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.