CorsetI’ve spent a few days researching corsets for my Gilded Age novel. Was there ever another beauty device as uncomfortable as a corset?

Lip PlatesThen again, the the plate-lipped Sara women of Africa don’t have it easy, either.

CorsetThis is the classic 18 inch waist. Yowser! The goal was to have a waist that a man could “handspan” – in other words, he could put his hands around a lady’s waist and his fingers would touch.

CorsetFor the rich, corsets were made of beautiful fabrics like silk and satin and velvet. But they all had one thing in common – lots of boning and “stays”.

CorsetIs it my imagination or does this lady look somewhat constipated? Apparently tight corseting could do all kinds of compression of your ribs and internal organs. Not to mention that you couldn’t take a deep breath in them. Or eat. Come to think of it, that might actually be a good thing.

Dita von TeeseCorseting has made a comeback in recent years. Men find it sexy. Above is a modern day example, the actress Dita Von Teese. That can’t be her real name.

Anyway, it’s fun to research this stuff but the corset is one historical item I can live without. What about you?

Subscribe To the Blog!

Subscribe To the Blog!

You never know what I might post about next! Bog bodies, secret passages, and amazing tombstones are all possibilities as well as the latest archaeological discovery.

You have Successfully Subscribed!