I Wore a (Medical) Corset for 5 Years. How do Victorian Corsets Compare?
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References:
The two-part video series on making the Victorian reproduction corset can be found here-
Pattern testing: • Video
Sewing process: • Making a Victorian Cor...
Abby Cox's experience wearing 18th c dress (including her experience in stays): • I Wore 18th-Century Cl...
'Every Woman's Encyclopaedia' c. 1910 for an Edwardian exercise routine: archive.org/details/everywoma...
(Images of exercise instruction taken from this source.)
[1] Studies on the resiliency of internal organ composition and permanent alteration only being found in those corsetted from young ages is referenced in Steele, Valerie. “The Corset: A Cultural History”, 2003, Chapter 3.
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I wear a medical corset, and by far the funniest comment on it I ever got was someone asking me, with fear in their eyes, “how do u breathe?” And I looked at them, dead in the eyes and whispered, “I don’t”
I now wish i had a corset so i could say that
You are officially my favorite internet stranger now.
🤣🤣🤣
One of my friends has started corseting. She is African and a very different build to my celtic frame. She phoned me the other day and just said "how do you people do this?". I laughed so hard at her turn of phrase.
😂
The ability of being able to have the same eating schedule as a hobbit is yet another pro to wearing a corset.
BTW if you eat on a Hobbits schedule and don't eat junk food you loose weight.
@@brazelton13 O0O Well now I know how I’m gonna lose weight! Thank you!
I upvoted you just to get you to 420.
@@brazelton13 Recent studies show that you can eat the same number of calories in three meals or six meals and there's no difference in weight loss. It does make a difference in blood sugar, obviously, so if that's a concern, small bites every two hours is best. It's really the number of calories for weight loss. Studies on intermittent fasting are contradictory, so do what works for you.
I love it
It’s so weird seeing a productive person. I am the complete opposite. That’s actually why I’m watching this video...I have homework.
Oh my god, never have i related more
MOOD
@@DilettanteThat | Your profile pic looks so familiar...what is it from?
@@obi_oma I believe it is this who-made-me-a-princess.fandom.com/wiki/Lucas
me, im procrastinating studying for finals,,
My sister had a scoliosis corset and told everyone she had rock hard abs everyone belived it
Ooh? Does it train your abs?
@@snasxyyojhael5064 not at all, but your waist, tummy is wrapped in hard plastic, I used to ask people to punch me in the stomach if they'd dare to XD
I do that too hahaha
OMG I did the same thing
omg me too!! i always joked about it to lighten the mood because i don't really like talking abt the problems of wearing my brace 😔😔
I think I'll send this to every single member of my creative writing group who insist that my characters hate their corsets.
Sounds like people who think underwire is evil.
Do ettt
I hope you did it
Nice...
Do it!
Bernadette Banner: the grace and poise of an elf, the disciplined orderliness of a dwarf, and the meal planning of a hobbit.
When she said "second breakfast" I got insanely excited ;p
So she’s the walking fellowship?
@@annaannaanna354 Definitely, as she's also got the mystery and magic of a wizard
and the wisdom of a wizard
Perfectly said
genuine question: for all those actresses who complain about corsets and being uncomfortable, do you think they were just exaggerating publicity or "feminism," or do you think the costumers/directors were putting them in ill fitted, tight laced corsets that were actually causing them pain and trouble breathing? like the actresses get all the flack, but how much is actually their fault?
Not sure what you mean by "feminism" and I am not an actress here, but as someone with friends who studied in drama and related departments/went on to pursue drama professionally: a lot of times it's just that they're wearing it incorrectly for really dumb reasons. Some of it comes down to budget, some of it is the preference of a celebrity or the cast, other times it's creative vision, or a severe lack of understanding/communication between creative department and the writing/directing departments.
@@js-uy2sh i think they were trying to say that celebrities in Hollywood will refuse to wear a corset in historical films because corsets are currently thought to have only been worn as super tight & designed to catch the male gaze rather than have any practical functionality (think Emma Watson refusing to wear a corset in the Beauty & the Beast live action film,then the actress in Cinderella got SLAMMED for her tiny corseted waist). This narrative is pushed by a lot of vocal feminists in media, & I think the commenter is saying they might be ignoring history because they don't want to be wrongfully called out by all the other feminists ignorant of the particular historical fact that while yes, corsets & stays create more of an hourglass shape which is intended for the male gaze & some women in higher society had to wear very tight corsets that did hinder them, the feminists in Hollywood are unaware that your average middle class or lower class woman wore them mostly for support & the figure shaping was just a bonus. Its heavily pushed in Hollywood pop culture & many liberal/feminist areas that corsets were never helpful & only to appeal to men, therefore corsets are anti-feminist.
I don’t think that they were tight laced, or were exaggerating. I personally think it was a case of the corset not being perfectly sized for the actress. Bernadette and other costumers have mentioned that when the corset is made perfectly for you, it is very comfortable. It’s probably the case that the costume designers for the movies didn’t have the time to properly fit their mock-ups on their models.
I am part of a historical society that teaches history through experience so I have some knowledge here. It is often seen in movies that actresses are always tight laced, corsets and stays are very obviously not correctly sized to there bodies, and from the total lack of mobility it’s easy to spot that they are in solid steel or hardened plastic boning. So they have zero room to breath. Also often I have seen these garments be made out of synthetic fabric that doesn’t have any stretch or is made of elastic, which will always continue to try to constrict to its unstretched size. This makes the costume corsets have another layer of discomfort. The natural fabrics and boning of the time would be able to breath, wick sweat, and slowly loosen and mold to a women’s shape over time. We also have to imagine that these actresses are often put into what would be considered upperclass fashion, usually exclusively use for those who had servants and didn’t need to work at all on there own, being pretty intensely physically active instead of sitting at a lavish gathering looking beautiful. There are a thousand ways that media has failed us in to proper portrayal of what authentic garments would look, fit, and be made of. I also do believe that we have this idea that corsets are oppressive and built for the male gaze. While often there was a beauty element to this women needed the physical support due to lack of nutrition making spines and muscles weak, the weight of garments would be held up by the corsets to put less strain on muscles and joints, women also wore them as supports after labor when muscles and cartilage were still weaker and softer. So while yes there is an element of attracting men, there also wasn’t a consistent solution to securing the movement of breasts, which is something that women wanted and needed. Even earlier forms of bras were just a long strip of fabric that was wrapped around the chest and then tucked into itself to secure, and these weren’t affective. Then we moved onto a tight linen garment that is shaped similarly to a sports bra, for extra support stays and lacing was added to this garment, and as clothing became heavier, fabric became easier to access, and people have a higher degree of wealth discrepancy these garments evolved into stays and corsets. So to circle back people think that’s corsets and stays are oppressive and anti-feminist because of a fundamental lack of knowledge of the materials, construction, proper wearing, and history of the item.
@@gabbyb9418 Thanks for the explanation. It helps. On my end: I just don't like to assume what is meant by "feminism" since it means such vastly different things to different women at the intersections of gender identity, religion, and heritage. In my opinion, we're damned if we do and damned if we don't so we may as well just do what gives us pleasure... although I know that might not be the same for everyone.
I just love she made a huge deal of preparing to wear her shoes, with stretching and tense music in the background and then just bent down to do it like a normal person.
Me too!
sooo epic! as someone who has put shoes on IN a corset, u fear it so much... and then u just get it done lol
The lady sherlock outfit continues being iconic
Yes
Here's a dumb question : I am genuinely considering getting a corset because I have a serious slouching problem. Is this a good idea? Whenever I remember to stand up right I try to, but it doesn't last long. My spine, neck and shoulders hurt really bad. (It doesn't help that my one hobby is art.) If a corset can help, should I buy a specific type? I would consult my doctor but I really don't want to go outside since, you know, 2020. Edit: thanks for the advice!
