The 1845 corset was designed to..

… smooth lumps and bumps much as early Regency corsets had at the turn of the century, and as had those of early Victorian.  By 1853, it reached lower over the natural hips to smooth those too, but did not attempt to cinch in the hips.  The flare at the bust was still considered fashionable in the 1850’s, but would become vulgar in the ’60’s when the top of the corset would be pulled snug along the breasts.

(Photos: 1850’s corsets longer over the hips and smoothing overall to match the long bodices of the decade)