Tightlacing History
18th century corset
1600BC Minoan Snake Goddess
 Madame de Pompadour, 1759
 1760 Stays with spiral lacing and hip tabs

Corseting is not new and has been practiced throughout human history. As an example, the Minoan Snake Goddess, approx. 1600 BC,  is usually depicted with a corseted torso. What draws attention is the degree of modification. Today, light modification from a girdle, all-in-one,  long-line bra or waist cinch  is considered acceptable and not unusual. A laced corset however, draws attention because it's long standing symbolism and overt action. The bra, girdle and all-in-one are meant to enhance, but also to be concealed, allowing the wearer to pretend having a better physique. The corset's effect by comparison is more dramatic, and with a clear shaping purpose if worn as an outside garment. It simultaneously expresses independence, femininity and elegance, but also power and dominance. Men of all orientations, are into wearing corsets as well, primarily because they enjoy the support and the feeling of constriction. From this perspective the corset is gender neutral. A particular shape will enhance gender specific features, but by itself constriction and body modification is not gender or orientation specific. 

There is much debate on what level of constriction is desirable or reasonable. Nowadays, unexpected discomfort from our clothes is simply not tolerated, although some level of accustomization is not unexpected, for example from wearing high heels or tight jeans. The key to enjoying special clothing, is all about taking time to get used to it.  The level of waist reduction is determined by the wearer, not anyone else. In general, modern wearers experience corset wearing as supportive and pleasant  and may lace tighter over time because of the enjoyment of doing so. For more details on this and what is safe and what not, read the "How to" section.



Corset wearing is cyclic, with the last appearance after WWII with the "New Look" , only to disappear again during the 1960's and '70's. Then, during the late 1980's, fashion rediscovered the appeal of corsets and associated figure and posture benefits. We have since learned that corseting or even tight-lacing did not cause any of the evil problems associated with it. Rather, these had more to do with poor hygiene and limited medical knowledge. Most if not all of the horror stories appear to be urban legends. If anything, corseting itself tends to lead to healthier eating habits because certain foods, such as fatty foods, are less well tolerated and avoided over time. See the "Health" section for a more detailed discussion.