@@mnurkose7316 I wear one because I work 10 hours a day, and its lifting and constant motion. When I first started I came home in great pain daily. Now I dont, except on really grueling days. But I now want a better one. (no stretch).
@@mnurkose7316 I would direct you over to @LucyCorsetry on KZhead, because she has great reviews on all types of corsets that are very thorough along with an amazing website. I will say that in my experience ANY corset will make you sit up straighter, but some are higher backed or overbust, which can help push back your shoulders too especially as an artist.
what's hilarious about that outfit of Enola's is that she says something about repression.. and then proceeds to have a full on prolonged fight scene... while wearing a corset... and not having any issues whatsoever moving in it.
Pippin: "what about second breakfast?“ Bernadette: *eats second breakfast* Pippin is proud
I have sometimes read an old etiquette book, and there they actually described 2.breakfast.
Love the fact that I'm not the only one picking up on that. Hubby calls me a Hobbit and our cat is called Pippin, so .......
@@MiljaHahto What’s the title and who’s the author of the book you mentioned?
@@agypsycircle Don't remember, but it was a finnish author, and from the 60's or older.
@@MiljaHahto Aw darn, thank you for answering!
Is no one gonna mention how i love HER STYLE?? Like yes VICTORIAN DARK ROYAL ACADEMIA VIBES
It’s beautiful. 😍
Yes!
Agree
It's hard to focus on anything other than her huge eyes
Yes
so basically bernadette follows a hobbit diet plan. 07:00 breakfast 09:00 second breakfast 11:00 elevensies 01:00 luncheon 03:00 afternoon tea 05:00 dinner 07:00 supper perfectly balanced diet plan and it’s hobbit approved.
I love this comment!
I mean technically as long as the meals arent big thats basically what my nutritionist reccomended :D Hobbits are surprisingly healthy
Lol
Lol I thought the same thing
I just have to leave a trace
The more I watch corset videos by dress historians and/or the historybound community, the more I feel the need to get one.
Same...I was mentally trying to imagine which kind I should design and then make.😅🤔😍
It’s so worth it
Same
same! i have no idea what style id need most though
My sister refused to try mine on for a while, and then after hearing me talk about it so much, she finally asked to try it and then THAT MINUTE as soon as she saw her reflection, she started commissioning me for one. The mock up coutil just arrived and were waiting on the busk (she wanted a spoon busk after talking about options and it takes longer to come) before starting mockups
Would just love to chime in here as an opera singer, who has been costumed in many a corset in her day: SINGERS LOVE CORSETS. Not only do they do an amazing job of helping us get that perfect period-appropriate comportment for our characters, but also they're a gorgeous tool in the task of actual, operatic singing. A corset gives us something for our diaphragm to resist against ("appoggia") which is actually really useful in producing the sound/line of 18th/19th century vocal writing. I always feel more powerful as a singer wearing a corset, and am always combatting folks who think a corset will "constrict my breathing" because NO--this music was WRITTEN for women wearing corsets! It's easier this way! GIMME DAT BONING!!
That’s a fascinating insight! Thanks for sharing!
How delightful! What a wonderful insight, thank you for sharing!
That’s really interesting 🤔
Wow I never thought about that!!
That's so cool!
One other point...a lot of those photos from that time period where the waists look so small are actually retouched. They may not have had Photoshop back then, but that doesn't mean they didn't have methods for manipulating the images. Since the negative was done on glass, photographers could actually scrape part of the image off to get that desired look. There is a reason all those tiny waist pics are done with solid color fabrics (as opposed to a stripe or floral print) against a solid background.
Or they're not photographs, and somehow in that context modern people completely forget that when you're drawing or painting, you can picture whatever you want so old fashion plates are about as representative of anatomical reality as fashion sketches are today. :D
Probably there was lots of exageration in advertising. People tried to emulate that look though. There are actual spleens or livers with horrible deformities in jars of women who wore very tight laced corsets in a British museum. It was actually a thing some people did to get that hourglass look and it was not healthy. BBC made a documentary about it (part of the series Dangers of the home).
@@TVeldhorst Which is probably comparable to people undergoing plastic operations today. Do some people do it? Yes. Do TV shows or magazines show people doing it? Yes. Does the majority of people whom you meet in everyday contexts do it? No.
You need to watch Bernadette's latest video ... She is talking exactly about retouching of Victorian photos 😉
she has a video on THAT SPECIFIC photo now!
If anything I feel a corset would help our larger busted friends have less back pain as it distributes the weight from the shoulders and underbust to waist and hips. Edit: this blew up! It’s lovely to see all the tips and support (pun intended) being given in the comments. Normalize all breast shapes!
It also helps if you have a bit of a bigger stomach too
Exactly the reason my sister asked me to make her a corset. Not only does it redistribute the strain, it also shapes her J-cup bust far nicer and less "it's all over here including my underarm" than a RTW bra... She wears it whenever she needs / wants to look neatly dressed.
@@beth12svist I didn't even know J-cup was a thing...girl...I can't even imagine...glad she's getting comfort and some back support from something...when I was a bit younger I was kind of embarrassed by my post-puberty barely A-cups...but I'm very thankful I don't have to worry about back issues and other pain and discomfort that can be caused by large boobs...I can't relate, but totally sympathize. With Love, Barely a B-Cup
@@beth12svist hmm.. I think i need to wear corset too.. Bc my shoulder always hurt when i wear and underwire/push up bra.. I try to wear that to shape my D cup. But since it hurting my shoulder, i only wear a mom bra eventhough i'm young.. Sadly, my breast shape is really ugly right now.. I might consider to buy a corset but i don't know how to buy the right one
@@ARH662 It definitely is a thing, but sadly only in some shops, if you get my drift. :P It makes buying RTW a pretty unfulfilling experience to her on the whole - it's hard to find stuff that won't look hopelessly boxy on her. (She's had best luck in shops with Indian clothes, actually, Indian styles seem to cater to more feminine figures.) So I try to sew some things for her every now and then.
I love that Bernadette can't keep a straight face after "All this and more, coming up."
🙃
That little :> was so good.
@@seaborgium919 it looked EXACTLY like that :DDD
Lol
Isn't a whalebone corset basically an exoskeleton? In sci-fi, those are used to enhance physical ability. Victorian women were just ahead of their time.
Um... not to burst your bubble but the term exoskeleton is originally referring to different types of animals/insects. Exoskeleton literally means external skeleton. So like a hard shell.
@@aeliushollows4856 an exoskeleton in scifi is different than a bug 🤣 its a support garment (like a robotic enhanced suit). So yes, a corset is quite like a future exoskeleton even if it isn't actually one haha
@@aeliushollows4856 This doesn’t even burst the bubble, it’s just needlessly pedantic.
I just want to say I love your pfp
@@lelalu101 why do you think it's called an exoskeleton -_-
I feel like she’s a scientist from the past who was experimenting with time travelling and that she got stuck int he future so now she has this vintage style in the modern world which I absolutely love.
Yesssss
Don’t let the public know her secret!
I have to say the corset conversation seems very similar to the "long acrylic nails" questions (can you eat, can you type on a keyboard, etc). The short answer also seems to be the same, which is that humans will adapt their movements to small restrictions to the point where they stop noticing it in their daily life.
A legal secretary I once worked with had the longest nails I'd ever seen, not counting film and videos. She typed 120 wpm.
But why would you willingly restrict yourself?(they are unhygienic as well though)
@@T.K.T I don't wear them, but I imagine if you take care to wash them when you're washing your hands they wouldn't be more unhygienic than regular nails (which are, let's be clear, VERY unhygienic). As to why someone would limit themselves - it's like asking why a person would wear high heels or a suit. The person is willing to put up with a certain amount of discomfort for the sake of fashion and/or creating a look they enjoy.
Adaptation is the real answer here. When I wore a kneebrace that meant I couldn't extend my leg all the way I was often asked how I could still walk mostly normally. But if you just try to walk while keeping your knees slightly bent at every step you will notice that it's not difficult at all. In the same way you get used to typing with your fingers in a different position with long nails or bending at the waist instead of the lower back when wearing a corset. Humans can achieve the same movement through the use of several different joints and muscles in most cases. You just usually don't change your habit of how you type/bend down/whatever unless you physically can't do it in a certain way.
i think the point is that everyone thinks corsets need to be tight laced. and THAT'S restrictive. not just... wearing corsets.
It's like saying you don't want to wear underwear because you can't stand the feeling or idea of "butt floss". The point is, that's only one particularly stylized type of underwear, and there are many other types which might more comfortably serve a purpose.
But in the old days the WERE tightly laces. As tight as they possibly could. Medical ones aren't the same
@@sagalindhe You're obviously new here.
@@sagalindhe They weren't, unless you were incredibly high fashion and didn't have anything to do; the vast majority of women didn't lace down that much because they still needed to, y'know, do life things.
I think it's partially because of movies, where every time there's a corset involved in the scene, you see whoever is tying it pull on it as hard as they can.
Bernadette single handedly bringing back functional corset wearing in just one video.
Yes, but where do you find a good one?!?!
@@kendrahein45 You make it. Really good ones are... quite expensive.
@@francescafrancesca3554 what's a good one? Wake bone? Metal?
@@kendrahein45 Check out corsetdatabase.com
@@nenabunena spiral (?) steel boned corsets are what I've heard that you should look for
The first time I wore one the person who laced me up while saying "if you can breathe it's not tight enough." Yeah. So reckless lacing is what caused me to nearly pass out.
Yikes! Who the heck laced you? It's just supposed to be snug, not *constricting*!
@@PanthereaLeonis someone at a medieval fair
I had that experience at a fair as well. I was just trying it on and when it came back off, I felt my organs move back into place. That was unsettling. I have since learned that was insane, and I'm working on seasoning a new corset for back support.
My mother laced my first well fitting stays with a wooden busk, and she definitely laced me too tight, because I had bruises where the wooden busk pushed into my chest. She is no longer allowed to lace me, and still makes ignorant comments about how she thinks corsets make it harder to breathe or sing. It's like, no mom, lacing overly tightly makes those things harder, not the corset.
I just got two new corsets and they guy lacing me up had a 3 grade system "Does it feel like a friend hug, bear hug, or anaconda?" Friend hug is the kinda friend who just gives you a barely there hug Bear hug is solid but no pain Anaconda is breathing difficulty It should be bear hug all the way up and down Edit for spelling
Everything about her is so graceful and elegant and I just wonder how she does it. How does one wake up and be a beautiful elf everyday? Is it her genetics? Is it her Victorian charm? Is it just Bernadette being awesome? We may never know.
My personal takeaway: underwire bras are the worst.
I only wear sports bras now muahahahh it is ✨fabulous✨
Vintage bras are nice. Although I can manage the underwire - it is the underbra band that I hate.
I actually do like underwire bras, especially the once with soft cups. Others just don't have enough support for me. Of course the have to well fitting, though...
@@petrichor9417 I'm happy you found something that works for you
And that's the reason I specifically asked for one without underwire the last time I bought one)
We need to rebrand corsets as Slouch Supports!
Love this idea
And exoskeletons!
Here's a dumb question : I am genuinely considering getting a corset because I really do have a serious slouching problem. Is this a good idea? Whenever I remember to stand up right I try to, but it doesn't last long. My spine, neck and shoulders hurt really bad. (It doesn't help that my one hobby is art.) If a corset can help, should I buy a specific type? I would consult my doctor but I really don't want to go outside since, you know, 2020.
@@mnurkose7316 Based on what Bernadette says in this video, you should get one that is stiff enough to remind you when you’re slouching, but not so stiff that you can slouch into it. Another thing you can do to practice straightening your spine is to sit without anything to lean against. It may hurt after a little while in the beginning, but try to lay down straight rather than slouch when you take a rest. Remember, getting into the habit of sitting up straight after years of slouching doesn’t just mean you have to train some muscles - you have to RE-train your torso to adopt the new posture, and RE-shape most of the muscles involved in _either_ posture.
@@ragnkja I'll try the muscle thing then, and if it doesn't work I'll try getting a corset. Thanks for the advice!
We ran an experiment recently (Mostly out of curiosity and understanding), but my brother wanted to once and for all see how I could wear a corset all day every day. So we got him a corset and uh… Experiment is long since done and he’s wearing his as much as me now. He was surprised by how comfortable it is and he even began making combinations of outfits to fit different corsets he now owns while I have only my three different ones. He thought it would be much tighter but was very surprised it’s very much breathable. I also finally broke the news to him that I began wearing corsets after watching your videos a few years ago; I use mine to correct my posture because my spine is like my late grandfather’s (A mess) and steadily over time it has helped a LOT. My brother never knew this was why until he began to notice his posture in a mirror after a few weeks in, and he asked. Now he knows my secret and also loves them as much as myself.
Where do you get your corsets? I’ve been wanting to get one for YEARS but can never find any, do you have any places you’d recommend for supportive corsets?
Ok, but why did I do the Edwardian ladies exercise and something that needed cracking on my back actually cracked. It felt so nice, I might have to do these more.
I'm a student in physiotherapy, I allow myself to answer : Your articulations can move in various direction. In the case of your back (especially your spine) you have litterally 24 bones (I voluntarelly obmit the sacrum, as it does'nt really have much implication in your spine moves) that are meant to bring you upper body in various position. Most of my patient, and most people in the world I guess, only think of two direction when they want to move their back : back and front and left to right. But your spine is meant to move in much more direction, as every bone potentially has its own movement (it is the addition of every little move every vertebra makes that allow your back that much amplitude). So you can bend, rotate, inclinate, and that in the cervical, thoracic and lombal area (it takes a bit of pratice to learn how to mobilize only certain groups of vertebras) In our modern societies, we tend to sit all day, not exercise much and forget that our body can move in so many directions. Keep doing those exercise! It will hydrate the cells between your bones, the little crack came from one of your articulation. I hope it makes sense, I'm French so explaining this in English doesn't feel natural, I hope I didn't make grammar errors. Have a nice day, and keep moving! (litterally what I say to every patient, translate in french haha)
@@petitpois9140 Thank you!
Oh ye i loooove cracking my back from time to time
@@petitpois9140 what is the Edwardian ladies' exercise? or is it in the video :D
@@petitpois9140 my best friend is a Colombian Physiotherapist (I am Colombian and Lithuanian but live in France because I am Pacsée to a French wonderful man). And my best friend in France is an Osteopath! I LOOOVE PHYsiotherapy and movement.
Bernadette: “it’s like a hug” *everyone in 2020* “what’s a hUG?”
That is so me. I haven’t had a hug in months!
@@kyotochan7096 *Virtual hug*
watch me get a corset just so I can feel hugged again
@@neuswoesje590 Same lol
Ok boomer
my parents used to berate me for eating small portions really often and I stopped doing that. your video reminded me that I'm an adult now, and I can eat like I used to again without anyone calling me a bird
There are studies done outlining how it is actually healthier for you because you will feel fuller for longer and not overeat or snack on unhealthy stuff
I hate that eat like a bird/rabbit/squirrel crap. Who thought of that (rhetorical)
As long as you are getting your nutritional and calorie requirements then you are fine! If you are worried you can see a dietician and get bloodwork done. Different people will have different preferences in how they eat and as long as you are healthy that's okay!
