Maternity corset made of cream cotton with red machine-embroidered trim. Trimmed at the top with a scallop edged tape. Made in four parts, they fasten at the front with a busk with five white metal loops and studs, and at the back they have 17 sets of white-metal bound eyelets for a lace. At each side there are 12 further sets of metal bound eyelets which fasten with elasticated laces. There is a vertical opening at the bust which fastens with three bronze gilt press studs, clamped into the fabric, and a diamond pattern impressed on the head which shows on the face of the fabric. On the reverse of the stud is a mark. The corsets reach from the bust to the middle of the hip descending to a point at about the middle of the belly in the centre front. They are machine-stitched and seem lightly boned, encased and sewn to the face of the fabric. Bound at the top and bottom with grey tape. The breast gussets and side lacing suggest this is a maternity corset.
This maternity corset is a typical example. It is constructed like a fashionable corset, with boning and a central busk. It has side laces, to enable the wearer to adjust the corset to her changing figure. The cups can be opened for breastfeeding by releasing the press studs. From V&A
Zeddicus11 on
Maternity corset sounds like an oxymoron. Pretty sure my wife would’ve strangled me if I bought this for her.
star11308 on
PSA: Maternity corsets weren’t for waist reduction, but for back, bust, and outer garment support. Basically, they served a similar function to modern maternity belts, but with also a bra built in.
3 Comments
Maternity corset made of cream cotton with red machine-embroidered trim. Trimmed at the top with a scallop edged tape. Made in four parts, they fasten at the front with a busk with five white metal loops and studs, and at the back they have 17 sets of white-metal bound eyelets for a lace. At each side there are 12 further sets of metal bound eyelets which fasten with elasticated laces. There is a vertical opening at the bust which fastens with three bronze gilt press studs, clamped into the fabric, and a diamond pattern impressed on the head which shows on the face of the fabric. On the reverse of the stud is a mark. The corsets reach from the bust to the middle of the hip descending to a point at about the middle of the belly in the centre front. They are machine-stitched and seem lightly boned, encased and sewn to the face of the fabric. Bound at the top and bottom with grey tape. The breast gussets and side lacing suggest this is a maternity corset.
This maternity corset is a typical example. It is constructed like a fashionable corset, with boning and a central busk. It has side laces, to enable the wearer to adjust the corset to her changing figure. The cups can be opened for breastfeeding by releasing the press studs. From V&A
Maternity corset sounds like an oxymoron. Pretty sure my wife would’ve strangled me if I bought this for her.
PSA: Maternity corsets weren’t for waist reduction, but for back, bust, and outer garment support. Basically, they served a similar function to modern maternity belts, but with also a bra built in.