Modern Day Corset Wearer
The modern day wearer...
has a varied background. A homemaker who just wants something different for herself, tries a corset and finds herself hooked. Those who have gotten used to the corset for moderate figure modification have come to enjoy it so much that they engage in more advanced figure training, eventually reducing their waistlines by six to eight inches or more. Sylphide in Germany demonstrates what can be achieved by committing to figure training, and there are now many more like her, in Europe, the US, and Japan.
For the bride-to-be, many wedding gowns either require a corset or have one build in. Modern makers can provide custom made garments specifically for this purpose, as they tailor the corset to the dress as well as the wearer. If sufficient time is allowed for in the wedding plans, there is the option of figure training for a few months and a stunning presentation can be made that will last a lifetime. Without training, a two to four inch reduction is all that should be aimed for. It will have a dramatic effect, and by the end of the day the bride will still be standing tall without a backache! Over the past two years I have maintained an ongoing email exchange with a number of brides-to-be. Most of them achieved very comfortable 4" reductions and some achieved more, with only 3 months of training. Most successful were those that kept the corset on for more than twelve hours per day. For promenade dresses the same applies as for the wedding gowns. Teenagers and college students have gotten into corseting for a variety of reasons. It does help that they don't have the hang-ups of the older generation, and they often wear them as outer garments. Also, MTV, the movies, and prom dress designers, all do their part in putting corsets back into the mainstream. Many college fashion and theatre programs have corset making in the curriculum, although in some cases old myths persist there. As anyone who has watched a period play knows, when the costumes are worn over proper corsets, they always look incredible, but without the foundation it has the opposite effect.
For the business setting
corsets form a foundation under the suit and the wearer looks just impressive. It gives women a real edge in the board or courtroom. For everyday wear, they are usually concealed, and a blouse with sweater arrangement over slacks or skirt works well. The corset edge at the bottom can be masked with a light girdle or heavy pantyhose. For anyone who needs to be on his or her feet it prevents fatigue, and for anyone required to spend a lot of time behind a computer screen, the corset will ensure good posture.
