The lace up corset: a slideshow of French postcards etc

[luv2bellydance4life]

Pictures and Music Like this together is a little disturbing. I think that's why I love it. :-)

[Florencethomas405]

wow the photos are beautiful. the music is great. brilliant video! xx

[AliceFan1]

Actually the foot in the back was actually used, believe it or not. Women actually valued a tiny waist in those days, and one where a man could put his hands about and touch his fingers in the back was coveted, hence leverage was key when cinching up the laces and someone actually invented a machine that a ladies maid could use. For a good illustration of this mindset, in Gone with the wind, Scarlett O'Hara is distressed she can't return to the waist she had before she had her baby.

[Katiethedil]

The mirror in 1:30 scares me.

[junglewalk]

Wonderful!....Beautiful shapely Ladies...> adds to the mystery of what she looks like under the clothing!...wow..!

[sweetypie000]

sexy :)

[SingMeAnElla]

Some of these photos would have been like porn back then. LOOK! ANKLES!!!

[TheMichelleSchweiss]

I love this slide show.

[RememberTheMemory]

Such horrifying beauty. I mean the're so pretty in a disturbing way in my opinion.

[ToughLovinMonkey]

@RememberTheMemory That is exactly my feelings toward corsets. So feminine and delicate, but then your think about their ribcages being squeezed into this tiny waist.

[HOURGLASSCORSETLASS]

The corset shown on the lady at 4:35 is an S-curve edwardian corset. These corset were also known as straight front corsets. I have about 10-12 antique edwardian s-curve corsets in my antique corset collection & when the original corset is tried on, it will produce the same appearance and form on the body as shown in the original edwardian picture. I enjoy making s-curve corsets for people, but I always tell them that they do fit differently than a Victorian corset.

[AshleyRheiner]

4:35 is not faked, but is a full structured and boned corset, added to an already small frame. This woman was probably a tight lacer all of her life, so it would be easy for her. In this day and age, it is achieved in two ways: Tight lacing in period/ strong boned corsets or being already slim before wearing. They would not be able to fake an authentic picture. Just my thoughts. :)

[GAMOM2]

Please don't think that I'm upset over you wearing or liking a corset. I'm just bringing up some reasons why it would be problemmatic for some. The fact that your corset is not authentic makes a big difference. If it provides you with abdominal support (which is sometimes used medically) or improves yur overall posture and sense of well being then enjoy :-). I mean that in all sincerity. Heck I 'd wear one to improve my posture if I thought I could stand it.

[ajkl27]

sorry, did I say "too small" I meant too big XD

I'm not used to things being too big for me.

[Akuchan7]

Corsets take some getting used to. I bought an authentic steel-enforced corset to wear on a regular basis and with practice it becomes bearable. (Though I'm already small so it doesn't take much to get to a 20-inch waist.) Simply wearing a corset, for me, at least, adds a certain sensuality...and they're pretty! : ) I would advise anyone to purchase one.

[ajkl27]

lovely, I dont know why we stopped wearing them.

[rayel9]

Because we couldn't take deep breath in it and because it dameged the rib-cage, spine, lungs, stomach, etc. etc.

[ajkl27]

well I regularily wear corsets and I can tell you none of that is true; you shouldn't wear one if you have an upper respiratory illness and you have to takeslower, more deiberate breaths useing deffernet muscles than you normally would, but corsets are actually good for the spine and they don't effect the stomach, depending on the style they may dent the liver but that doesn't impede its function... I'm curious as to where you got you're information.

[GAMOM2]

I have read the same thing in Medical articles. Is your corset made of whale bones? Does it require someone else to lace you? How many inches are "reduced" when you are in it? Have you ever checked your pulse, your blood pressure while weaing it? If it's cmfortable to you - yours must not be authentic .

[ajkl27]

No, my corset is not "authentic". Mine is a modern corset made from silk with spiral steel boneing which is more flexible than wood or whale bone and proforms better. I reduce from 6-10 inches less than my natural waist but could go smaller if I bought a smaller corset. It is very comfortable but rather or not one would find it so depends on ones personal preference in sensations, I like the restriction.

There's no reason why this should upset you, no one is forceing you to wear one.

[ajkl27]

I am able to lace it myself by hooking the back loops on a door knob and walking slowly away from it while adjusting the laces in back with my hands, I have never checked my pulse or blood pressure while wearing it because I've never felt the need to. The only time that I've fainted was when I was not corseted.

p.s.I suppose I should tell you that this is all paste tense information since I have recently lost a lot of weight and my corset is now too small for me, but Im saveing for I new one.

[SalmataGirl]

this is true!

[sAINTMalice9]

I actually think that the one at 435 is not a fake.

[KyraVonSidonius]

Nope, not a fake. They did have such a figure. :)

[glodsbride86]

its actually an S shaped corset.

[SalmataGirl]

You are correct, this was the actual affect of the S-bend corset!

[wallygreeninker]

It's Debussy - 'Children's corner:no4 -The Snow is dancing'.

The second tune is his 'Reverie' but the volume is a bit too low.

There are various Youtube performances and I think it can be downloaded free from the Piano Society website.

[perdi1309]

i'm about to start a project at school about corsets and this has really helped thanks XD

[AliceFan1]

I loved this video, especially the "Striptease" sequences!

[wallygreeninker]

Notice how the lady must have had a mid-calf length chemise tucked into her bloomers - quite common at least from the time of the cage crinoline until as late as the early 1920's.

[wallygreeninker]

I'm not so much a collector as one of those little people described in the Mary Norton novels.

[creamofcardstv]

Hi wallygreeninker, Great collection and I've given you five stars. I've created a new video clip: "What Do You collect?". I want to bring lots of different collectors together. Please choose one of your favorite collectible/memorabilia related vids and post it as a response to my collecting video, thank you.

[Celticswynd]

Most of these seems to be sterio cards. You put them in a special veiwer, and the image has a 3d effect to it veiwed throught his special "veiwer" Also, they didn't put the foot or knee against anyone's back when it was beign laced. Those pictures were for a joke at tightlacers of the era.

[guckiyt]

Hello wallygreeninker, I don't think that pic at 4:35 is faked! There are some other pics showing a 90 degree angle at the rear of a S-line-bend corset (sans ventre corset). A friend of mine has an original corset of that time which can be laced as tightly as the style the pic shows. Truely!