Constance, it was lovely to hear someone talking sensibly about wearing a corset. It was your talk at the end of the video that really made me think about speaking out. Mum always said "pay debts and complients" Since making myself an ankle length skirt I find myself more often taking my courage in both hands and complimenting other women on their style. So often it turns out the lady has made the garment herself. It is lovely to see someone's shoulders lift and a smile on their face when you say something nice to them.
I hop you enjoy wearing you skirt and yes indeed it is nice to be able to compliment people you either really enjoy there dressing or clothes they have made. a spontaneous comment is so often so kind I am very lucky that I can live dressing just as I choose
I loved this, it’s interesting how that over the centuries, we have stopped using undergarments and padding to achieve the “fashionable” shape. We are now squeezing ourselves into restrictive shape wear, dieting and exercising to extremes to achieve a fashionable figure, which for many of us is unobtainable. We just have to accept there is no such thing as perfect, and learn to love ourselves as we are. I have the advantage of age, I’m 58, and have always had an hourglass figure, though most of the sand has now slipped to the bottom. Over the last 40 years, I have been every size between a 10-18, 2 pregnancies have left their mark, but I have always refused to bend to the “fashionable”, preferring to dress for functionality, comfort and for occasions, appropriately. Fashions change frequently, but damage done to your body trying to be fashionable, is harder to repair if not impossible. My advice is to embrace your mum-tum, accept that as you get older you won’t have the same shape as you did, it’s not a failure, it’s just life…
I am so glad you liked it. I am not so enamoured of the past that I feel they always got it right, following the hight of fashion at any time including to this day is not always a happy path but yes comfort and pleasure in how I dress pleases me far more than looking fashionable, but thats been a long journey indeed.
What a wonderful trip through your normal week. Hopefully, this will help people understand what it's actually like wearing a corset on a daily basis. Victorian and Edwardian women did actually have a say in what they wore and were not barbarians! If something didn't feel comfortable to wear all day long, why would they torture themselves? They made corsets to be comfortable as long as it fit correctly! Thank you for a wonderful video!
Thank you very much. I am glad you enjoyed it. I am carrying on with it this week as I had fun and was relatively comfortable and had so much better sewing posture.
You said exactly what I was thinking,like why would women bear the pain when they can just simply loosen or change their corsets to fit them better? It portrays women of the Victorian and Edwardian eras as complete airheads and women that had no say in their lives at all.
I love watching your videos showing that, yes, you certainly can wear vintage styles of clothing for everyday wear, but not stand out as much as your self-conscious brain is telling you that you must be. ❤
Really enjoyed the video and seeing all your corsets. I find fit and proportion are always the key to feeling comfortable and looking good no matter what garment it is.
8:26 i chuckled at your comment, i am a construction worker who works outdoors and does heavy lifting, but i love sewing and im finding this content to be so fun to consume and im learning quite a lot! :0)
Sewing does occasionally require heavier lifting than people expect and the use of both hand and power tools. However I do generally live a fairly gentle life. I am glad you are enjoying your excursion to the sewing world.
I think you are definitely adding to the conversation with providing a normal week of wearing clothes--much like our ancestors would have done. The limited amount of learning I have from watching historical costumers on YT is that in the 20th century we started expecting to change our bodies in size to fit the clothes instead of making clothes fit our bodies to create desired shapes and silhouettes. I had strained my back a couple weeks ago and the thing that made it feel better and allow me to move? My corset. It definitely makes me not slouch!
Hope your back feels better soon. I think fashion has always been ridiculous at certain times in history, but well fitting clothes in any century will always be more comfortable
I have scoliosis but the degree of the curves aren't sufficient enough to warrant my insurance to cover a custom molded scoliosis brace so my physical therapist who works with my spine orthopedic and my pain management provider (they all work through one multi aspect of care orthopedic practice-> South Florida Orthopedics), recommended that I purchase an OTR corset so she and I found Orchard Corset and found two corsets that best matched my measurements. A CS345-underbust and CS530-overbust that we modified a bit by threading elastic cording through the binding at the top and bottom of the corsets. I often sleep in my corsets to keep my body (and back) from contorting into wonky positions that would otherwise result in pain. Bonuses of corset wearing- different colors and fabrics along with the many sorts of styles, able to have a more defined waistline, there is ease of how loose or tightly laced you are and can adjust at will and the choices of laces are astounding and one can get many different colors (I like the satin ribbon laces from orchard corset) that can be changed as desired.
I really enjoyed your video. It was very informative and it helped me to decide with which corset type garment I would begin. I think you’re really cool to dress the way you want to… I still struggle with that… Slow progress… Looking forward to your next video!
What a spectacular video, As always I feel a kindred spririt in the safety pin count and the not having actually put hook and eyes on one of the waistbands... I also really enjoyed seeing some of how you do your hair... has my mind going about my own hair...
Thank you so much, I had only added a waistband to the skirt with no hook the day before I had been trying to wear it with just a facing but it slipped and slid to much so now that I have added the waistband I will eventually add a hook. I always to may hair the same it just has a greater or lesser degree of curl.
I very much enjoyed the safety pin count 😂 I'd love to learn more about your waterproof cotton hem facing! That sounds immensely practical. Is it waxed cotton or something else? A modern fabric or a reproduction made in a historical manner? How does it impact laundering the skirt? I'd guess it would also act as a bit of hem stiffening, to some degree. My mind is whirring with ideas for this! One of my hesitations about adding long skirts to my wardrobe is mucky hems and a waterproof facing is a genius idea!
Love this new video! It was very interesting to see your experience in several different types of foundation garments. I’ve seen other videos where a corset was worn for a week but never the various styles. Thank you so much for another great video!
Thanks so much for taking us along on your wardrobe choices while you’ve been away at work! It sounds like you were very comfortable through most of it, and only just gave yourself more projects to work on for the future. 😉
Fabulous video Constance! Great to see all the different shapes & styles of corsets fitted to one person, & then to hear your feedback & review of the day wearing each one. Love your layering & cardigans - we just had a very warm weekend of 32 degrees, so allI I can do is look longingly at my cardigan collection & all their woolly coziness and say “ soon, soon my lovelies”!
Thank you for mentioning the bit about collars. It annoys me that these articles on the supposed evils of corsets always ignore how stiff and restrictive historical menswear could be. Some early 17th c doublets had whalebone in them. I suspect that part of the reason actresses in period dramas are so uncomfortable is that they spend a lot of time sitting around doing nothing in costume between takes. Also, they're probably not allowed to adjust their lacing because the directors want to maintain continuity in their appearance.
having been in fittings and on set, I feel a lot of the discomfort come from fittings being relatively short and the corset probably seemed fine for that time and yes the day becomes draining. directors are less interested in continuity (there are other people employed to worry about that.) but yes the days are very long. Then again I have been in a four hour long fitting going over many styles and changes of corset with an actress who never complained once.
I have just finished my first ever corset. It’s an under bust style by NZ corsetry. I wore it to work today, and really enjoyed it. Yes, driving was tricky, but I managed.
So brave you are!! My grandma would come back from the dead to beat me if I ever sewed what I was wearing, because that means a death omen will be following! Two harbingers is death, sewing repairs while wearing the garment and sweeping the floor at night, after dark.
What a joy to see a video from you! Usually I'm at Costume Drama with you on the other end of the line to Noelle lol . As a quilter I have to ask about the quilt. Is it yours, did you make it? Lovely! Enjoyed your corset wearing research 👍🤗💝
Watching and knitting another pair of socks, because hand knitted socks are the most comfortable socks that you can wear, as you make them to fit your feet and put in the features that use your foot shape and can reinforce where you know your socks will wear. Love your style. I could do with a bit more posture while knitting. Maybe I'll pop on a corset.
I wear my 1880's riding corset a lot, it's great for doing work around the farm and since I'm going to be teaching at a university for a few weeks I plan on wearing it then too for posture support. I also have a 1903-ish one in the works. But don't know how much I'll use that for everyday wear. PS: I love your cardys. I'm a fan of them myself and will often throw them on.
