Author Topic: Quick Question (late 1800s related) (Read 476 times)

AKS\/\/ulfe · « **on:** April 30, 2003, 08:49:02 PM »

I've been trying to figure this out for the past hour to finish writing a paper, and for the life of me I can't get the damn thing out of the deep recesses of my mind through my keyboard and into M$ W3rd.

What is that 'thing' that women would wear around their waist with dresses that would push their stomachs and lovehandles into a nice cylindrical package while wearing skirts that flowered out at the hips to give the illusion of a very small waist?

Thanks!
-SW

udet · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2003, 08:49:40 PM »

corset?

AKS\/\/ulfe · « **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2003, 08:55:30 PM »

YES!!! Thank you!!!
-SW

Ozark · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2003, 09:09:30 PM »

http://www.corset.dk/

Athena3 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 01, 2003, 04:57:40 AM »

Actually, depending on the decade I can tell you exactly how the corset looked and what it was made of (and how it feels to wear one). I costume designed for years. Always come to me with all your obscure clothing questions.

boxboy28 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 01, 2003, 10:19:40 AM »

ATHENA female? lets see those corset photos!

midnight Target · « **Reply #6 on:** May 01, 2003, 10:37:08 AM »

Didn't corsets use whale bones (Baleen) and contribute to the whaling industry in the 19th century?

capt. apathy · « **Reply #7 on:** May 01, 2003, 11:02:11 AM »

they used whale bones (if I remember corectly) but I doubt if it really contributed to whaling. I'd guess more of a use for a by-product.

AKS\/\/ulfe · « **Reply #8 on:** May 01, 2003, 12:36:16 PM »

Thanks Athena, will do next time I get stumped.. and with clothing, there isn't a single thing I know except cargo pants and T-shirts- and I only know about the ones I'm wearing.

Reason I needed to know the above was because I was doing a paper for Intro to Drama (wait! it definitely gets worse!) and many of the actresses had corsets- and I had to describe what they were wearing.

Now how it gets worse: I needed a lower level elective, saw intro to drama and was like "Well, it's better than Gay and Lesbian something er other" (which was the only other english elective available), so I signed up for it. Lucky me, I find out first day of class it's Intro to Drama from a feminist point of view.

Needless to say, I now understand many of the FDBs (SOB in particular) completely.
-SW

midnight Target · « **Reply #9 on:** May 01, 2003, 02:37:03 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKS\/\/ulfe
I find out first day of class it's Intro to Drama from a feminist point of view.

-SW

LOL

Athena3 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 01, 2003, 04:47:44 PM »

With a name like Athena, I would certainly hope I was female, Boxboy. And sorry, don't have corset pictures lying around.

You're right Midnight Target, at one point they were mostly made of whale bone although later on metal was used (that's why any stiffening material used in the linings of women's dresses is now called 'boning' even though it's usually plastic). Doubt they had a huge affect on the whaling industry though.

Goodluck with the course SW. Sounds...umm...interesting? Just write everything like you were a woman with PMS and I'm sure the instructor will like it.

I never did like those types of college courses. They were requirements though in my distant college years...