The Art of Corsetry

Revel in the luxurious prime pieces of Victorian fashion |

- MARIAN SAN PEDRO

 

Boned and laced, the tight fitting bodice of the corset has a controversial history— and it still remains a debatable piece in fashion.

The figurine of a Minoan snake goddess of Greece in 1000 B.C. is the first historical record of a civilization wearing a corset like garment—for both men and women. There were also corset pieces found in tombs in Crete made from linen and wool, more often used for ceremonial purposes rather than everyday wear. In the middle ages, corsets were out of the picture as women’s bodies were deemed sinful and thus were covered from head to toe.

Fast forward to the 16th century, the French court regarded the corset as essential to a woman’s attractiveness. With its tight, elongated bodice worn beneath clothing, this iconic piece has seen many alterations through time: sometimes, it is incorporated with a piece of whalebone, reed, wood, or even steel, as well as ruff les at the bottom edge known as farthingale. In post World War I, women once again did not wear corsets so that metal can be used for war weapon production—and this equated to around 28,000 tons of metal, which is enough to build two battleships.

In over 400 years of its use, the distinctive silhouette, 1800s hourglass shape, and ornamental lace features of the corset cemented themselves in historical fashion and have now taken their modern, luxurious form.

MARA CHUA

“Luxury for me is bringing to the fore craftsmanship and celebrating the heights of what human hands and minds can do,” says Mara Chua. “Yes, I think what we do is very much in the realm of luxe.”