Rant/Rave: Corset Fashion

RANT/RAVE

CORSETS

ILLUSTRATIONS BY AVERY ALLISON

RANT

BY MOLLY WILSON

Look, I am all for a cute “going out” top, but corset-style tops are not it. Corset tops are not only tacky, but also perpetuate an unrealistic body standard. Corsets were created to shape the female body by lifting the breasts, tightening the stomach area, and narrowing the waist. They literally restricted women’s breathing and were created to make the female body look more “feminine.”

Corsets are one of the most non-body positive items of clothing not only because of their historical connotation, but also because they are meant to suck one in and give one the look of a more “flattering” flat stomach. Now, I understand that not all modern-day corset tops are super tight with the purpose of making your waist smaller. However, by wearing tops that emulate that look, we are furthering the societal pressure put on women to be thin and pretty with a perky bust and curvy waist.

All of that should be reason enough to ditch corset-style clothing, but if you need more convincing, let me be the first to say that you can do better. That $5 corset top from Shein is not doing it for you. There is no need to wear a lace corset top out to the bars with a pair of jeans and Nike Air Force 1s anymore. There are better outfits out there, I promise.

I am not saying this as someone who has never worn a similar outfit to a party before. While I have never worn a corset top, I do love a cute “going out” shirt. But, I want to see more inclusive clothing styles at the bars. We should not reinforce the body standards that corsets were designed to create by wearing modern-day versions.

RAVE

BY KATIE MILLARD

With another season of “Bridgerton” upon us, corset fashion slides into spring attire once again. The hit show helped spark the trend, as corset fashion is reminiscent of traditional corsets, worn in the Regency and Victorian eras and as early as the 16th century and 1600 B.C. The style dances with aesthetics, combining Regencycore with traditionally feminine aesthetics to create beautiful pieces.

While traditional corsets could be harmful to the wearer’s physical wellbeing, the popularity of contemporary corsets inspired brands to recreate the image of a corset without harsh boning and too-tight strings. Instead, modern corsets allow one to embrace the stunning look of a corset top without potential harm.

Corset fashion is particularly beautiful because, regardless of gender, corset wearers have the option to easily style the pieces in a feminine-presenting way. In the late 20th century, for example, Vivienne Westwood embraced corset fashion as a means of empowering women rather than containing them, such as with her intricate 1990 Portrait Collection corset. This concept allows anyone who wishes to reclaim their femininity a simple, beautiful option that, while formfitting, caters more to the Jane Austen-type romanticization of the garments than to the male gaze.

Corsets also look good on everyone. Whether one styles a corset as a full top, or uses a shorter option to simply accent their outfit, it is a piece everyone can enjoy regardless of age, gender, or size. The goal of corset fashion is not to slim the waist or tell people they should look a certain way. It is rather the reclaiming of an article of clothing seen as traditionally binding into something inclusive and positive.

Many think of corset fashion in the traditional sense, but the style has been recycled into something contemporary to wear proudly. The occasionally controversial corset fashion may be a ladylike style with strings attached, but those strings are something to be laced up and celebrated.