Hi Constance! Always lovely to see what you are up to! Your wardrobe, as always, is exquisite! I really need to pull my finger out and get on with sewing garments for myself! Being a knitter, I'm always very interested in which items you may have knitted yourself. The beautiful red Shoulder shawl caught my eye! Anyways, best wishes to you!
Thank you very much. I love knitting mostly small projects so the shawl is one of mine plus the three different hats are either knit or crochet and the little Miss Marple Scarf. Happy stitching.
Things I can never forget I'm wearing: contact lenses, bras, shoes, non-elastic waistbands, collars, wool against my skin, steel plate armour... I'm hoping a corset doesn't fall into that category too but so far with the one I've made, I need to loosen up around the ribcage by more than an inch.
Good point I never forget I am wearing contact lenses despite trying many times to adapt to them. I think I prefer corsets. Good luck with your experiments
Thanks Constance, that was very enjoyable. I agree, my regency long stays with synthetic whalebone and wooden busk are so comfortable; a good alternative to wearing a bra. I had to laugh about the hem though, I reckon it happens to all of us who wear longer woollen skirts with heels.
This was a fascinating experiment, Constance. I work at sitting at a computer all day at home and wondered if a corset might help prevent slouching over the keyboard. I have to take into consideration not lacing tight to not set off my kidney stones moving, so very little reduction for health reasons. Love the safety pin count, made me laugh thanks for that. Other than the rubbing-in spots as mentioned, were there sore muscles from sitting straiter for longer periods of time? On the topic of RBF, I received my RBF from my mom, since I strongly look like her. I had many coworkers when I was in the office, ask if I was okay just based on my facial expression. My concentration expression is scary angry apparently, lol. Hoping you can find the right shape for a new corset when you make your newest addition, sounds like the data of this wearing experiment will aid in that.
I realise with the RBF watching the footage back o must pull all those faces at work as well so I do understand. I noticed no muscle pain or discomfort from sitting straighter, driving is not perfect but I do two three hour drives a week so it’s not a problem for shorter journeys. I glad you liked the video and the safety pin count, happy experimenting
Such a talented woman I think the wait is well worth it for the entertainment. My granny used to wear a corset like the 1910ish one, we all laughed as she was such a slim woman. Birdy
I cant wear lovely curvy corsets. Mine are more tubular,but it means I can wear modern cheap ones and they work quite well. I do have 2 vollers though,that I Love!! Wont rabbit skin size break down as you emit humidity into the fabric,or move about?
I’m very curious about the rabbit skin glue hence the experiment I actually made three different types of buckram and I need to test them all out. I’ve work the bodies on and off quite a lot but still need do a longer wear test. You build up the buckram over a few layers so it should remain structurally sound.
@@stanceymackenzie the reason I asked is the sort of hide glue used on things like violins is hydroscopic,it attracts water and means the instrument can be opened for repairs. In damp countries the joins can open up.
Constance, it was lovely to hear someone talking sensibly about wearing a corset. It was your talk at the end of the video that really made me think about speaking out. Mum always said "pay debts and complients"
Since making myself an ankle length skirt I find myself more often taking my courage in both hands and complimenting other women on their style. So often it turns out the lady has made the garment herself. It is lovely to see someone's shoulders lift and a smile on their face when you say something nice to them.
I hop you enjoy wearing you skirt and yes indeed it is nice to be able to compliment people you either really enjoy there dressing or clothes they have made. a spontaneous comment is so often so kind I am very lucky that I can live dressing just as I choose
I loved this, it’s interesting how that over the centuries, we have stopped using undergarments and padding to achieve the “fashionable” shape. We are now squeezing ourselves into restrictive shape wear, dieting and exercising to extremes to achieve a fashionable figure, which for many of us is unobtainable. We just have to accept there is no such thing as perfect, and learn to love ourselves as we are. I have the advantage of age, I’m 58, and have always had an hourglass figure, though most of the sand has now slipped to the bottom. Over the last 40 years, I have been every size between a 10-18, 2 pregnancies have left their mark, but I have always refused to bend to the “fashionable”, preferring to dress for functionality, comfort and for occasions, appropriately. Fashions change frequently, but damage done to your body trying to be fashionable, is harder to repair if not impossible. My advice is to embrace your mum-tum, accept that as you get older you won’t have the same shape as you did, it’s not a failure, it’s just life…
I am so glad you liked it. I am not so enamoured of the past that I feel they always got it right, following the hight of fashion at any time including to this day is not always a happy path but yes comfort and pleasure in how I dress pleases me far more than looking fashionable, but thats been a long journey indeed.
