I hate that myth :( corsets r so lovely
Genuine question: from what I heard, at that time they used the corset in extreme ways for many hours while dancing and such (from a young age), and that's what lead to discomfort or body changes. Isso that a myth too? Since we know a lot of things in history textbooks are wrong
You are correct. They were indeed to give discomfort. But it is also true that it is exaggerated to a point they say that your ribs and organs will rearrange inside, which is untrue. So yeah, true to the discomfort part due to the muscles being compact in a long duration of time and also true to being exaggerated.
But it's true that if you take using corsets to the extreme you can rearrange your organs. Ethel Granger is a more or less modern example of that. I don't think she's the only woman who's done it over the decades, especially since even children were forced to wear corsets.
Also just a question, I've read somewhere that in the very olden days corset frames (?) were made out of like hard wood and that's why it was really uncomfortable. No idea if that's true, but was corsets always comfortable?? or is it more recently with industrialization?
Stays had a wooden rod inserted down the front which gave a flat shape to the front panned. Corsets were basically bras/shape ware of the day, while some women did tight-lace to have a dramatic figure, the majority of women did not seem to follow this trend.
There’ll several historical sewing you tubers who have videos on the subject if you are interested— I would really recommend the most recent video by Bernadette Banner who includes Costuming Drama (a plus-size YouTube) and talks about the history, function, and who would have benefitted most from the corset.
Banner also have several videos on like in corsets including one comparing her personally made and mostly historically accurate corset to the medical brace she wore as a child.
Here is the video like that I was talking about for those interested.
https://youtu.be/eWr_GtqsvFA
Ohh interesting. Thanks!!
The author should’ve done more research into corsets before writing this, corsets being uncomfortable is a myth that was spread by men who didn’t like the fact that the corset industry was successful and dominated by women. Corsets are actually incredibly comfortable and are like olden day bras, there’s nothing wrong with them unless you tight lace, which was an uncommon thing to do