Undergarment designed to exaggerate or alter the body. Usually strengthened by strips of hard material (bones) such as steel, whalebone, etc. or by softer material such as cording, straw, etc.
There are several main types of corset which are seen in reproduction today.
The Elizabethan corset of the 17th century kept a flat-fronted, conical body shape which exaggerated and pushed up the breasts. Waist reduction was minimal.
The early Victorian corset of the mid-19th century cinched in the waist to give an exaggerated hourglass figure. The wide skirts and large sleeves of the period also made the waist look that much smaller by comparison. It was short, and encompassed only the waist.
The later Victorian/early Edwardian corset--the so-called 'cuirass' corset--was severer. Since the skirt style of the day was long, slim, and straight in front, with exaggerated fullness at the back, slim hips were necessary to carry off the look properly. Furthermore, the narrower skirt did not give the appearance of a small waist, so the corset was extended over the hips and laced more tightly than before.
"Cuirass" corsetry caused extreme discomfort, if not injuries, for many women, and public outcry against the 'evils of tightlacing' spurred a new corset design. The S-bend corset, worn around the turn of the century, was an attempt at a healthier, less restrictive corset. This corset was flat-fronted, and forced an unnatural arch into the back, pushing the breasts up and out and the rear down and back. The woman wearing it appeared to lean slightly forward, almost on the verge of tipping over.This corset, however, was worse than its predecessors: the forced arch caused back, neck, and joint problems for many of its wearers.
After World War I, the corset began to disappear. Women's fashions began to use much less fabric, and a slim-hipped, boyish figure became popular. The focus of women's dresses shifted to the hips, so girdles to slim the hips and brassieres to flatten the chest were worn instead of the corset. These girdles often used stretch fabrics instead of boning to smooth the hips.
The corset would enjoy a small comeback in the 1950's, when the 'New Look' style once more emphasized the hourglass figure, but it has been largely ignored until its recent reintroduction as an 'alternative' fashion for evening and club wear.
There are several main types of corset which are seen in reproduction today.
The Elizabethan corset of the 17th century kept a flat-fronted, conical body shape which exaggerated and pushed up the breasts. Waist reduction was minimal.
The early Victorian corset of the mid-19th century cinched in the waist to give an exaggerated hourglass figure. The wide skirts and large sleeves of the period also made the waist look that much smaller by comparison. It was short, and encompassed only the waist.
The later Victorian/early Edwardian corset--the so-called 'cuirass' corset--was severer. Since the skirt style of the day was long, slim, and straight in front, with exaggerated fullness at the back, slim hips were necessary to carry off the look properly. Furthermore, the narrower skirt did not give the appearance of a small waist, so the corset was extended over the hips and laced more tightly than before.
"Cuirass" corsetry caused extreme discomfort, if not injuries, for many women, and public outcry against the 'evils of tightlacing' spurred a new corset design. The S-bend corset, worn around the turn of the century, was an attempt at a healthier, less restrictive corset. This corset was flat-fronted, and forced an unnatural arch into the back, pushing the breasts up and out and the rear down and back. The woman wearing it appeared to lean slightly forward, almost on the verge of tipping over.This corset, however, was worse than its predecessors: the forced arch caused back, neck, and joint problems for many of its wearers.
After World War I, the corset began to disappear. Women's fashions began to use much less fabric, and a slim-hipped, boyish figure became popular. The focus of women's dresses shifted to the hips, so girdles to slim the hips and brassieres to flatten the chest were worn instead of the corset. These girdles often used stretch fabrics instead of boning to smooth the hips.
The corset would enjoy a small comeback in the 1950's, when the 'New Look' style once more emphasized the hourglass figure, but it has been largely ignored until its recent reintroduction as an 'alternative' fashion for evening and club wear.
by YO! March 19, 2005
Get the corset mug.by Jesse Brede January 7, 2009
Get the Clarset mug.Related Words
A common phrase used to describe The guy who eats his own hair (Jack Avery), The guy who always acts high (Corbyn Besson), The man who's eyelashes are longer than the list of my accomplishments (Daniel Seavey), The tall man that can't live a second of his life without coffee (Jonah Marais), and last but not least, The guy who's cheeks are redder than the sun (Zach Herron). ALSO KNOWN AS 'WHY DON'T WE'
by random-positive-stan April 22, 2018
Get the A Full Course Meal mug.Brick Top: "I've got a bear-knuckle fight in a couple of days, I want to use the Pikey."
Turkish: "All right, of course."
Brick Top: "Of-course fucking of-course. I wasn't asking, I was telling."
Turkish: "All right, of course."
Brick Top: "Of-course fucking of-course. I wasn't asking, I was telling."
by Richard Munch December 7, 2004
Get the Of-course fucking of-course mug.While making love to a woman from behind, rather than reaching under her arms to fondle her breasts, the partner reaches over her shoulders.
May be performed standing or sitting, or in a motor vehicle.
May be performed standing or sitting, or in a motor vehicle.
by Carseater March 27, 2010
Get the carseat mug.A waste of time curriculum provided to high schools in California provided by the CSU, meant to torture high school students taking honors and AP classes.
Consists of endless units, each based on one theme usually comprised of several articles. These articles are each accompanied by a 10-page thick list of "activities" that are the most repetitive shit in the world. They ask the same damn question ten times, phrased ten different ways, Sometimes, even more than that.
All meant to get college-bound students to begin analyzing nonfiction texts at a college level. But all it is is a waste of time. Most boring shit EVER.
It puts the "anal" in analysis.
Consists of endless units, each based on one theme usually comprised of several articles. These articles are each accompanied by a 10-page thick list of "activities" that are the most repetitive shit in the world. They ask the same damn question ten times, phrased ten different ways, Sometimes, even more than that.
All meant to get college-bound students to begin analyzing nonfiction texts at a college level. But all it is is a waste of time. Most boring shit EVER.
It puts the "anal" in analysis.
From actual CSU Expository Reading and Writing Course packet:
Activity 12:
"What are two major assertions the author makes in this essay?"
"What does the author want us to believe?"
"What is the writer's purpose?"
Real life reactions from high school students:
Honors English 2 student" I hate this packet!
AP Language & Comp junior: I hate this packet!
AP Lang & Comp senior: I hate this packet! Guess what? IT DOESN'T GO AWAY.
Activity 12:
"What are two major assertions the author makes in this essay?"
"What does the author want us to believe?"
"What is the writer's purpose?"
Real life reactions from high school students:
Honors English 2 student" I hate this packet!
AP Language & Comp junior: I hate this packet!
AP Lang & Comp senior: I hate this packet! Guess what? IT DOESN'T GO AWAY.
by APEnglishJunior November 13, 2011
Get the CSU Expository Reading and Writing Course mug.by kerryhatchet9987 October 12, 2008
Get the carsen mug.