The corset was an essential undergarment for Victorian women.
The corset developed from 18th century stays,
a foundation garment that gave women a conical form while lifting
and supporting the bosom, in addition to, producing a rigidly flat front.
The 19th century corset remained basically
similar to the earlier stays in that it accentuated the bosom; but the Victorian corset also
minimized the waist by producing a curved hour-glass shape. Corsets
laced up the center-back to achieve the correct degree of
tightness to fit the wearer’s figure, thus the term “tight
lacing.” There
were hooks and eyes at the center front for easier removal.
The corset was worn over a cotton chemise and not directly next
to the skin.
Corsets were worn by women, young girls and
children. Children wore corsets to learn correct posture. Corsets came in a variety of colors, including white,
black, charcoal gray, cream, and even red.
Shown is an 1880's corset,
available on the
Meg Andrews web site,
of bronze sateen cotton with a spoon busk and steel
supports. The buff colored casings are embroidered with
terracotta, yellow and cream twisted silk flowers across
the top and the bottom; the top is trimmed with a
machine-made braid in similar colors.
The registration mark,
The Y & N Corset in an oval with The Y & N
Diagonal Seam trademark Awarded Three Gold
Medals, is stamped on the white cotton inside. The
front opening of the corset has steel closures imprinted
with "YN" -- the center with a taupe-colored tape woven
with Y & N Diagonal Seam. The back of the
corset has steel eyelet holes for a laced closing.
The top is
trimmed with a machine-made braid in shades to match the
terracotta, yellow
and cream twisted silk flowers across the top and the bottom of
the corset.
CREDITS:
Photographs of 1880's corset courtesy of
Meg Andrews, British dealer of antique costumes and
textiles for 22 years. Visit the
Meg Andrews web site specializing in English costume and
accessories from the 18th and 19th centuries; Shawls from
the late 18th c - 1860;
English samplers and silk-work pictures; document and
decorative fabrics -- both woven and printed; English Arts and
Crafts embroidered, woven and printed textiles; Chinese
court costumes and accessories; and European textiles.
The 19th century corset remained basically
similar to the earlier stays in that it accentuated the bosom; but the Victorian corset also
minimized the waist by producing a curved hour-glass shape. Corsets
laced up the center-back to achieve the correct degree of
tightness to fit the wearer’s figure, thus the term “tight
lacing.” There
were hooks and eyes at the center front for easier removal.
The corset was worn over a cotton chemise and not directly next
to the skin.
Corsets were worn by women, young girls and
children. 
Children wore corsets to learn correct posture. Corsets came in a variety of colors, including white,
black, charcoal gray, cream, and even red.
