Victorian corset

The V&A: A Trip Through 19th Century Fashion

The V&A: A Trip Through 19th Century Fashion

I visited the V&A a week or so ago. One of my favourite museums in London, the Victoria and Albert Museum is an eclectic mix of sculptures, religious art, design and fashion, but on this visit I wanted to spend some time in their Fashion section. One thing which really surprised me was the size of(…)

Tiny Waists and Steel Corsets: The Tough Body Expectations of the 1900s

Tiny Waists and Steel Corsets: The Tough Body Expectations of the 1900s

I love the blithe glamour of these vintage corset adverts. They remind me of the uber-glamorous Modess adverts of the 1950s (never before or since have feminine hygiene products been so aspirational). All of these adverts claim comfort (I guess that’s a relative term), and one even has a blissful cherub sleeping snuggled inside it(…)