Corsets of Victorian women

Have you ever heard of corsets? Today, corsets are seen as a classical and quick way to look slimmer. In the 19th century they were essentially used the same way, to make the tummy look slim, the hips look big, and give the bosom a healthy lift. 

Example of corset, an attire that helps women appear slimmer. It was made by whale bones during the Victorian era. Whale? Whoaaa :O
Courtesy of Google Image

While many women used corsets properly, like any others beauty practice some women abused them to the point of disfigurement and death. They tied the corsets as tight as possible. Do you know that some women tied the corsets so tightly that they fainted frequently from only being able to take shallow breaths. That's pretty tragic I think. 

A Victorian woman tying her corset (what a tiny waist!)
Courtesy of Google Image

However, wearing corsets may not be as simple as it seems, wearing it and voila! Here comes your tiny waist. Some experts claimed that corsets might cause overlapping of rib cage. To achieve a wasp-like waist the lower sections of the rib cage have to be pushed inwards. If the waist is made small enough the two sides of the rib cage will eventually meet in the middle and overlap. Not only that, it's also said that wearing tightly laced corsets can cause compression of internal organs, complications during pregnancy, and muscle death. One thing for sure, corsets must have caused those Victorian women extreme pain.

Internal organs tend to be shrunk after wearing corsets
Courtesy of Google Image