The use of corsets remains controversial. On Sunday, fans of actress Anya Taylor-Joy voiced concern when she posted an image on Instagram of herself wearing a corset, ready to don a custom Maison Margiela gown for the New York premiere of Dune: Part Two. While some applauded her for showing the reality of how she achieved the shape, others called it “unhealthy” and questioned the message it was sending about women’s bodies. Two days later, Kim Kardashian posted a photo of herself wearing a Mugler corset, to a similarly mixed response.
Proponents argue that, although historically restrictive, the corset takes a different form today. Designers are tapping into corseting elements such as a fitted waist, hook and eye detailing, and boning made using modern materials such as fiber-reinforced plastic, aluminum and linen, to create sculpting effects that accentuate the body, but in a comfortable way.
“Once symbols of constraint and oppression, forcing unrealistic beauty standards onto women, today’s corsets have been revisited and designed to offer greater movability while enhancing and flattering natural curves, to empower the wearer and boost their confidence,” says Marguerite Le Rolland, head of apparel and footwear at Euromonitor International.