Corsets

Corsets made a striking appearance in the "Cult of Beauty" exhibition at the Wellcome Collection. We saw a variety of examples, ranging from those designed for infants and pregnant women, to those fashioned almost entirely from metal, as well as a good deal of media concerning the accessories. It shocked and somewhat disturbed me, and I felt it was one of the starkest examples of pain in the name of beauty. It made me think about how although most would consider these items archaic and outdated, the idea behind them still very much exists nowadays in the form of cosmetic surgeries, restrictive garments, and various media surrounding weightloss. The most interesting part to me however was learning later about the varying uses of the corset throughout its existence, demonstrating the large and regular shift in what was considered attractive.

Research This page is part of the collection 'Part 2'.

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