Corset

A structured garment that shapes the torso through tension and supports the body. Traditional corsets use stiff panels, lacing, and boning to control fit and silhouette.

Corset boning: Stiff strips inserted into garment channels to reinforce structure and resist folding. Boning helps a corset maintain its shape under tension.
Stays: A stiffened bodice worn from the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries to shape and support the torso. Stays are the corset’s historical predecessor, built around a different garment structure.
Waist training: The repeated use of tight garments with the aim of changing waist shape or appearance. Corsets are sometimes worn for temporary waist shaping or waist-training routines.
Beauty ideal: A culturally specific standard for physical attractiveness. Changing beauty ideals shaped which corset silhouettes were fashionable.
Girdle: A close-fitting undergarment designed to shape or support the abdomen and hips. Girdles use elasticized fabric rather than the rigid panel-and-lacing structure associated with corsets.
Busk: A rigid front closure, often made of two interlocking metal pieces, used in many corsets. The busk lets the wearer fasten the front while lacing adjusts the back.
Robe à la française: An eighteenth-century gown with a fitted bodice and pleated fabric flowing from the back. Its fashionable silhouette was commonly supported by stays beneath the gown.
Orthopedic brace: An external device that supports or restricts movement in a body part for medical purposes. Medical corsets belong to the broader family of external body-support devices.
Dress reform: A movement advocating changes to clothing for health, practicality, or social reasons. Reformers challenged restrictive corsetry and promoted alternative dress.
Bustier: A fitted strapless or sleeveless garment that covers the torso and supports the bust. Bustiers emphasize bust support and fashion styling, usually with less waist shaping.

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