I have been reading about the Court of Catherine de Medici in 16th century France. She set a trend that was copied by the ladies of her Court for a thirteen inch waist. If the ladies couldn't span their waists with both hands, fingers touching, then they were regarded as unfashionable and a tad porky!! They reached this narrow status by being laced, winched almost, into very tight and restrictive corsets that caused many to faint as they could not draw breath properly. Would you wear a restrictive corset to get your waist down. Would you be willing to go to thirteen inches! Have you ever worn very restrictive clothing just for the sake of fashion?
[question posted by p1kef1sh]
responses and comments:
i would love to be 13 inches! sorry, i got a bit off thread there. right now i would wear restrictive cloathing to combat my beer/vodka/brandy/wine belly and a male corset would be just the ticket right now! [xboxboy]
You got that right Danish! [ljegbers]
Okay, that's just gross. I imagine today she'd be being treated for anorexia and a host of other mental disorders. Even if, as laughable as it is, I wanted to have a 13 inch waist, it could never in a million years happen. I have worn restrictive clothing before for the sake of fashion, but more in the form of jeans that were too tight or bras too smothering. Now, not a chance. I dress for comfort. Style can take a flying leap. [galadr1el]
You brought up an interesting point. Anorexia, eating disorders can cause mental disorders because your body is in overdrive to just stay alive. Plus, you deprive yourself of food, for that thirteen inch waiste, and your body and your mind waste away. No wonder during that time period the woman were deemed decorative ornaments! They had the mental capacity of a clothes hamper! [ljegbers]
Of course! I would love to have thirteen inch waist! I would gladly wear a corset to achieve this! At first I was really confused, I was thinking of different Catherine de Medici of France, the wife of Henri II and mother-in-law of Mary Queen of Scots-- She was, by today's standards, utterly obese! [iheartblogging]
Please give it a try and put a photo up. It's the same Catherine by the way. She was 69 when she died. How large she was then I really do not know. [p1kef1sh]
Oh pikey, I think all of us women have at sometime worn clothes that were a tad too tight for fashions sake. But a waist of 13 inches. Hell no way! That is mad crazy. Even at my smallest when I was in my 20's I was no smaller than a 26". Who the hell was that tiny! Those poor women! No wonder they fainted! I can't imagine! If that Catherine person could see us now she would faint and call most of us boars and hogs and worse! I would never be uncomforatable for fashion sake again. I wore those horrible heels for years. Sheer torture! Never again.! [Opal26]
I thought the same thing at first too P1key and it's not nearly as late here...I guess my silly female brain playing tricks on me or my horribly huge 26 inch waist getting in the way LOL [foxyfire33]
Not on your life! Just this morning I was giving my husband holy h3ll about men being attracted to overly feminine women, and then complaining about how much time they need to spend on keeping themselves that way. It is promoted by designer clothes. I love some of them, but it would be fantastic if they catered more to real size women... every day sized women. They cater to only one or two of the body shapes out there. You have to be so skinny it is probably unhealthy for the majority of people, and a lot of times you have to be that skinny and still somehow manage to still have curves. So women spend tons of time working out and dieting none stop and even increasingly add in cosmetic surgery! It also costs MONEY to remain that way too....all for the sake of fashion. Mind you my husband isn't attracted to EXTREMELY feminine women (he married ME, didn't he?) my b^tching was more general than anything. I am still pisssed off at the general male population who continues to give women the approval they seek, when they do fashionally STUPID things like that which you described above. [danishcanadian]
I have a theroy here, but if the general population of women were more secure, then they wouldn't be killing themselves to "look" like what another deems as sexy or attractive! I don't think it's really the male population, but it's the marketers of the female and her body that cause these men to want something else. If you make something the desirable, market it that way then you're going to continue to have women buying all that crap and trying to kill themselves to have the body and looks all because someone else said that is what is "pretty". Disgusting isn't it? [ljegbers]
I used to have a 24 in waist....ahhh the good ol days! Nope I wear what is comfortable and what I like. Used to wear too tight stuff, though. We would wear our jeans so tight that we had to lie down on the bed, hook a clothes hanger through the zipper tab and us that to pull them up to zip em closed! YOUCH! I guess I am a 'tad porky' now! LOL! [Irishfrndly65]
mm hhmmm, cleaned em lately? {{giggle}} [Irishfrndly65]
lollolI couldn't even get my leg down to 13 inches, so my waist is certainly never going to see that no matter if they use a truck winch to pull the strings on a corset. These woman could very easily damage their internal organs.. no wonder woman way back then used to have fainting spells... not enough oxygen to their brains. [OreoCookie3]
I think that they did damage themselves Oreo. Literally suffering for their vanity. [p1kef1sh]
Umm...no! I would wear something that held things in place a little neater...I mean come on, after 6 kids I just don't have a flat tummy anymore! But that's as far as I'm willing to go. A 13 inch waist...absolutely not, that just sounds disgusting! Mine is a perfectly reasonable 26 inches and I'm fine with that...I wouldn't mind getting my 24 inch one back but I haven't seen it since I was 17. I like to wear pretty underwear that keeps everything in place under my comfy work out clothes, and finish it off with my comfy and oh so stylish running shoes (yea...they're sexy lol). I can't say that I've worn resrictive clothing for the sake of fashion...unless you count the few times I was busting out of my maternity clothes but refused to buy new ones since I was due any day and was not going to look like a total slob wearing my 6ft 200 pound hubby's clothes LOL. [foxyfire33]
I was once a 28 inch waist Foxy. About 28 years ago now! Your waist sounds great. I've not been pregnant once and mine's embarrassingly large!! [p1kef1sh]
hi pikey oh I have always had to fight a weight problem and oh my thirteen inches no way I would have passed clear out. when I was young and a bit foolish,as opposed to old and a bit foolish, I had dieted and was down to a twenty four inch waist and got a size thirteen blouse that unfortunately buttoned all the way down. I went out with my husband,we were still newly weds,no babies yet, and ate in this nice restaurant. I wondered why the waitress kept looking at me and sort of grinning then I looked down and half the buttons were already unbuttons as my not petite bosoms sort of strained against restraint. lol I wanted to hide under the table but just rebuttoned and tried hard not to'breathe much.lolMy husband was not helping either as he was trying not to laugh. he had a wicked sense of humor.well I got home and took off the damned blouse. then sat down and bawled. then i told my husband I was going back on a diet to lose that big busts of mine. he said if you do that I swear I will spank you,I love those breasts just the way they are, I weighed a healthy 135 then. so I did not do any more dieting. but I sure should have after two kids in ten months. from then on it was all disaster as far as my weight was concerned. [Hatley]
I can just imagine you "busing out all over" Hatley! Still, he was right. We men love our wife's "charms" and don't want them messed with!! [p1kef1sh]
OMG they would be doing a lot of winching to get my waist to 13". I am so glad I do not follow trends. I cannot wear anything that is tight. My clothing has to be loose and comfortable. [Goodie123]
I don't like tight clothing either Goodie. Not much chance of my waist getting down to that size either! [p1kef1sh]
Catherine de Medici! Humph! I've always been a perfect 36! .............. 12, 12, 12! Got HER beat! LOL [sparkofinsanity]
And very pretty they are too! Dimples and all! ROFL [sparkofinsanity]
I saw a woman on the TV the other night with a waist about that size. She looked like she would break if the wend blew. She had about ugliest shape I ever saw. She really looked like an hour glass. I can imagine how miserable Countess of Catherine de Medici had to be. There is no way I would want to be that miserable as she had to be.Way back in the 60s we did wear girdles and I sure was glad when they went out of fashion. They not only held you in they also caused gas. I'm glad I'm past the age that fashion really matters. I just like to look nice and neat. [deebomb]
Galena Your right she does look like 2 triangles. [deebomb]
Nothing like that! Pantyhose and shapewear is about it, and not too tight. And heels (ouch)... but only for very special occasions basically... [dawnald]
Good job that women don't have to get themselves all corseted up these days Dawn. [p1kef1sh]
Hello! That sounds insane for me! Why would somebody want to be so thin to the point of being able to span their waists with both hands? I mean, that would be way too thin. Humans were not meant for that. I think that people exagerate a little bit when they try to be like that... And I don't find it attractive at all. Well, it's their body, not mine, so as long as I am not the one suffering from lack of breath, I can't say anything. Respectfully, Munhozmib. [munhozmib]
Well it was 500 years ago and there was a different attitude to dress then. [p1kef1sh]
I, respectievely, am not going to try anything similar to what you described, nor I will let my wife to experiment. It's complete insanity. Why would somebody want to suffer so much just because of the looks. I've already been wearing fashionable stuff, but that clothes were never meant to cause any pain to your body howsoever. [neuronic]
they might be wrong rasp [neuronic]
I wouldnt be able to manage a thirteen inch waist span if my life depended on it. I cant imagine it. They must have dreaded getting dressed in the morning. I AM not one to wear restrictive clothing for fashion. I dont even wear spanks. I'm jsut your basic slob I guess. Oh well, we make the other people look better. lol [snowy22315]
Must have ben awful for those women Snowy. How did they breathe? [p1kef1sh]
ouch,...no way, i never wear things for the sake of fashion realy...my own fashion is to wear things that are totally out :p well usually it's because i hate clothes taht are fahionable at that moment...like im stuck on bellbottoms and flares for over 6 years now and yet they are the most unfashionable thing at teh moment (especially in stupidly fashion-centric italy :p)...so much that i cant even find them in shops! as for the first part, my waist is not too wide so i cant complain in teh first place, but no i would never wear a corset just to make it thinner...i already have problems fainting without restrictive clothes :P [JoMarch]
aw thank you!*blushes* lol i dont know if they are back...i know that here they are all still stuck on cigarette-pants and i cannot stand those lol so i have like the same 3 pairs of jeans for 6 years:P but im totally not much updated on fashion either lol teh only brand things i have are my glasses (because i liked them so i got those) and my runners cos im obsessed with adidas stuff...but the rest im all for market stuff:p [JoMarch]
i dont think i can go to that extent..i mean wearing tight corset when you cant hardly breath..that is not my way of getting the desired waist... I would rather lose weight in a healthy way and be proud of my sexy natural shape (which is definitely not as small as that). But if the woman from that era think so then its their choices..im not really that fashionable..a trendy or whatever ... [vanities]
That size waist is almost beyond fashion. These days you'd haver to have your very own medical team as well!! [p1kef1sh]
hi there i don't think i could bring myself to do it. as i am a medium to large build & i much prefer to wear looser clothing & if people can't handle the way i look that is their problem not mine. 13" inches is far to little for me as many males that i know much prefer a bustier wahine(women) but not to big of course. lol latas lamb101 xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo [lamb101]
blushhi there i might just have to do that lol hehehehehe rolleyesrollin across the floor in laughter latas lamb101 xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo [lamb101]
I hate binding clothing! I also can't abide things tight across my chest because of my costocondritus. So, no, I would not bind myself for NOTHING - I can just be porky! [ElicBxn]
I don't think that i would manage that kind of restriction either. How did they breathe? [p1kef1sh]
No way would I want my waist thirteen inches. I would'nt even think of wearing a corset. I like my clothes loose not tight. [babystar1]
Me too. What a thought. [p1kef1sh]
Bugger fashion ... I've also read about women having ribs removed in order to have smaller waists. Unfortunately, I don't give a hoot about fashion - just comfort. [guybrush]
sad... might give it a miss, then ... [guybrush]
I had a narrow waits decades ago, when I was very young. I don´t remember doing any special thing to achhieve it. But it wasn´t that narrow anyway. I remember that in Laura Ingalls´ "Little House" books, the author told that her father could span her mother´s wait with both hands. And remember too Scarlett´s O´Hara´s corset at Gone with the wind. I think we do a lot of nasty things to our poor bodies for the sake of fashion. Womwn´shoes and high heels are a demostration of it. But there are worse things we do: body piercing and tattoing, surgery with unneeded implants ( I wish I had more money, I´d do myself all overrasp). As I type, I play with one of my earrings.lol Happy postings [atacamaval]
Let´s not blame men for our stupidity. They have enough with their ownlol [atacamaval]
If they put a corset on me and cinched it to 13 inches my head would blow up to the size of the Good Year Blimp and my eyes would look like something from the movie Roger Rabbit. I would literally explode into bits of flesh all over the room. What a horrible sight that would be. As for your question, oh yes, of course, I have worn restrictive clothing for the sake of fashion and sometimes still do, but find I am doing it less and less. Lets take shoes for example, for the most part I wear comfortable shoes, after all, I'm on my feet all day, but that doesn't stop me from buying high heels that are cute and sexy, that I will probably wear once or twice but will look marvelous in my closet. [kbourgerie]
Cute and sexy. Yep. Sounds like you!! That's not a good image of the blimp though. Just keep you waist at 15 inches! [p1kef1sh]
Whew thought this was going to be another fantasy discussion..lol lucky I read on..But to answer your question although I would like to be fashionable at times I wouldn't wear a corset at all. I love my comfort to much and so I would definately be considered a porker. Havin their waste constricted like that could have very well caused alot of the womans death before old age because it hurt their internal organs or something and also needed oxygen that was needed for the brain and body to function properly no wonder woman of that time were thought mostly as childbearing dimwits and had no respect for their thoughts or ideas well most anyhow. [mtdewgurl74]
blushI doubt I could have passed it up if it had been a fantasy or a sexual discussion..lol I just enjoy your discussion..lollol There is no way someone would fall asleep reading them.yawn I do believe that the corsets were what called alot of the Health issues that woman went through in those times. I mean they were always having vapors or passing out. It couldn't have been to healthy to have all the organs squished up in there..barely getting the blood flow and oxygen they needed to thrive properly. [mtdewgurl74]
With a title like that I thought you were talking about something else! wink LOL Whether or not I was into fashion there is no way I would put myself through that! Not only would it be uncomfortable and unhealthy, but it is rather gross looking to have a waist that small. I'd rather wear comfy old sweats any day! rasp LOL [sacmom]
Maybe you would. LOL. [p1kef1sh]
I've been blessed with a slim waist but 13 inches is not something I will strive for. I recently saw a woman with a 13 inch waist on an Oprah Winfrey show. I didn't think it was attractive (but hey! who knows...she probably liked it). I don't try to follow the trend...I try to wear what looks good on me....wel, if my waist was wider than I liked, I'd rather wear something that gave the impression of a narrow waist than something that was restrictive for the sake of fashion. [SViswan]
Actually I found it funny....because she looked exactly like an hourglass and I felt she found it difficult to walk. I would never believe a person could have a waist so small if I hadn't seen it myself. [SViswan]
That's really unbelievable. Thirteen inches waistline, simply outrageous. I could spank this Catherine for being so savage in including the girls in her court to attain such silly trend. They fainted that means they can't breath. How dare she. Too good she's already dead and nobody will copy her trend. This is really an exploitation on ones body just for the name of beauty and fashion. That will lead to anorexia.angry [reckon21]
Five hundred years ago women were in a somewhat different situation to today. The fashion cannot have been good for them; I'm sure of that. [p1kef1sh]
as it happens, I do wear a corset to get my waist down. naturally my waist is about 30"through daily wearing of a corset, without the corset on I measure about 25-26" and have a much nicer shape. I wear a made to measure 20" corset on a daily basis. if I put fingertips to fingertips, thumbs to thumbs, if I had a third hand to add in, that would go around my waist, I reckon. 13" would simply not be possible for me. a body can only change so much. there are parts of the body that cannot be altered through corsetry. you have to bear in mind that in those days people were smaller than they are now. you only have to look at some doorways in older buildings. so this would not have been so unnacheivable then as it would appear to be today. for most women today, the victorian waist measurement is quite easily acheivable. surviving victorian corsets are usually 24" in size, and this is much the same as the most commonly worn size by Modern women who wear corsets in their leisure time (as opposed to waist training) as a fashion garment. I personally know lots of women who like to wear a corset when they go to a party or to the theater to see a popular broadway musical because they are comfortable and keeps everything in place. So it is definitely not as abnormal as it may seem at first. in fact, in victorian times, it was considered to be unladylike to tightlace to the extent of acheiving permanent waist reduction. it was a sign of loose morals. hehe. the picture I've attached is when I was about 6 months into waist training, and wearing a 24" it's smaller now. it's just another form of body modification, and so long as you take it slowly and don't push your body further than it can comfortably go (and a well fitting corset is actually very comfortable) then there should be no fainting and no health risks. [Galena]
the discussion does relate to much further than 200 years back, in this case. as I said, most people of a medium build would fit into victorian corsets with no trouble. we're not that different in size to then, and the victorian corsetted waist is not so small as people beleive, it was just accentuated by large skirts and wide shouldered clothes. whearas very few people could even be physically able to reach 13" in a corset. [Galena]
Hello my friend p1kef1sh Ji, Well, I have my reservations to remain comforatble in my out-fits. have a great day.rasp [shalu1975]
Hello my friend p1kef1sh Ji, Wow!great! your comments are really admirable with deep sense of hidden meaning. Have a great day.rasp [shalu1975]
No, I wont because its very uncomfortable. I need to breathe normally. Anyways, I'm not a model. I just want to get fit and healthy. [djoyce71]
Breathing must have been very laboured and uncomfortable for those women. Comfort is important. [p1kef1sh]
Heck no! That's insane like a small undeveloped girl! I love my curves but what if the woman is pregnant or doesn't know she is pregnant? That sounds like a terrible fashion trend, so painful. I wouldn't do it. [oraclemv]
That's a good point. I expect that pregnant women were exempt. But It must have had an awful effect on the inner organs. [p1kef1sh]
Hi friend 13" waist, na na , here most woman prefer 36" or above. Thanks for sharing, have a nice Sunday friend. Cheers. DR.SARAF PhD. [bhubaneshwar]
13" is a little dramatic isn't it? I hope that you are having a good day too. [p1kef1sh]
Hi p1ke well that's a bit over the top for me thirteen inch waist! a womans body must of looked really weird then...guess I would might wearing a restrictive corset to lose a few inches off mine if it does the trick but not to the extent of thirteen inches confusedlol littleowl [littleowl]
I wonder how they moved in those days Littleowl. Must have been quite slowly I think. I need a corset I think. LOL. [p1kef1sh]
i actually own several corsets... and yes... i wear them drawn so tight i am breathless. Oxygen is highly over-rated. i'm a tiny woman to start with so for me the corset actually adds curves. i have passed out just from sitting down, because the corsets boning cut into me just right (or wrong?). Really the only point of a corset is for aesthetics, it is not designed for comfort. i can see how it wouldn't work for everybody, and i don't by any means wear them everyday...or for long lengths of time. Nearly everything in my wardrobe is for aesthetics though. My heals are all 5 in. or higher. Even my winter coats are more fashion forward than practical. So i guess i fall into the i'd rather look good than be comfortable pile if we are sorting. [property]
Property, I love your avatar, masterfully done. Symbolism can tell us so much, don't you think? Lash [grandpa_lash]
Nah! I would never wear a corset. Then again I am not a slave to fashion. I pretty much wear what I want and that is casual. I need to be comfortable. I can't imagine what it's like walking around not being able to breathe or sit down. Yikes! [seabeauty]
It's an interesting concept to be so restricted that you cannot breathe. I find a collar and tie enough! [p1kef1sh]
Na, I'm quite happy with my 30" waist which makes my jean size a perfect 10. I can't even imagine wearing one of those corsets. They used to take hours to put on, I would have to get up an hour early just to get dressed... [WhatsHerName]
Now I have worn a bra. It's a long story and the photo is on my profile page. That is an uncomfortable item of clothing! [p1kef1sh]
A TAD PORKY?! Okay, sure! They also miscarried, had major medical problems, died early, etc. and it was ALL due to their lacing! They LITERALLY squished their guts out, slowly and steadily! And had nerve enough to wonder why the hell they couldn't breathe, couldn't conceive and carry, continually fainted, and were in constant poor health! This is when women gained the "frail", "wispy", "weepy" reputation. You think of any cliche term for a woman, and this is when it happened. Cathy wasn't too bright, but she had a tiny waist with a huge @ss and t!ts. WTF?! On second thought, maybe she had it right after all. That IS the stereotypical hottie, right? At least girls today don't squish their guts out their anus... [FaerieAne2003]
That image of women squishing their guts out is somehow not a good image. However, you in that red corset is!! Lucky hubby. But I'll understand if you don't feel able to put a pic up!! LOL. [p1kef1sh]
oh i would love to! bizzarely a corset that fits well is not so much restrictive as supportive, i would echo what Galena said above, as it rearranges fat so long as it does it smoothly and evenly then it's not uncomfortable. Unlike underwired bras where a wire a millimetre out of place is agony! mind you getting my umm..40 something? waist down that far would be a thing of magic Women are a different shape now then they were 50 years ago let alone 500 years ago so the average waist size then , without corsetry, is smaller just due to better nutrition. There are still people who do do that kind of waist training but it is a specialist area! apparently the current world record belongs to a woman named cathie jung (www.cathiejung.com) who has managed to gett down to 15 inches. [indium]
Men in this country are often such slobs. Trouble with a belt is that the tummy either goes over or under the belly. Either way isn't attractive. [p1kef1sh]
Years ago when we first married the pantie girdle in vogue,and yes I was the proud owner of not one or two ,but lol quite a few of them!!and I never ever went out wothout wearing one.Yes they did a good job,but the flesh that was pushed in had to escape somehow,so it slid out of the top!and of course it helped resist amourous advances,there was no room for any movement!A thirteen inch waist,well maybe thats more like my ankle measurement!but I really dont know how there ladies withstood the pain and agony of it all,and im sure they must have difficulty with eating and drinking..let alone breathing..and nowadays we have the `wrap`..the body stocking that `holds it all in`,and Piky,im not into any of them,im just staying exactly the way I am! [ruby222]
Why not. Mind you I have nine Bottles of "Good Old Boy" to drink sometime. Not all at once of course. That would make me burp! [p1kef1sh]
They must have been small boned. Me I could not have done it even if I tried. They would have had to break my bones. I heard it was also the fashion in the nineteenth century. I would not do that. It would hurt and I could not even eat. I bet they died young of starvation. [suspenseful]
My grandmother had smelling salts and she certainly was not near 13 inches. She was large boned and small, but I guess it was a carryover from her younger days and for her friends who were small wasted. NO wonder women died young, could not breathe. I was thinking of that movie Pirates of the Caribbean when the heroine fainted and fell into the water because she could not breathe. [suspenseful]
When I was in my twenties, I had a 24 inch waist. But that was long ago and far away, darling p1key. These days, I'm happy if there's a curve at my waist. I'll happily accept that these days. ANd yes, I've worn restrictive garments for the sake of my waist, belly, and breasts. But I hate them. These days though, there's something called Spanks and their cheaper cousin, made by the same person, called Assets. A revolutionary change in undergarments made to "pull it in or up". They don't bind anywhere, are very lightweight, have no "ribs" or "bones", and don't cause that rise in Blood Pressure we used to get when we tried to pull those damn girdles on. Finally. Spanks and Assets were designed by a woman. Uh huh, a woman. That's why they're so comfortable. And after having 3 kids I can say that mothers everywhere are going to love the comfort level that can come with looking good at any age. XX [novataylor]
Fancy a woman being able to design something that other women find comfortable. They'll be designing kitchens next!! [p1kef1sh]
Hi p1, 13 inches? ohhh..I guess I will be look sick and unhealthy with that..LOL! SO, I will not! LOL! I want of course to wear something that will look my waist down..LOL! I am 28 inches and always wanted to have 24-25 but I wasn't successful! LOL!lolhappyhappy [checapricorn]
So if 4 inches take 6 months I shall be there in about two years time. Galena, you have an uphill battle with me I'm afraid!! I'd better go on a diet! [p1kef1sh]
Oh, I know! I feel so lucky to live in the modern age, sitting here in my cotton/polyester Land's End pants with the elastic waistband that allows me to truly BE porky! No wonder they used to have those "fainting couches." And didn't live very long. I can't even imagine the hell those ladies put themselves through. Better to be a peasant and be able to eat, I say! [MoonlightSerenade]
We are very lucky to live when we do. Even a hundred years ago fashions were much more constricting than today. Hooray for the peasants I say. LOL. [p1kef1sh]
If I were to try to squeeze my 34" waist into a 13" torture devise, I fear all of my innards would head either north or south ... or both ... with a blast that would be heard/felt worldwide. I cannot understand models and their obsession with a waist that I could encircle with less than two hands. Nah ... give me my 34" waist ... that way I'll have more room for more Natural Light as well as a love handle for whoever is interested to grasp on to. Memo to self: Rail thin is rail thin. Who REALLY wants to make love to a rail? (C) 2008 RJScott [rjscott]
Hmmm,did I misspell it? Spirm? [rjscott]
No lol. I have a relatively small waist anyway, I think it's 24 or 25 inches. When I was younger I think it was 22. Since having my daughter and being 10 years older, I think it is physically impossible for me to get back to 22 or less. I'm not complaining, don't get me wrong, but I like to breathe and be comfortable. I am only fashion forward to the point where it intersects with rationality. lol [mommyboo]
Oh to have a 25 inch waist. LOL. I agree though. Breathing is so useful in life. LOL. How did they do it in those days? [p1kef1sh]
Sheesh mine would be like 7 inches if I did that. LOL I'm trying to look a little thicker not thinner so this wouldn't work for me even for the sake of fashion. LOL [skinnychick]
OMG!! Um...NO! I would not wear clothing that restrictive. Even when I was really thin, 13 inch waist would have been impossible! I do not believe that could be considered healthy in any way, shape or form.happy And I definitely get categorized in the "porky" category!!! rasp [renitaperrone]
I think that it was extremely unhealthy even allowing for the fact that women were smaller in those days. Their internal organs must have been crushed and I have no idea how they breathed. [p1kef1sh]
No, no way, not a chance. That is just silly. I could certainly stand to lose a few pounds, but that is just crazy. This was very bad for them. Like you pointed out, the fainting thing. They would also starve themselves. How about binding the feet? OUCH! [laglen]
The Chinese used to bind women's feet until relatively recently. From my european male perspective I see nothing attractive in that at all. Corseting yourself to death doesn't sound too wonderful either!! That said, it can enhance the figure. It would take one heck of a corset to enhance mine though! [p1kef1sh]
OMG!! I so thought this was a whole different discussion!!blush now that i got my mind out of the gutter!! i would never do that. i love everything about my woman parts. my thick waist, my thighs everything. i would not go around fainting because so crazy chicks back in the day thought it was cool to be that small [34momma]
well honey 13 inches yes, a 13 inch waist, he!! no!!w00t [34momma]
This isn't exactly what I thought when I first read the title - lol I have to say I'll pass. I know the "tinny" waste thing was a fashion point. There were some Hollywood actresses that had their bottom ribs removed to look like their waists were smaller. You know I always wondered what kind of fetishes these people must have because of the pain involved with this. ???? Just speculating, thought I'd throw that out there. [ljegbers]
Mutilating yourself for vanity is pure madness LJ. