*Just Cinch It

Corsets had been popular since Catherine de Medici declared a ban on large waists in her court. Readers of Laura Ingalls Wilder may remember Laura's hatred of the restricting garment.

Today, corsets are no longer an everyday part of our wardrobe, unless we're really kinky. What happened to corsets? Did they simply fall out of fashion?

Corsets were extremely popular until America entered WWI, and a metal shortage required women to give them up. An estimated 28,000 tons of metal were saved!

The corset hung on after the war for a little while longer, but finally met its end when bras and elastic undergarments were popularized in the 1930s.

Tomorrow: How WWII brought sexy lingerie to America.

Posted by Jennifer at December 14, 2004 04:41 PM

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