Dear Sir,–It always seems to me that some articles of female dress have almost human personalities. As an illustration, one can well imagine the real pre-war corset, who is somewhat of a martinet speaking to his owner at the luncheon table in some such words as these: “There! You have eaten quite enough now, so … Continue reading Wearers Controlled by Dress
Dear Sir,–The letter of “stay-lace” in your issue of May 5th was most interesting, as it showed that there are still mothers in this age who pause to consider the best methods of ensuring for their daughters the attractive figures that tight-lacing from an early age makes possible. Your comment on this letter “That it … Continue reading Is Tight-Lacing Injurious to Health?
Dear Sir, Perhaps my experience will interest some of your readers. My mother always had the tiniest of waists, and about the first thing I remember is admiring her figure and thinking that one day I’d try and have one like it. I first wore corsets when I was eleven, but wasn’t allowed to start … Continue reading Figure Training of a Young Woman
Dear Sir,–I am convinced that most of the correspondents who favour tight-lacing, high heels, etc. are those who have had no real experience of them. May I, who am old enough to remember the consequences, add my word of warning? “Enough is as good as a feast,” and a little figure training will not hurt … Continue reading Tortures of Fashion Tyranny
Dear Sir,–The two following gadgets mentioned below may be of interest to corset lovers, who like the Greeks, are always looking for some new thing. The first is an accommodation strip. This is worn by women who have a gaping open back in their new corsets. All corsets stretch in wear, and if a woman … Continue reading Hints to Corset Wearers
Dear Sir,–Having always admired an unnaturally small waist, my wife naturally did her best to please me in this respect until one day she showed signs of discomfort whereupon I decided that it would only be fair if tried experiment on myself. I submitted to be laced in proportionately for a reasonable period and with … Continue reading Corset Wearer Converted
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