Dear Sir,–The other day I found a corset catalogue of about 1900, the heyday of the tight-lacing period. It contained elaborate instructions for the putting on and lacing up of a corset so as to achieve most effectively “the new small waist.” It stated that if the wearer would but follow these instructions she would … Continue reading Vanished Feminine Allurement
Dear Sir,–the cause of all the bother in the corset world is that people won’t corset themselves sensibly. A corset is a necessity to any well-dressed woman, but it is a terribly abused article, and only a minority of women wears sensible corsets. Take the present fashion in corsets. Did Nature ever intend that a … Continue reading The Use and Abuse of Corsets
Dear Sir,–I am new to your most excellent paper and hope in time to become a “Constant Reader,” and I am very interested to see the keenness displayed by your readers in the female form divine. In comparing bygone fashions with those of our own times, it is generally taken for granted that the modern … Continue reading Abuse of Corsets
Dear Sir,–May I be allowed to express my appreciation of the sensible letter you published form “Stout but Happy”? You render a useful service – in my humble opinion – by publishing correspondence which proves the evils of tight corsets, as apparently there are readers of “London Life” who still indulge in the practice. Fashion … Continue reading When Figure Training Was A Fetish
Dear Sir,–In a recent number your correspondent, “Moderation,” offered to give advice on the subject of figure-training. A friend of mine, living in France, has asked me for advice on this subject, but I have failed to get any information worth handing on, and so perhaps “Moderation” or some other experienced person would be so … Continue reading Advice Wanted on Figure Training
Dear Sir,–As a constant reader of your excellent paper, I would wish to protest strongly against some of the letters in your correspondence pages from those ancients, “The Corset Brigade,” Does not everybody know that the modern girl has practically given up corsets altogether, the sometimes necessary suspender belt being the last relic? Those corset … Continue reading The Useless Corset
Dear Sir,–Not if they possess common sense. I have never heard a man worthy of the name admire one. My ears have heard many denunciations of the unbendable slimness and the hygienic damage consequent upon tight lacing, from the mouths of many men. It just occurs to me that men may have been partially responsible … Continue reading Do Men Admire Small Waists?
Dear Sir,–As a widower of three-and-a-half years, my mind’s eye is forever recalling the trim figure of my wife induced judicious corseting which had a fascination for me. She often remarked what a comfort her corsets made to suit her were, and tried to persuade me to wear something of the kind. I had been … Continue reading The Comfort of Corsets
Dear Sir,–The majority of your readers seem to agree that men do admire small waists, when they are natural. But none of your correspondents have stopped to consider the question. “When is a small waist natural!” I have some experience in this matter and can confidently assert that no lady has Nature alone to think … Continue reading When is a Small Waist Natural?
Dear Sir,–Some few years ago when I was in my late teens, I had a perfect mania for lacing myself into the tightest of corsets. I always had them made for myself specially and my corsetiere carried out my instructions and made my corsets with a very small waist. Nothing gave me a greater thrill … Continue reading Corset Wearer Converted