It has a fetching little birdcage bustle support at the back, visible in the second image - click on the thumbnail - on this page. Amazing piece of structural engineering, isn't it?
Women of fashion today gaze with horror at such contraptions before they take their diet pills, binge and purge, and inject botulism toxin into their waxed brows after they recover from cosmetic surgery.
"Madame, you're not going to let a little thing like breathing stand between you and happiness."
In my teens and early 20s, I wore a girdle when I dressed up. At the time, I was reed-thin. How silly is that? The girdle and high heels were the limits of torture to which I subjected myself for sake of style.
It has a fetching little birdcage bustle support at the back, visible in the second image - click on the thumbnail - on this page. Amazing piece of structural engineering, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteFetching indeed, if you're not the woman wearing the cage. I can't imagine why women went along with this foolishness.
ReplyDeleteThink also of the many hours of skilled (sweatshop?) labour that must have gone into its construction.
ReplyDeleteThey wore it on which elbow?
ReplyDeleteOn their leg, Ostrich.
ReplyDeleteArm, leg, which is it?
ReplyDeleteOh, Ostrich, you got a chuckle out of me there.
ReplyDeleteIt makes for impressive lines but I cannot help thinking of the agony of women wearing such devices.
And that, dear children, is why Victorian women had a reputation for "the vapors" and passing out at the slightest excitement - they couldn't breathe.
ReplyDeleteYeesss.
ReplyDeleteTotally frightening...as they gasped for air, that is!!
ReplyDeleteWomen of fashion today gaze with horror at such contraptions before they take their diet pills, binge and purge, and inject botulism toxin into their waxed brows after they recover from cosmetic surgery.
ReplyDelete"Madame, you're not going to let a little thing like breathing stand between you and happiness."
In my teens and early 20s, I wore a girdle when I dressed up. At the time, I was reed-thin. How silly is that? The girdle and high heels were the limits of torture to which I subjected myself for sake of style.
ReplyDeleteFrom a certain fairy tale:
ReplyDeleteAnd the old queen let eight big oysters fasten themselves to the princess's tail, as a sign of her high rank.
"But that hurts!" said the little mermaid.
"You must put up with a good deal to keep up appearances," her grandmother told her.
Erp, at some point along the way, I fell way behind in keeping up good appearances. The strife is o'er, the battle lost.
ReplyDelete