It's actually great to help regulate blood sugar. I've been doing it since I was 14 years old.
@@rosiejl2798 Hey I just wanted to throw this out there, its spelled "Dietitian", if you spell it the other way you might give a real dietitian a stroke lol. Just a helpful tip.
The "conical breathing" you describe is actually a very healthy and beneficial way to breathe - as a singer it makes my singing so much easier!
That's interesting. As a singer I'm used to deep breathing from my diaphragm and explicitly avoid breathing from the upper chest. For that reason I imagine getting used to a corset would be really hard for me.
@@himani8927 agreed. Singing and swimming have made deep, abdominal breathing instinctive for me.
Conical breathing helps me remember how to use my abs to support my spine as well! I have schuermanns and scoliosis 😅
i'd imagine breathing in a corset is pretty similar to how i breathe while wearing a binder since that also prevents the ribcage from expanding as much
I am also asymmetrical. I wear corsets. I love my corsets. My coworkers frequently marvel at my ability to wear such a "restrictive" garment for 8-10 hours a day. I always find myself explaining that a corset shouldn't restrict movement; that they fit at the waist and flare out to support the bust at the top and create an equal silhouette at the bottom. I have spent countless hours dispelling the myths of corsets and advising people on general corsetry issues. FYI, I actually started wearing corsets as an alternative to a medical back brace on the advice of a doctor. My scoliosis is in the lumbar region of my spine and is paired with ye olde sway-back. This makes for some very odd posture problems. I have found a well made corset to be much more comfortable, supportive, and less restrictive than a modern brace.
The dislikes are from actresses who "almost died" in corsets. Breathe if I'm right.
*breathing intensifies*
*cough*Emma Watson*cough*
I can’t help wondering if a bad corset is an option to consider. If it’s not cut or sewn right, I imagine it could become quite horrific.
@@sarahhardy8649 You're right. In some movies they also don't wear anything underneath which probably makes it uncomfortable as hell.
I mean, I’m no Victorian historian but I’d argue that on set they don’t do it “correctly” like Lily James was tight laced down to 17 inches iirc and was probably in that dress for hours filming
So what you’re telling us, Bernadette, is that you are actually secretly a Hobbit.
yis 🙂
Heh...that's funny...
neat
i was thinking the same
Bernadette and Rachel Maksy should collab again so they can be Hobbits together. This would be something I would certainly greatly enjoy watching!
As a Renaissance Faire actor, before COVID, I would spend 15 to 18 hours a day, on weekends, in a Renaissance Corset. I loved it. I would much rather wear a corset than modern undergarments. I am a large framed woman with an above-average cup size. This causes a lot of stress and strain on my back. When I wear my corset my back pain is considerably reduced, I would imagine if I wore it daily it would disappear alltogether. I have noticed that wearing my corset forced me to engage my core more than when I am uncorseted. As this is the case, I have also noticed that my waist has become slimmer and more defined. So much so that by the end of a 13 week season of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, my corset is too large and verging on being uncomfortable because of it being too loose. The company that made my corset is sadly no longer in business, so getting a smaller size is not an option. As an afterthought, I did not find that my corset restricted my movements at all, and it improved my posture. I will say with a Renaissance Corset, the adage "Boots before corset" is a definite must.
Revelations I was not expecting from this video: Bernadette is, in fact, a very tall Hobbit.
The question “how are you supposed to bend over and pick things up?” drives me bonkers! You’re not supposed to bend over and pick things up! The ergonomically correct way of picking things up from the floor is to squat down and pick it up with your body close to whatever you are picking up. I don’t know how many times physiotherapists, chiropractors, orthopaedics, nurses/ambos and weightlifters (amongst others) have complimented me on my lifting of heavy stuff. Sincerely, Lifter of heavy things (like toddlers, loudspeakers and heavy furniture)
And as a very contemporary parallel, I should probably have included a picture of me carrying a full sized bookshelf up three flights of stairs wearing a homemade, three ply mask. Or carrying bigger sized loudspeakers dressed in a body hugging dress and heels!
I think people are talking about like a book. Not necessarily ‘heavy stuff’
3:08
@@kmhkennedy, I understand that, but the same principle applies, bend your knees when you want to pick something up, wether it’s a bookcase or a book.
In addition, even if you're not squatting, bending at the waist is generally better for you than bending by curving your back
Last time I was this early, corsets still roamed around, strangling women left and right and burning their houses.
Lol
When you were talking about how the corset giving you an extra strength boost all I could think about were the back belts I had to wear when I did weight lifting in high school. Those belts support your spine and core so you don’t bend while squatting lots of weight (which will WRECK your back) A corset would do the exact same thing so that completely tracks.
I wore a medical corset when I was 12 for six months after my scoliosis surgery. The doctor wouldn't let me wear it longer for those same reasons, muscle degradation. He did like my medieval cotton and leather ones I wore in later years at checkups. He liked the fact that I did form-fitting and not constricting. He said that was the correct way, that I should breathe and eat normally. I don't nor have ever worn them every day since the medical one I wore but I still love the way they fit me. And you're right about them keeping clothes from constricting you.
*stretches, prepares, anticipates the strain of putting on shoes* *puts on shoes with no hassle while making deadpan eye contact with the camera* I am living for this
The kind of bending that isn’t very doable in a corset is the kind of bending that my spine doesn’t like to do anyway, and I have never had any problems whatsoever with bending to put my shoes on.
Nillie I wear a short corset sometimes doing housework or moving things explicitly because it reminds me NOT to bend in the way that pisses off my spine.
@@TrappedinSLC My own spine doesn’t get angry with me for trying to bend like that, it just outright refuses to bend forwards there
My favorite part
@K This is also what I would do when working retail. I started wearing mine for anxiety relief for Black Friday/general holiday shopping craziness, and had the unintended benefit of keeping me from accidentally hurting my back moving merchandise in & out of custimer carts.
The exercise montage is ultimate case of mythbusting (with a deliciously whimsical flare!)! 😍 The sequence of putting on the shoes was also the ultimate power move!
Putting on the shoes was also so sassy. I love it.
Yes queen!
That look in her eyes when she was thrusting her shoed foot into the camera is priceless.
I used to do something similar in high school because I was an officer for civil training and my school would have us do duties in a somewhat corseted uniform. Only difference was that we sometimes just used a chair to support the foot if we were rushing to leave so we couldn't sit down.
As someone who does wear a corset on a daily basis I can tell you, putting on your shoes is no big deal with a corset on.
Bernadette: talking about the purpose of treating scoliosis early Me: *cries in untreated scoliosis*
Same :,) I found out at 23 that I have scoliosis. I’ve always had back pain and couldn’t achieve normal posture, but nobody ever cared why and as a child I thought that if you had a problem your parents would get you help, but they don’t always bother.
My mother is in her senior years and has still never been properly treated for her scoliosis IMO. Her childhood treatment just consisted of wearing one shoe that was taller than the other, that was it. She's had several vertebrae fusions and surgeries in general, no one has ever suggested any kind of support brace or garment for her. It angers me because I feel it would have really helped her.
@@aphyngodiva2551 My mom found out getting the epidural shot for giving birth to me at 16
Thank God my mom noticed something was wrong with my back earlier and I started getting medical treatment for my scoliosis at the age of 11.
My parents knew that I had scoliosis when I was fourteen. I'm eighteen now and still untreated:')
"Bend with your knees" [OSHA liked that]
I audibly laughed at this, thank you
Seriously everything she's saying in this video is OSHA approved! It's not just "you'll need to do these things a little differently wearing a corset", it's that you SHOULD! Corsets encourage healthy habits! But indeed you shouldn't depend on them to be a replacement for proper posture/back muscles, but for many people who don't know what proper posture or body mechanics are, it can be super beneficial in learning them!
