The Resurgence of Corsets
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Who would’ve thought that corsets would be trending in the 21st century, but here we are today, and the corset trend is everywhere. While corsets used to be confining and restricting to women, women have now reclaimed them and turned them into a fashion statement.
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Corsets first appeared around the beginning of the 16th century and were made to keep the torso straight and waist small. They were made from rigid materials such as whalebone, horn, and buckram. Corsets were often worn with shoulder straps and would extend to just above the pelvis. The style is said to have been introduced to France by Catherine de Medici.
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Later on, corsets got longer and the ideal shape for a woman became conical, with an emphasis on an extremely small waist. Throughout time the ideal figure transitioned to hourglass, to an S-bend, where the torso was straight and the hips were pushed back. It was marketed as a “health corset” which supposedly reduced pressure on the ribs for supporting the abdomen. Nowadays that seems outlandish as comfort in style has become increasingly important and desired by consumers. Around the beginning of the 20th century, corsets fell below the bust line and women began wearing brassieres along with them. Around the time women started entering the workforce, corsets fell out of style and very few women wore them.
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Corsets have grown in popularity in the past few years, but they have had a couple other resurgences throughout the 21st century. In the 1950s, the New Look was popularized by Christian Dior. A fitted bodice and small waist were key features of the New Look. Then in the 1980s, Jean Paul Gaultier turned the corset from underwear to outerwear with his Dada SS83 collection, and of course designed the iconic cone bra worn by Madonna. Vivienne Westwood also incorporated corsets in her unique designs. The 80s marked the time when corsets became a symbol of empowerment rather than oppression for women. Today, corsets have become a staple in many people’s closets which goes to show how the evolution of fashion has mirrored the evolution of women’s rights and empowerment.
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Red carpet events have been flooded with corset styles–from Gigi Hadid at the Met Gala to J Lo at MTV Movie & TV Award. Celebrities have fully embraced the corset trend. You can find corsets in casual street style looks, red carpet styles, and everything in between.
Runway shows at fashion weeks around the world have had no shortage of corsets. They really do keep popping up everywhere.
Styling a corset top can be as easy as pairing it with your favorite pair of jeans and some sneakers. Or for a more sophisticated and polished option, you can wear a corset with a pantsuit for a powerful style. The styling possibilities are endless with corsets. Wear one over an oversized button up for a chic, effortless look. Try pairing a corset with a mini skirt to stay cool and stylish, especially during the hot summer. Have a dress that needs something more to complete the look? A corset could be exactly what you’re looking for.
If you need any more convincing to hop on the corset trend check out these corsets that would be the perfect addition to any “cool girl” closet.
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