Haute couture corset outfits
Picture a woman in a corset and the first thing that comes to mind is probably a Gilbert and Sullivan musical or a sassy dancer from a film like Moulin Rouge. If you like historical fashion it might be a woman in long skirts with a tiny wasp waist, but these days the corset isn’t just for stage plays, movies, and renaissance fairs.
The high fashion corset is coming into its own. That means that this kind of garment is coming to a catwalk, high-end dining establishment, or formal occasion near you.
The primary function of a corset is to shape the body (particularly the waist), lift what needs to be lifted, and provide support. The best ones have internal steel boning to help achieve these aims, whether the desired shape is the classic narrow-waisted hourglass or something sleeker and more streamlined. Most couture corsets fall into the latter category and are all about creating a pleasing overall shape from the shoulders down to well below the waist.
Fine corsets are often as much about the way they feel as the way they look. That means outer facing in the finest fabrics. Brocades are particularly popular and work well with the traditional styling of a corset outfit. Ribbons, lace, and heavy embroidery that might look over-the-top on a full length dress are perfectly at home on the bodice of a corset.
Bridal corsets are becoming particularly popular- and if there is one day when a woman is entitled to wear as much satin, silk, and lace as she likes, it should be her wedding day. Rising interest in the bridal market has led corsetieres to create specialist wedding ranges in white and ivory, and finished to the highest standards. The best are certainly haute couture pieces, designed and manufactured with a great deal of skill.
The quality of the finest modern couture corsets harks back to the Victorian era of bespoke dressmaking, hand detailing, and sumptuous fabrics, but today’s corsets are very different. First and most importantly, they’re designed with comfort in mind. Victorian corsets pressed directly into the wearer’s stomach with little regard for freedom of movement or long-term health. A well-made 21st Century corset still cinches in the waist but the stomach sits above the narrowest point. There is less pressure and far more comfort.
Author bio: Jess writes for Corsets-AU, an Australian corset fashion website.