Every time I hear that “discomfort” myth, I scream in my head. I wore a Victorian-style corset for wearing a Victorian costume at a Doctor Who convention. This included all the bells and whistles of split drawers and elliptical steel crinoline cage. The most uncomfortable part of that costume? The questions. “Are you hot in that?” No. Are you? I mean. You’re wearing woven plastic. Down with bras. Seriously. Bring back the corset!!!
Awesome. Were you Clara Oswald, TARDIS or Rose? 😉
Yes, bring back the corset!
Man i overheat with just wearing a hat rip
From a (disclaimer: male) engineers perspective support and comfort wise I have very little trouble believing that corsets would be the superior option as not only is it spreading the load out over a larger area but it's resting said load on your hips which is a much more solid platform. Bras on the other hand while using less material (useful during a material shortage like in ww1 which if memory serves me is when bras started becoming popular, interesting correlation there) distribute all the load over your shoulders using straps that can be as thin as 5mm. You do not have to be a physics major to see the problem there
@@firestorm165 also the fricking straps can come loose every five seconds if they don’t stay tightened so they just keep slipping
My old singing teacher used to call “conical breathing” breathing from your shoulders and chest. She very much used to clasp my shoulders, gently shake me, and say, “Elisabet! Your stomach! Breathe from your diaphragm, girl. Also the pitch is coming from your head, not your nose.” I know that sounds weird, but hey, it worked. So I always notice when wearing a corset, that I breathe “from my shoulders” . My teacher would hate me. 😂🤦🏻♀️.
I got told barrel breathing
I have the same problem sometimes (I wear corsets all the time but also love classical singing). I've found that lacing the bust tighter and leaving the bottom parts of the corset a smidge looser can help (so there's a tiny bit less room for your chest to expand, and more for your diaphragm and such). It can also help to swap out a standard single long lace in your corset and use two laces (one shorter lace for the bust and one longer lace for everything beneath) so you can get that very slight unevenness. I also really recommend doing that if you plan on running races or eating huge feasts in your corset.
Lol I take voice lessons and that is literally the first thing that popped into my head, “Breathe from the diaphragm!”
Lol i permanently breathe like that because i chronically hyperventilate 🤣
Oh my goodness my voice teacher was the same!!!!
I dream of the day I can fit into a corset. Having severe scoliosis has made it impossible to fit any modern made undergarments and/or corset. Every seamstress, every company, every single person I’ve asked has turned me away. I can’t even convince with offering more money on top of their charge. I am doomed to be in painful bras for the rest of my life. The only time I’ve ever been comfortable was when I went as far to purchase a hot topic corset in my teens because bras hurt so bad. As I grew though I ran out of options. It’s a shame corset artistry has become few and far because we really need them to come back for people like me.
My mother has made me start wearing bras and I can assure you bras are annoying, especially sports bras, I couldn't seem to have gotten comfortable with them and forgotten that they were there no matter how hard I tried. I wonder if a corset would be different.
I took 2 years of opera in college and i found that singing in a corset was much much easier that singing in normal clothes. I wore one to every class and it helped so much. Corsets are comfortable and after you get used to the way you need to move to look "normal" is incredibly easy and you can even run in them without causing any stress.
RIP Bernadette.. (Died due to wearing a corset) It’s almost as if we can still hear her ✌️😔✨✨
You can still hear hisses and whispers of an eaten one, if you put your ears carefully on the corset that gobbled her up. The corset was white, big and its' name was Moby Di... Wait, I'm in the wrong story.
**STOP TELLING PEOPLE SHE'S DEAD** 😂😂
She gasped so we could breath RESPECT 🙇
Women today get liposuction and breast implants to form their bodies in extreme ways, but we all know that is not the norm for the everyday women. It's the same with the 18in waist, organ shifting, hourglass ideal corseting. It was something done sparingly by extreme fashionistas, celebrities, and the rich.
Yeah, when my body started naturally growing outward instead of upward, I thought something was wrong. I did lots of pilates, but still did not go back to the 25 inch waist that I had in my early 20's! I seriously thought something was wrong with me. Then I came across Bernadette's first corset video and realized that A) my current waist measurements were perfectly normal and B) that in times past, women in the fashions of the Global North wore shapewear to achieve the fashionable shape--as opposed to now, when one is body-shamed for not having the fashionable silhouette.
@@Risaala We are told natural beauty is superior even though it's the same but instead of using a garments to change our body shape we do it directly on our body with diets or surgery. This "natural body" we try to achieve is nothing natural, i wish we would stop shaming people for not being prefect
@@nekochadechu also I hate when people shame people for changing the way they look , let them do what they please , it doesn’t affect you .
@@marker6672 there's plenty of women waist training these days. Many on KZhead. Even in a tightly laced corset a woman's organs move less than they do during pregnancy. Not a big deal at all.
Ya know, I think all of those paintings of Victorian women fainting that show up all the time didn’t come from wearing corsets, but sometimes it might’ve been from tuberculosis, which was a very popular disease for women to get in romance novels, at least that’s what I’ve found.
Or the arsenic in their paint, heated by their lights
Those women who like to complain about corset being oppressive have never heard of foot binding.
I gasped while reading this comment.
I mean they were back in like the 1800s maybe but now not so much xD
What's a foot binding? Alright time to research.
being oppressed isnt a competition
Not a competition at all but actresses have been making claims about how hard it is to breathe and how they can’t move in them and then say it must have been a way to oppress women. Emma Watson even refuse to were one in beauty and the beast because she said that it was a thing that oppressed women. The video Bernadette made was to help educate and inform people about the very common misconception about corset. When fitted properly it’s comfortable.
Bernadette: I didn't die. All actresses: I ALMOST DIED Bernadette: **epic eye roll** No you didn't. Stop it. Costuming world: What she said.
karolina: hold my beer
@@donquijotedegranada HAHAHA Exactly
I mean many acressses are tightlaced without anything under, which does probably not feel great
@@0ceanOfStorms Agreed, i think the problem in movie costuming is that while the dress makers know how to make a good corset, the people putting it all on, don't know how to wear it. Resulting in missing under layers and too tightly laced actresses. So its no wonder they complain. They were wearing it wrong.
@@DBZVelena I suspect they often don't even make/buy proper victorian corsets for movies.
The other day I was talking with a friend of mine about Emma Watson's dress in 'beauty and the beast' live action remake. She claimed she LOVED that dress. In my lowly opinion, that dress was not fit for Belle at all. Not only was it flat and a bit too simple for a Disney princess it also lacked the support it needed because Emma Watson refused to wear a corset. So I let that friend of mine know my view on the subject. Needless to say she started preaching me about how corsets are nothing but a symbol of suppression, oppression, sexism and make it impossible for you to breathe, which I of course denied. She then proceeded to ask me how I would know that, since I've never worn one. Well, guess what? I HAVE worn one Mary!! In case you didn't know I'm very much interested in historical fashion so I've researched it quite a bit!! I've worn a corset more than 10 times!!! But how could you know? Anyways I'm sending this video to her right away. Please excuse my bad English it's not my first language.
I love how people look like they have seen water burn when they realise you actually wore a corset. I never wore a historical corset but was quite a bit into "gothic" fashion in my highschool and collage years which includes corsets, both the waist ones as the ones that go all the way up to the breast.
Your English is amazing! I never would have guessed it wasn’t your first language. I also completely agree with your opinion on Belle’s dress and am happy to hear you’ll be sending this video to your friend and helping to educate her on corsets and how brilliant they actually are and not the painful things hollywood films have portrayed them as!
