Corsetry Collection

HM Queen Mary (of Teck) - Queen of King George V
HM Queen Mary (of Teck) (1867-1953) - Queen of King George V - superb photographic portrait. Date: 1911

English Rose Corsetry advertisement
Advert for the new corselette from English Rose corsetry, exquisitely styled and entirely without bones. It is described as a corselette with wired

Underwear for 1962 drawn by Barbara Hulanicki
A lycra girdle with tapering side sections and black lace front panel on the right, and a black lace bra mounted on white both by Lily of France and excellent for magically transforming the figure

The Harmful Effects of the Corset, illustration from La Vie Normale et la Sante
CHT171318 The Harmful Effects of the Corset, illustration from La Vie Normale et la Sante by Dr Jules Rengade (b.1841) c.1880 (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Bibliotheque Nationale

The full range of Corsetry Puns and Underwear Jokes on this humorous Christmas Greetings card with a clothing theme. Date: circa 1906

Annotated illustration warning about the dangers of tight laced corsets on the female body. Date: 1906

Harness electric corset - a boon to women of all ages
Mr C. B. Harness electric corset - a boon to women of all ages - The Medical Battery Co. Ltd - 52 Oxford Street, London (The Electropathic and Zander Institute). (3/3) Date: circa 1890s

Cinema advertisement for Unity Brand corsetry, early 1900s

New fabric that stretches three ways Vita-Flex was made of an exclusive process in which pure rubber was interwoven with fine cotton backing. Date: 1939

Advertisement for corsets and undergarments, from the Comptoir des Cache-Corsets, c. 1900 (engraving) (b/w photo)
CHT173509 Advertisement for corsets and undergarments, from the Comptoir des Cache-Corsets, c.1900 (engraving) (b/w photo) by French School, (20th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Advertisements for corsets and undergarments, from the Bon Marche catalogue, before 1914 (engraving) (b/w photo)
CHT173513 Advertisements for corsets and undergarments, from the Bon Marche catalogue, before 1914 (engraving) (b/w photo) by French School, (20th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Advertisement for corsets and undergarments, from the Comptoir des Corsets c. 1900 (litho) (b/w photo)
CHT173511 Advertisement for corsets and undergarments, from the Comptoir des Corsets c.1900 (litho) (b/w photo) by French School, (20th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Advertisment for the Aux 100, 000 Corsets brand, c. 1900 (colour litho)
CHT171302 Advertisment for the Aux 100, 000 Corsets brand, c.1900 (colour litho) by Gerbault, Henri (1863-1930); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France; © Archives Charmet

Layout illustrations for an article on womens underwear
CHT171316 Layout illustrations for an article on womens underwear, from La Vie Parisienne, c.1870 (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet

Layout illustrations for an article on womens underwear
CHT171317 Layout illustrations for an article on womens underwear, from La Vie Parisienne, c.1870 (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet

The Stays, plate 1 from The Progress of the Toilet, c
CHT171315 The Stays, plate 1 from The Progress of the Toilet, c.1810 (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Advertisement for Van Orden corsets (litho)
3105694 Advertisement for Van Orden corsets (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for Van Orden corsets.); Look and Learn / Barbara Loe Collection

Advertisement for the patent Poro-Plastic corset (colour litho)
3104970 Advertisement for the patent Poro-Plastic corset (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Corsets and undergarments, from a series on womens clothing
CHT173078 Corsets and undergarments, from a series on womens clothing (pen & ink and w/c on paper) by German School, (18th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

1934 advertisement for Kestos Lingerie

Advert for Royal Worcester corsets 1909
Figure that speak. Women wearing elegant straight-front corsets also known as the swan-bill. 1909

Young model in silky underwear 1935
Model in wearing silky corset with girdle. 1935

Advertisement for Berlei corsets -- two female models in a buggy. 1959

Louis XV Corset advertisement - Corset Leopold
An advertisement for a Corset Louis XV available from Corset Leopold of 34 Rue d Alger, Toulon, France. The text on the card translates thus

Advert for Royal Worcester corsets 1914
Slim silhouette of women wearing waist-line corsets. 1914

Advert for N D Eynede Paris corsetmarker 1909
Women wearing elegant corsets with drawstrings to the back to bring in the waist with lace edging. 1909

Advert for W. H. K. & S. corsets 1901
New desirable straight fronted corsets, combining symmetry and elegance with acme of comfort. 1901

Wartime underwear article, Britannia and Eve magazine, 1940
Page from Britannia and Eve magazine, September 1940, reporting on various types of foundation garments to ensure a controlled figure under clothing

