Every time Dr. B mentions a corset, two images flash into my mind. The first is of Scarlet O'Hara clinging to a bedpost while Mammy pulls tight on the strings to make her waist as small as possible. Scarlet is gasping for breath but all this is clearly necessary if she is going to catch a husband. The other is a scene from one of the Little House on the Prairie books. Ma and Laura have been sewing a dress for Mary, the oldest daughter, but when Mary puts the dress on, it doesn't fit. The buttons are popping. They figure out the problem. Mary's corset strings have stretched. So Mary hangs onto the bedpost while they pull the strings, pulling the whale bones in to crunch her ribs, until she is thin enough to fit the very stylish new dress.
Since there is nothing sexy about these images, it's clear that I am just not up to date on this whole corset thing.
Maybe I need to buy lingerie more often.
5 comments:
I don't know what it is about that Little House scene, but it's one of my most compelling memories from the books! Partly the illustration of her in the dress is very pretty. Made me want to have a corset, myself, or at least the really cool dresses! (I love the Little House descriptions of dresses. Well, I just love those books.)
Oh, I loved those books too. And I so wanted a hoop skirt. I'm still kind of sad they never came back into fashion.
Yes, of course, you need to buy lingerie mre often. Can never have enough lingerie.
I agree with NK -- I remember the illustration so well. And, indeed, like you Jo(e), that is one my lingering assocations with "corset."
Heh, oh, my corset isn't "real" in the sense of actually being that tight, it's just snug. And it looks pretty.
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