You might also like to send her the video by Karolina Zebrowska that directly addresses the patriarchy issue. It’s a great video, 10/10 do recommend all the time.
I refuse to watch the movie because Emma Watson refused to wear a corset. Am I stubborn much? Yes. Will Disney care? Probably not.
@@laartje24 oh yes I loved the look on her face when I showed her a pic of me wearing a corset as proof! It was priceless!!
I’ve word a medical brace too for 18 hours a day and for those 3 years of my life my torso never grew along with the rest of my body. So while my hips and bust got bigger my waist never did. When I finally got out of it people literally CONGRATULATED me for having an hourglass shape when it was all thanks to the brace stunting my torso growth lmao. At least a got a nice body out of those years of torture lol
What about maternity wear in the Victorian and Edwardian eras? That’s a side of historical women’s fashion that I’ve never heard about. I love your channel, thank you for dispelling myths and teaching us!
your point about the corset helping with strength a bit makes me think of weightlifting belts
It makes me think of an exo-skeleton or one of these weight distribution things for heavy cinematic cameras or the like.
Yeah, that's kinda true...
As a lifter, it's absolutely true. a good belt helps you brace, breath correctly, and keep form.
Before the invention of indoor plumbing, lower-class women spent a lot of time lugging around heavy buckets of water. It just makes all kinds of sense that they'd wear something that prevents hernia!
I like your point about how you moved differently. Wearing a corset gets you used to moving a different way. I get asked too, how I do "X" with such long nails. Truth is, I've been growing my nails since I was 6. I don't know how to use my hands WITHOUT them. When I (tragically) break one I'm constantly reminded how I just don't know how to use a flat topped finger lol.
Yes! Every time I break one the skin underneath it is so sensitive I can’t use it to do the things I normally do 😔
So true! Of course, the extremes are still impractical (centimeters long nails, or tight-lacing etc.), but there's a middle ground that's much bigger than people realize, haha.
Absolutely! I have long nails and I get asked so often, “How do you write with such long nails?” or “How can you pick things up?” but the truth is that I really don’t know. You just automatically do things. Need to pick up a ruler? Slide it along the table. Need to hold a pen? Use your nails for gentle support. Same thing goes for typing. I’ve had long nails for about nine or ten years now and you just adapt. Thankfully, I’m still able to write if one breaks but I never seem to master those shirt buttons ahaha.
Same!! I’m still figuring out how to take out contacts with my long nails, but I have super long nails in general. I used to tear my nails off after they gained a full mm. Now that I have stopped, after about 4? Years? I love my nails. Especially the noise when I tap!!😂
@@evelynbrylow3624 I've recently started growing my nails (finally kicked the habit of nail biting) the main thing that keeps me motivated with keeping my nails long is the tapping noise haha :D
As a circus performer, Bernadette's bit about her back being sore after doing upright movements makes so much sense to me. Resistance or active stretching- as it's called- is often forgotten about in the layman's workout, and it can make you sore as hell when you do it for the first time.
There are actually now new flexible braces for scoliosis! My best friend in high school had pretty severe scoliosis and had one of those braces. It’s essentially like a short sleeved body suit with detachable shorts bottoms and a bunch of elastic straps that connect to various points with Velcro. Those straps help to pull and support various places just like the rigid ones do. According to my friend, these new braces are still quite uncomfortable, but not as restrictive. She was able to bend and dance in hers which was really important to her personally. She’s actually going to school to hopefully be able to help further innovate in scoliosis treatment which is really cool!
Surprisingly enough, all this commentary on how to move/bend/contort yourself whilst corseted is quite applicable to my nine months pregnant self.
Congratulations! 🤰🏼🥰
Accurate lol 😂 only im 5 months pregnant
8 months myself and, yes, I was thinking, "I should try some of those upward stretching exercises." :D
As someone who enjoys weightlifting, I am not surprised you felt the corset helped you with your carrying tasks. If you look at powerlifters, Olympic weightlifters and bodybuilders, you will often see them using a weightlifting belt. When lifting a heavy weight, one does something called a valsalva maneuver which is basically exhaling against a closed airway to build intraabdominal pressure. Wearing a tight belt helps you build even more intraabdominal pressure, which allows you to stabilize your spine and move more efficiently as more force is directed into the floor to lift the weight rather than dissipating a lot of energy through involuntary core movement. It may also help prevent injuries.
I need to remember this when the next load of books arrives at work (I'm a librarian), this is super helpful. Thank you
Do be aware this can cause your blood pressure to go up, though. If you have normal blood pressure it’s probably no big deal, but if someone has a high blood pressure issue, as I do, I’d check your blood pressure occasionally over the day to make sure it is behaving itself - it may be necessary to loosen the corset a bit to reduce the pressure or to be aware of what you are doing in it and how much. (Weight lifters need to be aware of this too.)
I work in a paint store and there is one other girl who i do the big delverys with and we both bput on our weight lifting belts and gloves every time to avoid injurys it sort of feels like a super hero uniform
I was thinking the same, I remember seen most of the powerlifters, male, female, on the lower weight, on the higher weight using those kinds of belts. At first I thought it was as support for the lower back, but thansk to your explanations it's a bit more clear the why they use it. Thanks
I’d be so grouchy wearing a corset. I can’t even wear jeans without feeling trapped.
tbh I HATE jeans but wear a corset semi-regularly with few issues; no clue why
Might be because the corset is custom-fit (I assume) and the jeans aren't. ;-)
@@beth12svist your right! If we are talking about the plastic one,i wear one now. It is pretty uncomfortable to find normal jeans,shorts,pants. And it's of course can be a pain in the back to try find any clothes that can fit on corset,but not to look to baggy and big one you.
You obviously haven’t tried one. They’re fantastic! And incredibly sexy. Your clothes fit differently, even the day after I wear one at night the thing lingers...
I've always liked corsets, but I have to say that another thing I deeply appreciated getting to wear is a traditional Japanese kimono. The way you're dressed in them, things like the layering of cloth and the stiff Obi and where/how they're tied, was very reminiscent for me of the comfort and support of a good corset. And as someone who is fairly small, whilst being fairly busty, the support is deeply appreciated and welcomed. It all but eliminates the chronic back pain.
yes, this! I haven't worn one in years but the amount of support it gives just by the way it is put on is just chef's kiss. I'm not particularly busty, but I have chronic pain issues in my back and I didn't feel a THING after the obi was tied 😢 I kinda miss that... too bad the obi is the most expensive component😂
I was thinking people who do heavily physical work wear thick braces around their waist precisely to help support the weight of heavy things. My grandad was a carpenter and used to wear one all the time, all the old ladies would compliment his posture XD
Same reason power lifters and many bodybuilders wear weight lifting belts when weight lifting. Proper posture and extra bracing around mid section.
A lot of camera people in the film industry will wear a lot of braces and bolstering for when they're carrying the camera. Especially free cams!
same for us boom ops a back brace is a god send on long shoots
I've developed lower back problems, maybe I should start wearing a corset?
Just have to be conscious of using these things correctly and only when appropriate, as she mentioned it can be terrible for your muscles which can make problems worse
I completely understand the waistband thing--it's about spreading out the pressure so it doesn't cut in. I didn't have a brace, but my scoliosis curve is roughly bra band area, so I can't stand "normal" bras. Even if they don't cut in, the muscle on the inside of the curve gets super angry. Sports bras don't concentrate the pressure nearly as much. I do really want a corset after seeing your first corset video series.
The more I watch these and read the comments. The more I understand why the only Only time I wear normal bras is when my shirt dictates I can't wear my beloved sports bra
Same for me. I live with pain and things that spread pressure out works so mutch better. I can use a 12 kg heavy blanket but a bra hurts after short time even when it's allmost to big around me and hardly put press.
