The Return of the Corset
By Cassidy Ratner
As about a month has passed since the Halloween season has come to a close, it is no secret what the staple garment of nearly every costume consisted of. An otherwise generic last minute costume became an Instagram-worthy one with the addition of the best-selling Amazon corset that could be seen in an entire array of colors on every given night out of the weekend. Halloween is only one of the many occasions where corsets have become almost non-negotiable. From fast fashion brands to upscale designers, corsets have flooded the fashion market and what once was considered an undergarment is now a quintessential piece in nearly every college girl’s going-out wardrobe.
The original aim of the corset was never to be a form-fitting and sculpting top to be worn out to the bar, however, and was contrarily designed to be a shaping undergarment. Introduced in Italy and then soon after brought to France, the original corset was made out of wood and whalebones in order to cinch in one’s waist. As history progressed and the desired body standard shifted, the corsets of the 1920s aimed for the standardized straight shape of the time. However, after the First World War, there was a decline in the usage of corsets, as the body standard became decreasingly scrutinizing and clothing adhered to more relaxed lifestyles.
We see a return of the corset beginning in the 1990s and continuing even well over thirty years later. Corsets have been adapted to not only be form-fitting but to incorporate elements of style and support, taking various new and innovative forms. Trending designer Danielle Guizio has mastered the craft of the corset, and has found a way to make what was previously never meant to be seen a high-end garment. Guizio’s satin corset, sold in a variety of colors, has additionally been transformed into a corset dress. The dress embodies the same stylistic elements of the original corset- clasps to be done up, tight fitting, supportive- but this time is able to do so while upholding the current most popular styles and being fit for a wide range of occasions.
