Corset

Fashion history reveals the first recorded corset originated from Crete in Greece, worn by the Minoan people. Images on ancient pottery show both women and men sporting form fitting belts and vests with leather rings or straps that constrict and shape the waist. Who first wore corsets? The earliest known representation of a possible corset […]

between 8 to 10 inches. Standard corsets fit the average seated, under bust torso length which ranges between 8 to 10 inches in length and provide a minimum to moderate waist curvature. What size should your corset be? You’ll want to select a size that’s smaller than your natural waist* measurement. Our corsets should be […]

By now, the dances that took place in the courts had an air of mystery to them, and performers usually wore masks, costumes and accessories. Women wore huge wigs and tight corsets to heighten their femininity, while male ballet dancers donned tights and lighter clothing to give them more freedom of movement. Why do dancers […]

inverted conical shape. The most common type of corset in the 1700s was an inverted conical shape, often worn to create a contrast between a rigid quasi-cylindrical torso above the waist and heavy full skirts below. Were corsets used in the 1700s? In the 1700s, in addition to slimming the waist and emphasizing the chest, […]

Ambergris. What it is: A waxy calculus that is created in the digestive tracts of sperm whales in response to irritation caused by the sharp, indigestible beaks of ingested squid. How it’s used: It was an important flavoring in high-status renaissance and baroque confectionery and cookery. What is whale sperm used for? ambergris, a solid […]

Whaling is illegal in most countries, however Iceland, Norway, and Japan still actively engage in whaling . Over a thousand whales are killed each year for their meat and body parts to be sold for commercial gain. Their oil, blubber, and cartilage are used in pharmaceuticals and health supplements. What is killing whales used for? […]

The products harvested from commercial whaling included oil, baleen, and ambergris. Americans depended on candles and oil-filled lamps to light their homes in the years before electricity. Whales provided both the best oil and the best candle wax for home illumination. Why were whale products so valuable? Whale oil became the hot-ticket item of its […]

The harpoon, known to crews as the “whale iron,” was used to fasten the whale to the whaleboat, rather than to kill it. It was designed to penetrate blubber and hold securely, like a hook. A whaleship embarking on a four-year voyage in the mid- nineteenth century usually carried 150-200 harpoons. How did early whalers […]

Whale bone or baleen is hard and durable like bone, but also has some flexibility. In the past, it was used in many every-day items including children’s toy, buggy parts, and corsets. Whale teeth were carved or engraved used for art, chess pieces, and piano keys. Another product created by some whales is ambergris. What […]

In Eastern cultures ambergris is used for medicines and potions and as a spice; in the West it was used to stabilize the scent of fine perfumes. Ambergris floats and washes ashore most frequently on the coasts of China, Japan, Africa, and the Americas and on tropical islands such as the Bahamas. Why is whale […]

The use of whale oil had a steady decline starting in the late 19th century due to the development of superior alternatives, and later, the passing of environmental laws. In 1986, the International Whaling Commission declared a moratorium on commercial whaling, which has all but eliminated the use of whale oil today. Is whale oil […]

Identifying the ambergris is the hard part, especially as it can be found in virtually any coastal area. Most of the time, when people go to an expert with a chunk of a waxy substance they found on a beach, sure they’ve hit the jackpot, it turns out to be wax or rocks or the […]

Ambergris is often described as one of the world’s strangest natural occurrences. It is produced by sperm whales and has been used for centuries, but for many years its origin remained a mystery. Ambergris has been a unique phenomenon for millennia. What is whale sperm used for? ambergris, a solid waxy substance originating in the […]

whalebone, also called baleen, series of stiff keratinous plates in the mouths of baleen whales, used to strain copepods and other zooplankton, fishes, and krill from seawater. Is whale bone still used? Bones, and the substances used for the purpose, are generically called “boning”; however, the name likely arises from the use of whalebone in […]

The human waist houses the digestive organs—it’s not just made of muscle, bone, and fat like your limbs. As such, you can’t get a natural 18 in waist without putting some kind of pressure on your internal organs. Even if you got in model-tier shape and lost a lot of body fat, you still wouldn’t […]

In 2019, for the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” Met Gala, Kardashian wore a custom Thierry Mugler dress that had an intense waist-cinching corset. The dress was so tight that Mugler gave Kardashian “corset breathing lessons” so she could breathe while wearing the look, as she shared in an Instagram post. Why did Kim Kardashian cover […]

Breathing problems According to the ABCS, wearing a waist trainer can reduce your lung capacity by 30 to 60 percent. It can be uncomfortable and sap your energy. Cinch it tight enough and you might even pass out. It can even lead to inflammation or a buildup of fluid in the lungs. Do waist trainers […]

Full, Deep Breaths When you can’t expand your ribcage because the intercostal muscles are restricted by a corset, you’ll have to find another part of the body to move out of the way so that the lungs can expand. Why I cant breathe in a corset? Most people use the chest muscles for breathing only […]

Waist training can deprive your body of oxygen, reducing lung capacity by an estimated 30-60% while you’re wearing the corset. At best, this can result in low energy and discomfort, but scarier consequences—passing out, fluid buildup in the lungs, inflammation—are also a real possibility. Can a waist trainer hurt your chest? Suffocation. Using a waist […]

1960s and later. By 1970, the girdle was generally supplanted by the wearing of pantyhose (called tights in British English). What year did people stop wearing corsets? Throughout the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s, women still wore shapewear, but these garments became separate girdles and brassieres rather than full corsets. With the women’s movement that […]