I am looking for a longline bra (will probably order from WKD) just to prevent that nasty cutting in.
So relatable, I wear sports bra almost exclusively, wearing modern bra is so painful for me, watching Bernadette's vids about corset I am seriously considering sewing one tailored for myself.
Same. It’s the reason I prefer a whole binder to bras, even if there wasn’t gender stuff involved for me. Plus the wide straps are SO much less back pain
I love corsets personally. They make me feel really regal and it keeps my back straight.
I had to pick up one of my elementary school classmates once. That was the first time I found out she wore a brace. Very shocking to me; I thought she had an exoskeleton.
Kind of interesting that the modern medical corset looks way more like a torture device than the "evil" historical corset.
Bernadette: "A corset feels like a hug". My physical contact-deprived self: staring at my bras hoping they will transform into corsets. Your editing is still a delight, by the way ;)
I urge you to learn how to sew. Handmade made-to-measure corset and other stuff is one of the best garments that i have.
That's interesting because the last pair of bras that I brought fit so well that I said that they "feel like they're giving my boobs a hug" lol.
I fell asleep in a sports bra because it felt a little bit like a hug. 2020 can be over now.
I'm currently in the process of making my own modern version of an 1870's corset. There is a pattern drafting method for free on the website of Foundations Revealed, where you can draft your own pattern according to your body measurements. I'm at mockup #3 right now and it is super comfy already. You don't need to be an expert sewist to make it. It's definitely more difficult than a circle skirt, but as long as you follow the steps in the drafting method, and wear it for half a day to check sore spots/uncomfortable areas, and alter those in the next version of the mockup you can actually achieve a very nice fit :) And I've cycled and walked and run in my second version, which was way more restrictive than I anticipated it would be (supposed to be a 5 cm lacing gap at the back, but I was able to lace it down completely, so I compressed my hips and bust 5 cm as well, fixed that in the third mockup).
*sends virtual hugs*
I was in theatre and we did shows wearing corsets a lot. Our corsets were never historically accurate, but I’ll be honest it was kinda nice to wear a corset. It just felt like a nice hug all the time. You could most definitely put on shoes, do a lot of other movement with the corsets on. We would wear them in rehearsal to get use to the feel and after a while you really forgot you were wearing it. It really helped my posture also to get that proper, sitting up straight poised look. You still had to be aware of it. You can most definitely start to loose good posture in a corset. It would look like the bottom half of your body was straight, and the top was hunched over the corset. The only thing that was difficult for me at first was sitting down because your body wants to bend in a way the corset doesn’t allow so you kinda had to sit down like a pregnant woman. That might’ve been just me not knowing how to sit correctly haha. The only part that sucked is getting into it. We all wanted it really tight and the costumer ladies yanked us to get us in the way we wanted. Other than that, it was great!
I feel like the scoliosis part differs a lot from person to person. She makes it seem sooo easy (and maybe it was for her), but for me it was the most difficult thing ever.
Definitely. I have a mild case that will cause me extreme pain if I don't take care. So I know both ends of the spectrum.
15:25 so a Victorian corset is like Dr.Martens boots. A bit hard at the beginning, but a few days after, the most comfy thing in life
17:05 Bernadette casually explaining that corsets are basically an exo-skeleton. Love it.
Before my gender reconstruction surgery I wore a very very tight chest bandage for about 8 years. It was very restrictive regarding my breathing and some movements, but it wasn't something I noticed in my daily life because I was used to it. It wasn't apparant until after my surgery when I was without a bandage for the first time in my adult life just how restrictive it had been. The body is extremely adaptable and I think people forget that it doesn't fall apart just because you wear something restrictive.
"hold a stick in both hands"-- Bernadette, reaching towards a bundle of sticks conveniently hanging on the wall.
Bernadette describing her daily meals around the clock. Me: Ah yes, a very Hobbit-like meal number!
How incredibly sensible
i thought the same. hobbits had it right all along!!
Bernadette: "remember you have other body parts that you can use" Us: *pikachu face*
I also have Scoliosis. I wore a Milwaukee Brace for 10 years, 23 hours a day. I had 11 vertebrae fused 44 years ago. I now have several corsets that I wear regularly. They are so much more comfortable than the brace. I chose to wear old fashioned corsets because the stupid elastic lumbar support wraps they gave me were useless! They rode up over my hips and did absolutely nothing! With the corsets, shaped to me, I get the support I need, without discomfort. After 10 years in the brace, the corsets are a delight to wear! And they look awesome! I love your videos and watch them regularly!
Me: No Interest in historical fashion but I’m here. Wanting to try wearing a corset. Me: Remembers I’m pregnant. Well shoot...😅
You: I'ma try a corset Baby: No- wait-
Oh yea I wanna wear a corset Remembers I’m 15- oh damn
I watch several channels that focus on historical dress, and through pregnancy the practice was to lace looser over the belly or simply not lace that far down (front spiral laced stays). Bernadette’s words are backed up by others, it was perfectly possible to wear a corset during pregnancy.
Some other comments say wearing corsets after pregnancy is a healthy practice that they did back then.
@@3333218 I think she means she cant where it whilst pregnant since corsets go down towards your torso the baby could get smushed? idk
I do love that Enola Holmes used it in a way wear it wasn’t “oppressive” but just “very feminine”. It was just something she didn’t wear. But she laced it herself and it ended up even saving her life rather than making it harder.
@Edlynne Paez It certainly made me do quite the double take on reading that up there...🤣🤣🤣
In the books she wore one regularly, specifying that she liked it as long as she didn't tighten it. Iirc she hid money and a dagger in it too
@@StarryBlackNight IIRC, quite a few Noble Women hid daggers in their stays/corsets, didn't they? I could swear I read Elizabeth I did at one point. Considering the constant danger she was in, wouldn't shock me.
@@StarryBlackNight 👁👁 I can hide a dagger in my corset? I'm sold
@@StarryBlackNight I really gotta read the books. The story is phenomenal. Love this!
"low-key realizes I was basically tightlaced" 🤣🤣🤣
Plus the little riff of X-Files theme music (yes, I am that old!) 😁👍👽
Could you do a video with just the historical corset exercises so I could follow along every morning? That would be fantastic.
I did had a medical corset and for me it was hell. I wasn't able to eat properly, I was hungry all the time. Sitting was awful and at night I cryed my eyes out, because I wasn't able to sleep. So much to my experience. Still I love non-medical corsets which you are allowed to put down and that look good.
The story of you carrying heavy things whilst being supported by your brace just had me chanting "Exoskeleton! Exoskeleton!" in my head lol
As a gal who as a young girl had her greatest wish to own a pair of high buttoned boots and dress only in historical garb, I am so delighted by your channel. Who am I kidding? I still want to. Loving your videos and sense of humor. Thank you for being my favorite cozy corner of the youtube.
Do it! What have you got to lose!? I love seeing period dressing, and the last two centuries are my favourites! Two films I love watching for the costumes are bramstokers Dracula (minas first meeting mint ensemble was divine, and Titanic, Rose's first boarding outfit. Beautiful. Also loved the portrait gown. Am also a huge fan of late 1800s vintage jewellery.
Girl, do it! I started making some clothes and I don’t care what other people think. It’s my childhood dream and nobody will take it away from me.
You guys rock! I dressed up all the time as a kid and now get to relive all the fun as my kids get to work at a historical site (for a field trip) and parents get to help. A friend helped me make a 1840's dress and petticoat and I made a pinner apron. Kids all dressed up, too. SO MUCH FUN! Ten year old me's fantasy come true. Plus we got to work yet olde bakery AND I brought my antique teacups so we could drink out of them. I adore historical fashion and now thanks to American Duchess, I can get high button boots. I find it all fascinating.
I'm saving for those button shoes from American Duchess.
History bounding is your best friend! Dress how you want!
I wore a brace for a few years as a kid too. I did HATE it though and refused to wear it while sleeping. As an adult I have worn a corset in a steampunk costume for a ten hour shift at work. I agree with you for sure! The actual corset is so so so much more comfortable!
Watching this video has made sense of a couple of conversations for me. My mother always wore a vest under her bra, saying she didn’t like the feeling of a bra next to her skin. Her mother was born in 1890. My grandmother used to brag she had an 18th inch waist as a girl, now I know this way probably achieved by a corset!
bernadette went from neat hair, modest clothes to PIRATE WOMAN COMING TO TAKE YOUR HEART
What the
guys i don't remember making this comment help edit: i think i was taliking about 21:50
@@lowercase_ash I'm also quite sure that's the part you were referring to lol
My daughter has touch sensitivities and is ASD, and corsetry makes her feel very much more secure.
That's why I like corsets lol, I used to bind for basically the same reason but I find corsets a lot more comfortable
what is asd?
@@cowboylikedans Autistic Spectrum Disorder
I grew up with scoliosis too, and when I first saw your medical corset and heard you talk about wearing it nearly 24/7 I thought, "she's just like me." I've never seen anyone else in the media with a back brace like mine, much less anyone as stylish or as amazing as yourself :) Thanks so much for making content, and for making my day
The brace I wore for kyphosis was bulky and thick! I looked like SpongeBob SquarePants when I wore it and I hated it! I probably would've worn mine more consistently if it gave a shape like yours. Alas, I ended up having to have surgery but my posture and curvature of my spine is still pretty bad and I should probably get a new brace to wear 😥😬
Pilates instructor with a ballet background here. The word I believe that you're looking for is "tensegrity" when you're talking about lengthening before doing a bend to engage your core muscles. Applying outward north-south pressure to a tensioned structure will cause it to become thinner in the middle, in the reverse way that applying compression will cause it to bulge in the middle. This engages a muscle called your transversus abdominus, which is colloquially referred to by us as "the corset muscle", because it provides the same type of support. And it's also the reason that people think Pilates helps you lose weight. When you engage this muscle, it does cause you to lose waist circumference, because as it flexes, it pulls you inwards. It's a respiratory muscle, because it works with the diaphragm to help force air out of the lungs on expiration. In Pilates, I cue that in various ways, but I do actually teach it with the anatomy lesson. In dance, we usually use metaphors to get the same effect--ballet tends to lengthen upward, while modern dance refers to "grounding", that feeling of reaching down into the floor and growing roots. Walking around with books on your head will give you that sensation. Wearing high-rise yoga pants which have some compression will give you that sensation. Wearing high heels will often give you the same sensation, because if you're standing on your heels, that becomes painful after awhile. I loved the Victorian exercise routine--I'm stealing the standing on the balls of your feet and swinging the arms for my own classes!
As a ballerina who takes pilates, this description is so cool! I knew that that feeling of stretching up through my head and down through my feet helped, but wasn't sure how. Thanks!
It's always nice to learn something in a comment section :)
I've trained in classical ballet for many years with a teacher from Royal Ballet in London. She did pilates too with us and nearly every session pointed out how important transversus abdominus is, which is why that muscle's name is the only one I can remember to this day :'D
Here just to enjoy that I found my people (another Pilates instructor with a ballet background). Yay us 😊💛
Back when I did a lot of ballet I was told to pretend I had a string tied to the top of my head pulling me up 😅
After watching Enola Holmes, I ranted to my friends about the corset line and provided your videos as evidence that corsets aren’t what people think it is.
DUDE SAME🤣🤣. I stood up in the room and was like "MMM NO THAT KS NOT TRUE" and probably annoyed the crap out of them with my mini rant, then the next day I proceeded to send them several different videos on corsets😅😂
I watched it too and noticed that. My parents had to stand there, listening to my rant after the whole thing haha
Watched it with my boyfriend and totally ranted about the same thing. He was already expecting it though, lol, I could feel his eyes on me when that line came.
This is why my mom has to screen historical fiction picks for family movie night before we watch it, because if there's a bad corsetry scene they have to deal with me spouting off like a much less eloquent angry Bernadette...
They also showed her fighting and being a bad ass in her red dress, plus the corset actually stopped her from being stabbed.
Not related to your actual video but I work for a university that uses an archaic database system called Banner. It is.... quirky to put it mildly. It defies explanation most of the time. Whenever we are training a new person we try to explain the quirks but just end up telling them “Because, Banner.” Fast forward to my coworker and I discovering your channel and geeking about everything you do (creepy much?). We were watching together on zoom and I kept saying, “why would she hand stitch if there is a perfectly good sewing machine sitting next to her?!” The ubiquitous reply, of course, Because, Banner. It has new meaning for us now. Thank you!!
I was in a high school production of Beaty and the Beast. I DANCED in a corset. Like, full on JAZZ DANCED in a corset. It was no biggie.
I appreciate the comments you made about breathing in the Victorian corset - I'm an opera singer and have done entire shows wearing a corset. Yes, you do have to adjust breathing technique a tad - the "conical" breathing is a good way to put it - but in a lot of ways the corset actually *helps* breath control especially for singing!
I honestly never even considered a corset would inhibit breathing that much if worn properly...but I also never thought about it helping with breath control for singing...it makes sense to me though...very interesting, thanks for the information lol...that's super cool -Not a singer, and in no way vocally talented, so it doesn't really personally affect me, but I really enjoy learning new things like that! :)
The Brazilian corset and tight lacing community is quite big and super well informed, some of the things that they bring up every time someone wants to practice tight lacing are: - you have to wear corsets with busks and made to measure so it will be comfier to wear for 6, 8 hours/day - You can't Tight lace and use a overbust or midbust corset, you have to use underbust corsets to do that, and they have to be steel boned corsets made to measure - you NEED to do 500 sit-ups a day to strengthen your muscles and not have residual problems after continuous use - tight lacing for waist definition is gradual and you have to season the corset gradually, wearing it a few hours a day on the beggining so it gets comfier with daily use
Vc por aqui kkkk meus dois mundos colidindo. O lado gótica e o lado vintage kkkk
I’ve seen you’re supposed to start with just like an hour a day when the corset is new, even if you’re used to corsets, just to gradually break it in. Like an hour a day for a few days, then 2-3 hours, and so on. Maybe it depends what the corset is made out of how fast it adapts?
Yes please, people need to acknowledge the core work required! As someone w scoliosis its so so important
500 situps per day?! 😬 And what about the other muscle groups? I would think that much of any focused exercise would put you out of balance!
@@Amcsae I believe it's 500 sit-ups plus your normal daily workout routine. Because people actually should workout for health and longevity reasons.
Bernadette, thank you for bringing this up. I, too, wore a similar Ortho back brace for a little over three years for 22-23 hours a day for Scoliosis. I was very active then as a teen and would take it of when I was exercising. It wasn't fun but it was for the benefit off holding my ribs so that they wouldn't turn and squeeze my lungs, heart and other organs... As you know. I had always wondered why certain actresses' complained because I could move around just fine (and mine was hard plastic, like yours). But I believe, the fault lies within the costumers who make the corsets/costumes for the film and not the actress. They have to look a specific way. Unfortunately, I don't believe these actresses realize the corsets they are in are much different than what women used to wear. It was actually very beneficial to wear a corset made from movable material. Thank you for shining the light on this.
Okay, but that workout routine is one of the most invigorating ones I've ever tried. I think I'll keep doing it.