Corset 1889 - 1891

This is a corset by Dr. Warner's, a brand that manufactured these garments during an era when they were a staple in many women’s wardrobes. Think about the layers of social and cultural expectations that this object represents. Corsets were more than mere undergarments; they were tools that enforced a particular standard of femininity, quite literally molding women's bodies to fit an ideal. Consider the daily lives of the women who wore these, the physical restrictions they endured in pursuit of an aesthetic. These restrictions are intertwined with gender and class, reflecting the expectations placed on women of certain social strata to present themselves in a specific manner. While corsets may seem like relics of the past, they prompt us to consider the ways in which fashion continues to shape and reflect societal norms. They invite us to critically examine the ongoing dialogue between clothing, identity, and power.