History of the Corset

Like the brassiere, the corset has enjoyed a rich history and has endured much change, although over a different span of time. As a foundation garment, the corset is worn to mold and shape the torso. Corsets can be overbust or underbust lingerie and may include garters for stockings.

Once constructed of torturous laces and constricting slots of supports, called busks, the corset has been radically revised over a very long time. Originally both men and women wore corsets for aesthetic and medical purposes to compress waistlines, support weak muscles and straighten backs. Early corsets laced in the back and required another person to rigorously draw the wearer’s form into the desired constriction.

Busks in these garments were rigid strips inserted for stiffening support and used from the 16th through the 19th centuries. Busks were made of metal, whalebone, quills or wood. Depending on the historical mores, corsets could be tubular and shape obscuring or accentuating and alluring.

The 18th Century was the height of corset popularity. However, usage waned and corsets fell from fashion by the 1920’s, almost completely replaced by elastic girdles. There was a brief revival of corsets in the ‘40’s and ‘50’s in the form of a waist cincher, often called a “waspie”, worn to achieve an hour-glass figure. Coutil became the fabric of choice for comfort and durability; it is a cloth of cotton and/or rayon in herringbone weave.

Today’s corsets are flexible, stylish and beautiful, thanks to ultimate choice in material and design comfort, lending nostalgic tradition to modern lingerie.

Picking the Perfect Bridal Lingerie

For those who are about to get married, and want to look sexy on the wedding night, opting to wear the right kind of bridal lingerie is a sound idea. Face it, the wedding night comes around only once in a lifetime (in some cases, anyway) and it is an ideal occasion to look alluring and also feel more beautiful.

Before you even start your search, you first need to decide on what your goals are. I know, that sounds way too practical. But it will help you decide what direction you need to go with your shopping. Do you want to look seductive, or demure? Erotic, sensual or sexy (not the same thing, look it up)? Your decisions here set the course for what follows.

Next, consider the idea that you really want TWO sets of lingerie. Think about it; you will be getting dressed and taking pictures for a couple hours, the actual wedding and more pictures are a couple more hours, and all the while you are highly stressed. Then, at least a couple hours dancing and making merry at the reception. By that time, what you have on under your gorgeous dress will feel like workout clothes. Is that really how you want to look and feel on your magical wedding night?

So what you really need is one set of lingerie that will give you proper support, and keep all your "treasures" safe and sound. And you also want them to make you feel as though you are the most beautiful woman in the world. Then, you want a set of lingerie that is meant to be seen by only 2 people, you and your betrothed. That can be more for show, since you may not actually be wearing it for very long anyway......

Wearing a corset under an informal wedding gown might be inappropriate. A corset is a very constraining item, so it is more appropriate for very traditional dress. You might look to wear a bustier instead, which is a little more "style over substance". There are many choices including strapless numbers or tight fitting basques. Just make sure it complements your wedding dress. Take the time to evaluate different styles to see what feels right. You may even find something that you may not have considered wearing before.

You should make the final decision based on what you want, although people will suggest different garments and try to give you advice. It’s you that has to wear the items and you who need to feel sexy in your chosen bridal wear. You might select items such as a satin corset and stockings, a bridal bustier and perhaps satin gloves. Or you might want to choose something different like a sheer bralette and panty set with a lovely crinoline . The most important thing is the overall effect on how you feel, so you will want to take this into account when choosing apparel.

Remember, go for something that will enhance your best assets. Honestly look at yourself in the mirror and decide what to accentuate. Do you really like your bustline, or are you more proud of your behind? Do you have a curvaceous hourglass figure, or long legs? This is one time for every woman to put aside her body issues and say, "You know what, I've got a really hot ......"

There is much more to your wedding day than just choosing the right gown and best bridal lingerie. You will be the absolutely center of the world for your friends and family for this short period of time, and you want to embrace every second of it. Then your wedding night should be one that you remember for the rest of your life. The right choice of bridal lingerie just makes the whole thing better.

Why Lace Corsets? Just because their Beautiful

Whether you are a woman or a man, you have surely seen a lace corset before and have probably wondered what it is about the lace corset that makes it so appealing. Well there are actually a few things that stand behind the lace corset and what make it so divine.

One of the reasons that a lace corset is so appealing is because of, quite obviously, the material. Lace has always been sort of naughty and yet demure at the same time, which is very sexy, and it always has that sort of appeal because it is almost see through. Lace corsets are particularly stunning because the corset shape helps to create a curvalicious look to the woman wearing it.

Compare the lace corset to the satin corset for a moment. Sure satin is very extravagant and feminine, but when you compare it to the lace it is easy to see the differences. Lace is thought of as something alluring, something decadent and extravagant. There are so many different routes that you can take with the lace, so many different styles, all which look absolutely stunning.

Where to Look

Are you interested in buying a lace corset for yourself? If so there are a few lingerie shops in particular that you are going to want to check out. The best idea is to go to lingerie stores that specialize in lace, because you know that they are going to have the grandest selections of lace corsets for you to choose from.

Also keep in mind, something that you may not have been aware of before, that there are actually customized lingerie shops out there which you can go to and have a corset custom made, just for you. This not only means that you will be totally satisfied, but as well it will fit you like a glove because it will have been made specifically for your body.

Better-than-Bare Lingerie is a great place to drop by if you are looking for lace corsets and other lace lingerie. They have everything from baby dolls, bras and panties, chemises, cami sets, long gowns and tons of new items that you can check out.

Historic Lace Machine

Inventing a machine to make lace Back in 1812, at the height of the Napoleonic Wars, a machine to make lace was invented in England by John Leavers. The basis of his machine was the Elizabethan "stocking frame", invented c.1589 by a Nottingham vicar, Rev. William Lee, to help his wife knit stockings. It worked a bit like "french knitting", where children make a knitted tube by winding wool round nails on top of a cotton reel.



The original English "Leavers Machine" was only 18 inches (0,5m) wide, but it made cheaper mass-produced lace for small garments. At that time many new inventions were transforming industry in Britain - textile machines, steam engines, iron-making... This was the age of the Industrial Revolution, and Britain was the "Silicon Valley" of those days.

Foreign lace makers could not get hold of the Leavers Machine. To protect valuable industrial secrets, the British government banned export of such new machines on punishment of death - just as the USA later banned exports of computers to Russia.

In 1816 - just after the end of the Napoleonic wars - three skilled workmen from Nottingham, Clark, Webster and Bonnington, thought there might be a better future in France. They smuggled some machinery over to Calais, and were helped to set up a new machine-lace workshops. They escaped from bitter opposition to their new machines back in England. Thousands of poor workers in Nottingham made lace by hand at home, and feared the new machines would deprive them of a living. There were bitter "Luddite" riots in which soldiers guarded the new mills against machine-smashers.

In Calais, the emigrant English workmen found people keen to work for them - the port was impoverished after losing its trade during the French wars. The French aristocracy had returned, so a revival in trade for luxury lace looked likely.

By the 1820's the new Calais lace workshops were flourishing. Protected by heavy tariffs on most imported goods, they didn't need to worry about competition from England.

In 1835 they perfected a device to make a near-perfect imitation of hand-made lace in any design, including traditional styles like "Chantilly" lace. This was the work of another Englishman, Samuel Fergusson, who adapted the French "Jacquard loom" (used to make tapestries for aristocrats) for making patterned lace - an early example of "numerical control".

Nord-Pas de Calais is still an important centre for machine lace, exporting it all over the world. The craft of making lace by hand, which had almost died out, was revived after the First World War.