A portly lady is laced into her corset by her maid Date: 1921

Just like Mother! A little girl tries on a corset
Just like Mother! A little French girl tries on a corset and checks out the result in an ornate full-length gilt-edged mirror with the aid of a footstool. Date: circa 1905

Advert for Barkers of Kensington corsets 1914
Women wearing autumn to early winter collection of Royal Worcester Kidfitting waist-line corsets. 1914

Advert for Madame Bellanger corsetmarker 1909
Advertisement for Madame Bellanger, Edwardian women wearing straight-front corset giving no curving to the figure at the front and a bell shape to the back. Date: 1909

Advert for Madame Bellanger corsetmarker 1908
Advertisement for Madame Bellanger, Edwardian women wearing drawstring corsets to bring in the figure. Date: 1908

Advert for Madame Bellanger corsetmarker 1912
Advertisement for Madame Bellanger, Edwardian women wearing long-line corsets, with straight-front giving no curving to the figure, and also a bra with uplift and fastener to the front. Date: 1912

Advert for Madame Bellanger corsetmarker 1911
Advertisement for Madame Bellanger, Edwardian women wearing long-line corsets, with straight-front giving no curving to the figure, and also a bra with uplift and fastener to the front. Date: 1911

Advert for Madame Bellanger corsetmarker 1910
Advertisement for Madame Bellanger, Edwardian women wearing long-line corsets, with straight-front giving no curving to the figure. Date: 1910

Advcert for C. P. ࠬa Sir讥corsetmarker 1909
Fashionable silhouette figures, showing women wearing long-line corsets, high hip-line, straight-front giving no curve to the front and bell shape to the back. 1909

New Military Curve corsets, WW1
Royal Worcester Kidfitting Corsets, the new military curve corset, to ensure the new fashionable silhouette underneath gowns. Part of the military vogue in fashion during the Great War. Date: 1915

Advert for Royal Worcester new Military Curve corsets, WW1
Royal Worcester Kidfitting Corsets, the new military curve corset, to ensure the new fashionable silhouette underneath gowns. Part of the military vogue in fashion during the Great War. 1915

Corset Department, Crowley-Milner Department Store, Detroit, Michigan, USA Date: circa 1940s

Parisian Lady in a Corset Skirt
The Underside of the Parisian A glamorous Parisienne wearing a fashionable corset-skirt Date: circa 1907

Arrested for wearing a corset advertising placard
" Why pick on me, officer? Its my guv nors idea!" A policeman is not sympathetic to the protestations of the beardy gentleman employed to parade in front of a Drapers shop wearing a corset

Advert for Kestos lingerie 1935

Berlei advertisement, 1953
A slender lady with an hourglass figure is fitted for some rather constricting looking foundation garments by a Berlei expert in an advertisement for the brand. Date: 1953

Kestos underwear advert 1934

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Corsetry: A Timeless Tale of Elegance and Controversy From the regal fashion choices of HM Queen Mary, the beloved Queen of King George V, to the alluring English Rose Corsetry advertisements, corsets have long been an emblem of femininity and allure. In 1962, Barbara Hulanicki's exquisite drawings showcased underwear that embraced both style and comfort. However, beneath its glamorous facade lies a history riddled with controversy. The Harmful Effects of the Corset were vividly illustrated in La Vie Normale et la Santé, shedding light on the physical toll these garments could take on women's bodies. Yet even with such warnings, early 1900s cinema advertisements for Unity Brand corsetry continued to captivate audiences with their promises of beauty and grace. Innovation also played a role in shaping corsetry's narrative. In 1939, Vita-Flex introduced a groundbreaking fabric that stretched three ways - a result of interweaving pure rubber with fine cotton backing. This marked a turning point in providing both support and flexibility for women seeking comfort without compromising style. But it wasn't just functionality that defined corsets; they inspired humor too. The full range Puns and Underwear Jokes brought laughter into dressing rooms worldwide while showcasing the enduring popularity of this undergarment. Advertisements throughout history further emphasized society's fascination with corsets. Royal Worcester boasted about their exceptional creations in 1909 and again in 1914 when they captured hearts with their timeless designs. Even young models donning silky underwear in 1935 couldn't resist the allure of corsets' transformative power. Cinema advertisements from early decades transported viewers into worlds where Unity Brand reigned supreme as purveyors of elegance. Corsetry has left an indelible mark on fashion history - simultaneously celebrated for its ability to enhance feminine curves while criticized for its potential harm.