Exploring the Origins of Today's 'Corset Trend'

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RESEARCH ASSISTANT | Heathcliff McLean

EDITOR | @DannyBanner

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⤠ NOTES ⤟

⤠ SOUNDTRACK ⤟
“Incidental Encounter” by Arthur Benson
“African Safari” by Sight of Wonders
“Kingdom Of Baghk” by Vusal Zeinalov
“Tales from the Past” by Adam Saban
“Happy Little Witch” by Material Gurl
“Tiny Footsteps” by Arthur Benson
“Skeptical” by Lincoln Davis
“Stay Whimsical” by Arthur Benson

[kmbehrens]

TikTok girlies: This corset trend is totally fresh!
Bernadette: Do not quote the deep magic to me, witches; I was there when it was written.

[Chibihugs]

Given how long they have stood the test of time and fashion, stays was indeed a worthy name!

[tiffanytomasino]

I really love the idea that fashion has slowly become more and more about figuring out personal aesthetic. Like, trends obviously still exist, but nothing is really “out” anymore. You see a body in 1950’s and it’s just “huh, she’s a vintage gal” and then the next person is in top hats and Victorian corsets and “she’s steampunk”. There seems to be less “oh, how out of date” or what have you. It’s nice. Thank you for sharing ❤ Bernadette, it’s been as educational and lovely as I have come to appreciate

[Palitato]

Corsets keep coming back because they look DAMN good. They can be whimsical or sexy or fancy or simple. They're gorgeous, adjustable, and just heckin neat.

[bpora]

A reminder that bernadette IS in fact a fashion historian and not just a couturier.

[MiffoKarin]

Ok, now that corsets and stays are making a comeback, can we also bring back fabulous hats? We can leave the dead birds on them in the past, but I just want some tiny hats that are also ridiculously elaborate.

[thatinsufferablenerd]

i think the difference in silhouette has something to do with the fashionable silhouette of the time. in the early 2000s, low waisted jeans were in vogue. the longer corsets of the Victorian period did go along with the subcultures yes, but they also went along with the longer tops of that time. Now, with the staple of higher waist jeans/skirts and crop top combos, it makes sense that the corsets have adjusted their silhouettes to follow the modern trends. Longer historical corsets were more hourglass shaped, while stays were more conical and shorter, and that difference is being reflected in the modern versions.

[ingridaguero]

I went through a Victorian Gothic phase in high school. I read the classics, Dracula, Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, A Christmas Carol, I even read Jane Austin books, and none of them really talk about corsets. If anyone read books that were written in the time, you’ll notice, underwear doesn’t really get mentioned much. Maybe a brief mention of a shift in a waking up scene but that’s about it. However, book that were written in modern days but takes place in the past, never shut up about corsets. I think it’s because they were never sexualized or even made to oppressed women until now.

[The_Skrongler]

I definitely did not understand the severity of those fetishwear associations when I first started wearing a corset for pain management. People got super weird about it lol

Very glad to see that corsetry is becoming more socially accepted now!

By the way thank you to Bernadette for getting me into corsetry in the first place! This has been wonderful for my health!

[bumpgrrl]

no-one can get me to watch the whole sponsor segment like Bernadette! from film noir to the physical stunts to now the nature documentary of the guinea pigs... 😂 love it!

[maggpiprime]

I have become fed up with bras over the past decades.
So now, after having watched you, and other historians building various styles of historical support garments, I finally started building my own.
I'm no longer worrying about adhering to an accurate method or particular aesthetic, I'm just building what's (hopefully) practical for my body. They're more like stays, so I can wear jeans & tshirts.

Second-hand chinos, dollar store needle/thread, solidified beeswax drippings to wax the thread. I ordered twill tape and synthetic boning.
I have dollar store grosgrain ribbon to reinforce where I'm going to sew in eyelets for lacing.

I'm hand sewing the whole thing coz I can't afford a sewing machine.
I'm probably about 1/3 done.
I'd've been finished by now if not for ADHD, lol

[ameranthe_]

I was a goth kid who made her first corset in 1998, and I definitely remember the corsetry forums and trading tips. We were making dummies out of t-shirts, duct tape, and polyfill. I learned how to pound in grommets and where to order spiral steel. Since I have dabbled a bit in historical costuming, and I absolutely love that stays have come back into fashion! I can't get used to them being worn without an undershirt or chemise-like garment, it still looks a bit wrong to me.

[susanneberry]

Bernadette Banner, as of late, I've seen with the knitting community a rise in separate tie-on/attachable ornate collars so, the possibility of multiple layer ruffled, ruffs, can comeback as a trend.

[DawnOldham]

The corset trend is also the number one fix for people who buy too-small dresses online and need a seamstress to make it fit!! 😂 they end up with a lace up back until the zipper can close!

[lenabreijer]

Regarding cottage core, one name you are missing is Laura Ashley. Late 70s and early 80s ruffles, simulated corsets. Pure cottage core. I made a few of those dresses because they were the absolute opposite of my work wardrobe of tailor-made suits.

[mayfieldcourt]

The 'corset hydra' and 'cottagecore'? You are an outstanding teacher. Thank you and keep it up!

[BellalinaBallerina]

As a teenager in the 80’s I remember wanting to dress like Madonna and my mother greatly disapproving of that trend…
Decades later and my kids loved everything about steampunk… I think it’s a great look!
As a brilliant commentator said, they are called stays for a reason!

[gisela_oliveira]

As a novice seamstress and patternmaker, My gess for the popularity of satys over corsets, is that stays-like-tops are easier to make. the patern is simpler, since the conical shape requires no gussets or math, the straps make you sure the piece is secure in place, and there is no busk to worry about, in fact, you can have lacing in the front and the back, making a much more ajustable garment (the lacing straps also help for people with both short and long torso). I've made 2 victorian corsets for myself, and never made a pattern for one, since it seems really hard, but in the last months i've made 2 pattern for stays, ive made 5 garments out of them, 3 were from upcycled jeans pants, and i've also turned a old dress that didn't fit me inot another stays shaped little top. victorian corset are a lot harder to make and need more engeniering, they need to fit you very well and are really unconfortable when not fitting, whyle stays can be very forgiving and ajustable

[alinarodgers]

I first got into corsets because I got into the early 2000's goth scene and I can’t say that I don't love seeing other subcultures embracing them now ❤

[cheyennejudithcw]

I’m waiting for the return of the codpiece. 🤣🤣🤣 that was always such a popular piece of fashion in my historical fashion class LOL