Fashion History Blog

1) metal eyelets; 2) steel front busk of 1829; 3) 1832 Jean Werly from France took a patent on a type of woven corset made on a loom with gussets integrated into the weaving process.  These were very comfortable, lightly boned, and very popular until 1889. In 1890, machine made …

early Victorian corsets: 1) metal eyelets; 2) steel front busk of 1829 (Extant: 1835 wooden busk vs 1850’s metal straight busk)  

corsetry: 1) 1828 metal eyelets perfected for use in garments (Extant: Handmade metal eyelets 1815 vs the new metal eyelet grommets of 1830)

… began with the reign of Queen Victoria of England when she was crowned in 1837.  Of course fashion had been changing and evolving every year, but having a new fashion leader in hand with the French Empress Eugenie, meant American women had an example to follow, and follow they …

Corsets and Stays were made by hand and hand sewn or hand woven until about the middle of the 19th century.  As inventions appeared around the world, corsetry took on more hardware. (Photos: technical advances like invention of the metal busk changed the purpose and function of corsetry quite drastically)

…had become masterful artisans, and beautifully decorated corsets came to be built. (Photo extant and portrait: late 1830’s corset and gown)

… “Haute Couture” by Parisian Designers from the House of Worth, whom demanded a different “costume” for each activity, demanded a whole new variety of undergarments and corsets too. (Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s wedding featured the white wedding gown for the first time, thus establishing the wedding “costume” for …

…fashion focus on a tiny waist, which led to the need for tight lacing and corsets that could get not only the look to trick the eye like in the 18th century, but a small waist in reality.  Skirt and sleeve dimensions did help with the visual focus, but it …