Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Corset
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images
18th-century apparel Queen Elizabeth of England
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
18th-century apparel
18th-century apparel Woman wearing corset and hoop skirt, Meissen porcelain figurine, German, 1741; in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Corset

clothing
Also known as: stays
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
‱History

Corset, article of clothing worn to shape or constrict the waist and support the bosom, whether as a foundation garment or as outer decoration. During the early eras of corsetry, corsets—called stays before the 19th century and made stiff with heavy boning—molded a woman’s upper body into a V-shape and flattened and pushed up the breasts. Some were attached to petticoats or could be fastened to them in order to preserve a flat shape at...

Discover the world with Britannica

Subscribe to Continue Reading

Free Trial | No Ads | Exclusive Content
Explore Subscriptions
DNA
Right
Mobile