. In the Victorian period, boneless was usually whalebone, although steel was also used. Today many corsets use plastic bones for a lighter feel. A corset is usually laced in the back to adjust the fit, although some models lace up in the front. Some back models also have buttons or hooks on the front.
A corset can be relatively small, covering only the area between the bust and the hips. This model is also known as a waist-cinch and is worn by both women and men. Alternatively, a corset can cover the bust, hips, or both, as well as the waist. Some models even go as far as the knees, although this is very rare. Today, corsets are worn more often as a fashion statement than as support garments, and many tops that resemble traditional corsets are also called corsets, even when they offer no support or shape to the torso.
While the practice of wearing a corset, particularly during the Victorian era, often gets a bad rap, it is not harmful or uncomfortable if done correctly. Some wearers did and take the corset to the extreme in a practice known as cinching, in which the waist can be reduced to around 15 inches (38 cm), and some have had ribs removed to create a smaller waist. However, such extremes are not widespread, and corsets do not usually create health problems or inhibit the wearer’s physical activity if worn correctly. When wearing a traditional corset, it is important to have it tailored to avoid health risks.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
