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Corsets through the ages
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Posted On :
Mar-28-2011
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Article Word Count :
754
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Invented in the early 16th century, this garment has managed to keep its form for more than four centuries and has evolved from a constricting device of torture and oppression to become a modern fashion statement.
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Invented in the early 16th century, this garment has managed to keep its form for more than four centuries and has evolved from a constricting device of torture and oppression to become a modern fashion statement.
In the early 16th century through to the 17th century, corsets were often paired with farthingales or hoop skirts to create a cylindrical torso to match the bottom part of the body which was cone shaped. This style survived until it was replaced in the 1860’s by the advent of the ‘wasp waist’. Those days, it was considered highly improper for a woman to be dressed without a corset which was a symbol of status as well as proper upbringing. Ladies from the upper classes wore the most constricting versions of these garments as they had no need to perform labour of any sort while working class women wore a slightly looser version of the garments to allow them to bend, lift things and freedom to move around.
Corsets were frowned upon by the medical community through the ages despite the desirable silhouette it created. The practice of tight lacing cut off a large percentage of lung capacity and lead to poor blood circulation, frequent fainting spells and fatigue as well as back problems among the wearers. Apart from the obvious discomforts and medical warnings, these garments shaped the upper body and were known to improve posture and continued to thrive for hundreds of years until it dies out in the 1920’s.
The decline of these constricting undergarments was mostly supported by the French fashion designer Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel whose outfits with simple, slender lines which followed the natural shape of the female body and replaced traditional corseted outfits. Chanel’s designs introduced relaxed, unstructured and comfortable clothing for women and omitted all sorts of constricting undergarments such as basques.
Corsets have evolved from figure modifying underwear in to figure flattering and accentuating outer wear of today. These are generally worn over shirts, under jackets or paired with jeans and skirts to create a variety of sophisticated looks ranging from Victorian Goth to chic and professional.
How to choose the perfect wedding dress
As the bride, you are the focus of the wedding and need to look your absolute best on your big day. Wedding dress shopping is a time consuming process and is laced with an endless supply of drama, uncertainty and as the wedding gets closer: desperation.
First of all, before you even think about checking out Vera Wang’s fall collection, spend a few minutes to figure out your body shape. This will narrow down your search by telling you what reach for and what to stay away from and could save hours. If your shoulders are wider than your hips, you are considered to be apple shaped and should go for V necks and tight at waist type while avoiding halter type necklines. If your hips are wider than your shoulders then you are considered to be pear shaped and would look good in spaghetti straps and dresses that are mate of taffeta or Duchesse satin rather than clingy materials which will draw even more attention to your lower half. Feel blessed if you have a naturally slender hourglass figure because you will be able to pull off dresses of any silhouette.
If you are plus sized and need to look slimmer, it would be a wise choice to opt for dresses with attached basques or corset type tops. Selecting the right body shaping undergarments could also make your dress look more attractive on you. Make sure to visit the undergarment section of bridal stores to select corsets or other body shapers that will fit perfectly with the dress.
Keep in mind to take a trusted girl friend or a sister with great fashion sense along with you to make your purchase easier as they will be able to provide a second opinion. Even if you are planning to wear white, it is important to select the right shade of white to complement your colouring. Pure white has blue undertones and could wash out a pale complexion while off whites and champagne tones warm up even the fairest complexions. Setting a budget for your dress is also a good idea to make sure that you don’t spend an exorbitant amount on the first dress you lay eyes on and keep your options open until you find the perfect dress.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Corsets through the ages_57374.aspx
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Author Resource :
Adam Warner has more than 7 years experience in copywriting and Blogging. Presently he is writing articles about corset, corsets and basques.
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Keywords :
corset, corsets, basques,
Category :
Fashion
:
Clothing
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