1. Victorian
Corset Craze
A look into 19th and 20th
Century Women’s fashion
AML 2020 |
February 13, 2012

2. Introduction
Corset: an
uncomfortabl
e piece of
clothing that
has been
stiffened by
various
means in
order to
shape a
woman's
torso.
Throughout
the 19th and
20th centuries,
it’s suggested
that it was
worn daily by
women and
young ladies
(even
fashionable
men and
children).
A well-
dressed
woman of the
19th century
wore 37 lbs
of clothing,
19 lbs of
which hung
from the
corseted
waist.
Many health-
related
issues
associated
with wearing
tight-laced
corsets, such
as fainting,
pressure on
internal
organs.

3. Brief History
Origin:
Dates back
to Greek
and Roman
times when
women
used scarfs
under the
breasts and
around the
waist.

4. Brief History
Renaissance /
Baroque
Period: Very
few remnants
from the 16th
and 17th century
– not common
because the
bodice of a
dress made the
corset
unnecessary.

5. Brief History
18th Century:
Became more
popular as
underwear, laced
from the back.
Began making
children’s corsets
to force their
skeleton into
fashionable
shape.

6. Brief History
Victorian Era:
Hit maximum
popularity during
the mid to late
1800’s, almost
mandatory to wear.
The hourglass
figure became the
most desirable
feminine shape.
Laced eyelets and
planchets are
invented.

7. Brief HistoryEdwardian Era:
After doctors
warned against
the unhealthiness
of corsets in the
late 1800’s, a new
shape called “S-
Line” or “Straight-
Line” was
invented. Had a
straight front that
was meant to take
pressure away
from the stomach.
Produced an
unnatural posture
causing damage
to
musculoskeletal

8. Brief History
Early to Mid
1900’s:
The corset was
transformed
into a girdle and
bra which was
meant to control
the belly and
hips with elastic
material.

9. Purposes and
Fashion IdealsLate 1800’s: In repudiation of the high waisted
Empire silhouette, the waist became the central
focus of women’s fashion, thus the “hourglass”
figure was seen as most desirable.
The purpose of corseting was to shrink a
women’s waist by generally 4 to 6 inches or
more.
Meant to force the breasts up and the waist
back.Women could buy corsets by sizes: 20 = 20
inch waist corset, 21 = 21 inch, etc. (meaning
they bought the size according to what they
wanted their waistline to be).In addition to the corset, puffy shoulder sleeves
and crinolines (skirts) made the waist appear
smaller.Often seen as male dominance over women
due to forcing women to adopt unnatural shape
that was popular in society. Women wanted to
please men at whatever cost.Sadomasochistic and auto-erotic connotations;
corseting was a way to discipline the body by
compressing the genital organs which made the
wearer continuously aware of their own body.

11. Health Concerns
 Although doctors advised women to abandon corsets in favor of
their health, most women continued wearing them while taking
prescriptions and concoctions to cure their ailments.
 The ideal size was 16-17 inches so women would attain this
measurement through tight-lacing to the point where their rib cage
became deformed.
 Lung capacity was reduced (only the top of the lungs could be filled
with air) which was the primary reason for fainting (shallow salts
were invented).
 Reduced lung capacity: led to persistent coughing because shallow
breathing allowed the bottom of the lungs to fill up with mucus.
Doctors believed this was the cause of tuberculosis.
 Organ deformation: severely compressed several organs such as
the liver, stomach, bladder, and intestines  caused indigestion,
heartburn, and constipation.
 Women who wore corsets as children developed atrophy in their
back muscles. Consequently, they couldn’t pick up heavy objects

14. Demise of the
Corset There have been stories of little girls laying on the floor while their
mothers tightened their corset so tightly causing the lacing to
break under pressure. Other stories include women having ribs
surgically removed so that they fasten their corsets tighter.
 The demise occurred for medical reasons, changing fashions,
changing attitudes, and changing roles.
 Many movements began to protest corsets such as the Dress
Reform Movement, the Rational Dress Society and the Artistic
Dress movement.
 Along with doctors advising against corset-wearing, the biggest
change that led to the fashion reformation of the early 20th
century was the new role of women and the feminist movement.
 As women started to work in factories and took on men’s roles,
they were forced to adopt more comfortable, practical clothing
that allowed mobility.

16. World’s smallest
Waist Ethel Granger
(1905 – 1982)
had the smallest
waist in the
world,
measuring 13
inches with a
corset on.
 It was her
husband’s
choice to
transform her 24
inch waist to 13
inches. He was
tired of her
“shapelessness”
and went on to

17. Today
Corsets still exist but are not generally worn
underneath garments.
They are seen as a sex symbol; usually only
appearing in Victoria’s Secret catalogs, in
lingerie stores, fashion shows, and pop music
videos.
They are not as uncomfortable or constricting
as the Victorian corsets were.
Many women still wish to have the hourglass
figure and some go to extreme lengths to get

20. The End

21. Works Cited
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Feb. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corset_controversy>.
Hartman, Dorothy W. "Lives of Women." ConnerPrairie.Org. Conner
Prairie Interactive History Park. Web. 12 Feb. 2012.
<http://www.connerprairie.org/Learn-And-Do/Indiana-History/America-
1860-1900/Lives-Of-Women.aspx>.
Arroyo, Samia A. "The History of Corsets" Helium.com. Helium Content
Source, 8 Feb. 2011. Web. 12 Feb. 2012.
<http://www.helium.com/items/2086868-the-history-of-corsets>.
Bender, A. "A Short History of the Corset." Marquise.de. La Couturière
Parisienne. Web. 12 Feb. 2012.
http://www.marquise.de/en/themes/korsett/korsett.shtml
"History of Corsets." Wikipedia.Org. Wikipedia, 27 Jan. 2012. Web. 12
Feb. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_corsets>.
Douglas, Joanna. "Ethel Granger, Woman with World’s Smallest Waist,
Inspires Vogue Italia."Shine.Yahoo.Com. Yahoo!, 6 Sept. 2011. Web.
12 Feb. 2012. <http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/ethel-granger-woman-