stillwaitingforaliens:

nasanerd09:

ifihadallthewords:

professorsparklepants:

newtscamanderismyspiritanimal:

queenofthemorgue:

Could I PLEASE stop seeing period dramas where women aren’t wearing chemises under their corsets

Also to add- corsets were not because of “patriarchical oppression”. In most cases it was how you held up and supported your boobs with the benefit of shaping your figure at the same time. Just like a bra today. I hate it when some actresses refuse to wear corsets for a role that ABSOLUTELY WOULD HAVE WORN ONE because they’re trying to express their feminism. Like, I get it, it’s 100% okay to express your feminism but for goodness sakes do some historical research about what it actually was before making assumptions

Also, also, please no more “I can’t get into my corset without help” because that’s nonsense. I’m sure there were a lot of rich ladies who were laced in every day but a lot of other women managed to put on corsets themselves just fine. There was a study done in the 1887 about how women laced their corsets and the majority of them didn’t lace it so tightly they couldn’t breathe. In fact most women laced it to a comfortable place, with a 3 to 4 inch gap at the back.

There are so many myths about corsets and I’m passionate about accurate depictions of historical clothing

Tightlacing a corset and just wearing one to support your boobs are two different things!!!!

-You cannot make it through the day wearing literal POUNDS of petticoats and skirts without a corset to support your back and help take the weight. I did that once. I was in pain for days after.
-Puller loops are your friend. I can lace myself into all of the corsets I own (and get them down to a lovely 2-3’’ gap) with the help of puller loops.
-100% yes to the leaving a gap thing. The only time I was ever truly awfully uncomfortable in a corset was the night we had to lace me flush to fit me into a very specific dress. Getting out of it was exactly as painful as the terribly cliche scenes show. Never again.
-Also if we’re talking for the purposes of historical reenactment and/or theatrical productions, you will look WEIRD if there’s no corset. The different varieties of corset contribute SO MUCH to the distinct shapes of each time period. Many period dresses won’t fit properly or at all without them.

@stillwaitingforaliens

Yep. A properly fitted corset, even tightlaced, is pretty comfy.

But tightlacinng to ridiculous levels was also a thing. A thing for wealthy women of class, like Scarlett O’Hara and her 17 inch waist.

Also, I have no doubt women said “fuck it” and went corsetless at times, just like we do with bras.