Basques and Corsets

Sexy basques (Mona) and corset lingerie are a favourite for a reason – they flatter the figure and give that classic hourglass shape that both men and women love. Corsets have had a long and changing history. The goal of corsets was to make the torso a more pleasing shape to look at, and that “pleasing shape” varied based on the fashions and popular opinions of the times.

They started out in Europe during the 16th century as a method of making the torso look more cylindrical. They flattened the breasts, pushing them upwards and making them spill over the top. These did have shoulder straps and they were of the most well-loved length – they stopped at the waist. This type lasted through to the end of the 18th century.

Basques and Corsets

In the 1830s, focus again fell to the natural waist–and then further, to inches below it, and so did the length of the corset. This is the corset that gave the shapely hourglass figure, as it shaped the whole torso rather than just the top, or top and middle.

Toward the end of the first decade of the 1900s, bras and girdles began to take the place of corsets. Currently, new items have begun making their way to the forefront of women’s shaping pieces. They’re much more comfortable and practical than the traditional corsets.

Imagine if you had to lace up a corset every morning – you’d have to wake up an hour earlier just to make it to work on time!

Basques and Corsets

Despite the change from basques and corsets to bras etc, there is nothing that turns a head, men’s and women’s, better than a beautifully fitted and laced basque, corset, or the waist only ‘waspie’. (Anais).

That hourglass figure, and the uplifted showcased bosom, is wonderful for the confidence and overall feel good factor for any woman.

With new designs and especially new fabrics, we find basques and corsets are now able to be made in satin, lace, leather, latex and rubber, and a special new fabric called Laqué, used exclusively by French designer Patrice Catanzaro, and sold by Libertinesque, in the UK and soon, the USA.