What a wonderful trip through your normal week. Hopefully, this will help people understand what it's actually like wearing a corset on a daily basis. Victorian and Edwardian women did actually have a say in what they wore and were not barbarians! If something didn't feel comfortable to wear all day long, why would they torture themselves? They made corsets to be comfortable as long as it fit correctly! Thank you for a wonderful video!
Thank you very much. I am glad you enjoyed it. I am carrying on with it this week as I had fun and was relatively comfortable and had so much better sewing posture.
@@stanceymackenzie That's fantastic. Have fun with it!!
You said exactly what I was thinking,like why would women bear the pain when they can just simply loosen or change their corsets to fit them better?
It portrays women of the Victorian and Edwardian eras as complete airheads and women that had no say in their lives at all.
I love the safety pin count! Honestly, I should start doing that.
It amused me as I went through the week so I added it, but it does represent my life surprisingly well
I love watching your videos showing that, yes, you certainly can wear vintage styles of clothing for everyday wear, but not stand out as much as your self-conscious brain is telling you that you must be. ❤
Really enjoyed the video and seeing all your corsets. I find fit and proportion are always the key to feeling comfortable and looking good no matter what garment it is.
8:26 i chuckled at your comment, i am a construction worker who works outdoors and does heavy lifting, but i love sewing and im finding this content to be so fun to consume and im learning quite a lot! :0)
Sewing does occasionally require heavier lifting than people expect and the use of both hand and power tools. However I do generally live a fairly gentle life. I am glad you are enjoying your excursion to the sewing world.
Your variety of foundation garments is envy-inducing ✨️ Loved this experiment, thanks for taking us along!
Thank you very much.
I very much enjoyed this video! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you.
I'd love to see you make some everyday kirtles! I've been meaning to make some and have been putting it off!
Oh good. I definitely want to give it a try, although I do also need some new Re-enactment costumes
I think you are definitely adding to the conversation with providing a normal week of wearing clothes--much like our ancestors would have done. The limited amount of learning I have from watching historical costumers on YT is that in the 20th century we started expecting to change our bodies in size to fit the clothes instead of making clothes fit our bodies to create desired shapes and silhouettes. I had strained my back a couple weeks ago and the thing that made it feel better and allow me to move? My corset. It definitely makes me not slouch!
Hope your back feels better soon. I think fashion has always been ridiculous at certain times in history, but well fitting clothes in any century will always be more comfortable
I have scoliosis but the degree of the curves aren't sufficient enough to warrant my insurance to cover a custom molded scoliosis brace so my physical therapist who works with my spine orthopedic and my pain management provider (they all work through one multi aspect of care orthopedic practice-> South Florida Orthopedics), recommended that I purchase an OTR corset so she and I found Orchard Corset and found two corsets that best matched my measurements. A CS345-underbust and CS530-overbust that we modified a bit by threading elastic cording through the binding at the top and bottom of the corsets.
I often sleep in my corsets to keep my body (and back) from contorting into wonky positions that would otherwise result in pain.
Bonuses of corset wearing- different colors and fabrics along with the many sorts of styles, able to have a more defined waistline, there is ease of how loose or tightly laced you are and can adjust at will and the choices of laces are astounding and one can get many different colors (I like the satin ribbon laces from orchard corset) that can be changed as desired.
@@lesliehyde That is SO COOL! Thanks for such a thoughtful reply!
I really enjoyed your video. It was very informative and it helped me to decide with which corset type garment I would begin. I think you’re really cool to dress the way you want to… I still struggle with that… Slow progress… Looking forward to your next video!
Very interesting. Maybe you'll take us along for the sewing of the kirtle and new corset? 😍
I actually find it quite hard to film my sewing, I know that sounds daft but I will see what I can do.
What a spectacular video, As always I feel a kindred spririt in the safety pin count and the not having actually put hook and eyes on one of the waistbands... I also really enjoyed seeing some of how you do your hair... has my mind going about my own hair...
Thank you so much, I had only added a waistband to the skirt with no hook the day before I had been trying to wear it with just a facing but it slipped and slid to much so now that I have added the waistband I will eventually add a hook. I always to may hair the same it just has a greater or lesser degree of curl.
My favourite part is the safety pin count. That is so you. 😀
Thank you, I would fall apart without them in so many ways.
I very much enjoyed the safety pin count 😂 I'd love to learn more about your waterproof cotton hem facing! That sounds immensely practical. Is it waxed cotton or something else? A modern fabric or a reproduction made in a historical manner? How does it impact laundering the skirt? I'd guess it would also act as a bit of hem stiffening, to some degree. My mind is whirring with ideas for this! One of my hesitations about adding long skirts to my wardrobe is mucky hems and a waterproof facing is a genius idea!
Love this new video! It was very interesting to see your experience in several different types of foundation garments. I’ve seen other videos where a corset was worn for a week but never the various styles. Thank you so much for another great video!
I am so pleased you enjoyed it, thank you very much.
Thanks so much for taking us along on your wardrobe choices while you’ve been away at work! It sounds like you were very comfortable through most of it, and only just gave yourself more projects to work on for the future. 😉
Thank you. Yes always more projects but I would not have it any other way.
Fabulous video Constance! Great to see all the different shapes & styles of corsets fitted to one person, & then to hear your feedback & review of the day wearing each one. Love your layering & cardigans - we just had a very warm weekend of 32 degrees, so allI I can do is look longingly at my cardigan collection & all their woolly coziness and say “ soon, soon my lovelies”!
I am so glad you liked it. Thank you.
Lovely to hear from you again. Thank you for tossing your hat into the ring, it was lovely to have such an informed opinion.
Thank you very much I am glad you liked it.
As always, Constance, your videos are lovely and pack with sensible content. Thank You
Thats very kind of you many thanks.
Thank you for mentioning the bit about collars. It annoys me that these articles on the supposed evils of corsets always ignore how stiff and restrictive historical menswear could be. Some early 17th c doublets had whalebone in them.
I suspect that part of the reason actresses in period dramas are so uncomfortable is that they spend a lot of time sitting around doing nothing in costume between takes. Also, they're probably not allowed to adjust their lacing because the directors want to maintain continuity in their appearance.
having been in fittings and on set, I feel a lot of the discomfort come from fittings being relatively short and the corset probably seemed fine for that time and yes the day becomes draining. directors are less interested in continuity (there are other people employed to worry about that.) but yes the days are very long. Then again I have been in a four hour long fitting going over many styles and changes of corset with an actress who never complained once.
I have just finished my first ever corset.
It’s an under bust style by NZ corsetry.
I wore it to work today, and really enjoyed it. Yes, driving was tricky, but I managed.
Ah that's great enjoy your new corset adventures.
So brave you are!! My grandma would come back from the dead to beat me if I ever sewed what I was wearing, because that means a death omen will be following! Two harbingers is death, sewing repairs while wearing the garment and sweeping the floor at night, after dark.
Oh I must be bringing many harbingers on myself and others as I sew myself and others into clothes all the time.
That wasn't dull at all! I hunch over my sewing machine like a near-sighted troll, some back support would probably do me some good.
I am glad you liked it. I definitely found the posture an improvement
What a joy to see a video from you! Usually I'm at Costume Drama with you on the other end of the line to Noelle lol . As a quilter I have to ask about the quilt. Is it yours, did you make it? Lovely! Enjoyed your corset wearing research 👍🤗💝
Thank you. The quilt was made by my Nana (she went though an very concentrated quilting phase) and I have a few of them and they are very lovely.
Watching and knitting another pair of socks, because hand knitted socks are the most comfortable socks that you can wear, as you make them to fit your feet and put in the features that use your foot shape and can reinforce where you know your socks will wear. Love your style. I could do with a bit more posture while knitting. Maybe I'll pop on a corset.
I love knitting socks, so glad you liked the video. Happy stitching.
I wear my 1880's riding corset a lot, it's great for doing work around the farm and since I'm going to be teaching at a university for a few weeks I plan on wearing it then too for posture support. I also have a 1903-ish one in the works. But don't know how much I'll use that for everyday wear.
PS: I love your cardys. I'm a fan of them myself and will often throw them on.
They are lovely cardys are they not I have several different shades of brown.
@Constance MacKenzie I love cardigans but as a food server in a nursing home I am often in a heated building and as I run around I just get too hot.
@@stanceymackenzie Brown is always a great colour. Mine are either brown, grey or green. Nice "neutrals" that pretty much go with everything.
Hi Constance! Always lovely to see what you are up to! Your wardrobe, as always, is exquisite! I really need to pull my finger out and get on with sewing garments for myself! Being a knitter, I'm always very interested in which items you may have knitted yourself. The beautiful red Shoulder shawl caught my eye! Anyways, best wishes to you!
Thank you very much. I love knitting mostly small projects so the shawl is one of mine plus the three different hats are either knit or crochet and the little Miss Marple Scarf. Happy stitching.
Things I can never forget I'm wearing: contact lenses, bras, shoes, non-elastic waistbands, collars, wool against my skin, steel plate armour... I'm hoping a corset doesn't fall into that category too but so far with the one I've made, I need to loosen up around the ribcage by more than an inch.
Good point I never forget I am wearing contact lenses despite trying many times to adapt to them. I think I prefer corsets. Good luck with your experiments
Thanks Constance, that was very enjoyable. I agree, my regency long stays with synthetic whalebone and wooden busk are so comfortable; a good alternative to wearing a bra. I had to laugh about the hem though, I reckon it happens to all of us who wear longer woollen skirts with heels.
Thank you I am glad you liked it. yes its a permanent situation with the skirt hems.
This was a fascinating experiment, Constance. I work at sitting at a computer all day at home and wondered if a corset might help prevent slouching over the keyboard. I have to take into consideration not lacing tight to not set off my kidney stones moving, so very little reduction for health reasons. Love the safety pin count, made me laugh thanks for that. Other than the rubbing-in spots as mentioned, were there sore muscles from sitting straiter for longer periods of time?
On the topic of RBF, I received my RBF from my mom, since I strongly look like her. I had many coworkers when I was in the office, ask if I was okay just based on my facial expression. My concentration expression is scary angry apparently, lol. Hoping you can find the right shape for a new corset when you make your newest addition, sounds like the data of this wearing experiment will aid in that.
I realise with the RBF watching the footage back o must pull all those faces at work as well so I do understand. I noticed no muscle pain or discomfort from sitting straighter, driving is not perfect but I do two three hour drives a week so it’s not a problem for shorter journeys.
I glad you liked the video and the safety pin count, happy experimenting
Such a talented woman I think the wait is well worth it for the entertainment. My granny used to wear a corset like the 1910ish one, we all laughed as she was such a slim woman.
Birdy
Thank you.
Time to make all the corsets!
Absolutely
Thank you
You're welcome
Thank You for this video :)
My pleasure.
Thank you for sharing your week and thoughts with us💐💞
Thank you.
This was very informative and interesting, but throughout I wondered what project you were working on. Are you able to share this information?
I am afraid not, hence the rather vague glossing over of that fact. Maybe it will be available next year if all goes well.
I cant wear lovely curvy corsets. Mine are more tubular,but it means I can wear modern cheap ones and they work quite well. I do have 2 vollers though,that I Love!!
Wont rabbit skin size break down as you emit humidity into the fabric,or move about?
I’m very curious about the rabbit skin glue hence the experiment I actually made three different types of buckram and I need to test them all out. I’ve work the bodies on and off quite a lot but still need do a longer wear test. You build up the buckram over a few layers so it should remain structurally sound.
@@stanceymackenzie the reason I asked is the sort of hide glue used on things like violins is hydroscopic,it attracts water and means the instrument can be opened for repairs. In damp countries the joins can open up.
I meant hygroscopic!