Corset

Dr. Warner's

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The corset was deemed necessary for shaping the body into a fashionable silhouette, and among many more constricting designs, it is interesting to see an example of what was considered a healthful option. This corset by Dr. Warner's includes cords rather than the traditional bones to give structure, straps for extra support and aeration holes over the fully covered bust. Although to modern standards this still seems restrictive, for the period it was very advanced and in a sense, freeing.

The Costume Institute

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume Institute's collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects represents seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.

Metropolitan Museum of Art