This is the first in a series of posts for our Fashion Guide, explaining the elements commonly used in Steampunk fashion, and how to put together a complete outfit.
CORSETS
The most commonly used article of clothing in women's Steampunk fashion is the corset. Corsets have been used throughout history, but hit their peak popularity during the Victorian era. Since Steampunk is supposed to exist during Victorian times, many cosplayers turn to corsets to add femininity and sex appeal to their costume.
Corsets are often confused with "bodices" and "bustiers," so lets clarify before we go any further. A
corset is a garment designed to hold the torso in a shape that creates a desired silhouette. The Victorian era focused on an hourglass figure, with an exaggerated bust and hips and a tiny, cinched in waist (much like our modern ideal silhouette). Corsets usually have a buttoned or hooked front opening (called a busk) and laces in the back, used for tightening. Boning keeps the stiff shape of the corset.
Bustiers are designed to lift the bust, not cinch the waist, so they don't extend as low as a corset, have functional lacing or boning.
Bodices are just the upper part of a dress (not including the sleeves), or a separate piece of clothing that women wore like a vest over a blouse, so they aren't designed to boost anything up, or cinch anything in.
Does this mean women wore corsets outside their clothing during the Victorian era? NEVER! It was the most modest of times, so corsets were strictly an undergarment. However they did wear something similar called a Swiss Waist (more on that in a minute). The reason you see cosplayers wearing corsets as outerwear is that they're trying to make modest Victorian fashion sexier, and there's nothing sexier than a corset!
Some corsets have straps that go over the shoulders or in a halter style around the neck, and some have garter straps to hold up stockings.
Underbust Corset - this corset stops just below the bust and has open cups, so it needs to be worn over a dress or blouse. If you want to increase the sex appeal, wear it with just a bra, bikini top, tube top or pasties.
Examples of Underbust Corsets:
Plus Size Underbust Corsets:
Overbust Corset - this corset covers the bust, so it can be worn over a dress or blouse, or alone as a top or bodice.
Examples:
Plus Size Overbust Corsets:
Longline Corset - This can be an underbust or overbust corset, but instead of stopping above the hip, it extends down over the hipbone. This makes for a smoother hip area and a much longer corset.
Examples:
Waist Cinchers (aka waspies) - A shorter corset that covers
just the waist area (from low on the ribs to just above the hips). It
resembles a really wide belt, but like a corset, it has a busk in the front and laces up in the back.
Examples:
Swiss Waist (aka Swiss Belts) - These were worn over the clothing during the Victorian era and are often incorrectly identified as corsets. The Swiss Waist is similar to waist cinchers in that they're shorter than corsets and have boning, but they don't have visible boning channels and they don't fasten with a busk in front. Instead they either have no front opening, or a lace up front. The back fastens with lacing or buttons. They usually come to a point in the front below the bust and/or a point down at the hips, creating a triangle or diamond-like shape.
Examples:
Plus Size Swiss Waists:
FOR MORE...
In Part 2 of the Guide, learn about Victorian era skirt and dress styles, and their sexier counterparts in Steampunk fashion:
Skirts & Dresses
Learn how to recreate popular Steampunk costumes:
Tutorials
Browse our carefully curated photo gallery of beautiful Steampunk cosplayers:
Fashion Inspiration
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.