Corset

An irksome trend which raised its head in 2020 was the return of the corset. On the catwalks of Paris to our home grown mistress of pop culture style (Kim Kardashian) the corset trend captivated the fashion world. As a 21st century woman I found this trend slightly disturbing - surely the feminist movement had seen us progress past such life DIS-affirming couture, birthed from 18th century whalebone constructions which damaged women's internal organs and pushed her lungs high up in her chest? It seemed incongruous with the advances made in feminine equality - or was it?

Like all women, I like to feel attractive and sexy from time to time. Even as a feminist I don't eschew all beauty or fashion innovations - I know they can be playful, creative and expressive of my personality. But I kind of draw the line at corsets and not for prudish reasons. Their history gives them a dark side, a history where women were for the large part valued for their beauty rather than for the inner attributes. I find it disturbing that girls as young as 16 had their growing bodies squeezed and distorted by an item of lingerie designed to emphasise their sexuality. How did this sit with the Christian values of the time? It seemed oddly contradictory. And why is it, in these current times of feminist statements, where pop cultural icons like Billie Eilish and Sia dress to suit themselves, in comfort both physically and emotionally where their bodies are not displayed for public consumption? How can we both support that ideal and at the same time support the resurgence of backward looking fashion statement that says – look at me, I’m distorted for your pleasure. I realise different groups of people may support the different fashion philosophies, but surely the retrograde trend needs to be called out?

We seem to be a society that can juggle contradictory world views at the same time – and while we want to be inclusive surely we can be discerning as well, and as women around the world support ideas (including fashion trends) that are positive, uplifting and life affirming. Many women around the world live in dreadfully repressive societies, were a girl or a woman’s life is not valued as highly as a mans’. How can we, in the liberal, western world tolerate a fashion item symbolic of female oppression in an earlier era?

I'm in my 50s now but remember a long ago incident when I was 18, and my best friend dragged me to a lingerie shop to buy something "dead sexy" for a longed for date with her crush. Sandra's plan was to wear a sexy corset and suspenders under her dress, and then reveal herself in all her glory once their night reached its climax ! We spent several hours lacing Sandra in an out of several corsets, trying to obey Sandra's repeated cries to "lace me tighter, tighter - I can still see my tummy bulge!" She ended up buying a ravishing red corset and suspenders, which matched her fiery auburn hair. To cut a long story short, the corset did have the desired effect in the short term, but the relationship fizzled out when Sandra failed to pull any more rabbits out of the hat. I can't help think of that story now when I survey the corset revival in 2020, which also preceded the cultural phenomena and meteoric rise of "Bridgerton" (despite its diversity, the women are still all tied up!). Maybe I've just lost perspective, but I hope 2021 sees the corset phenomena well and truly consigned to history!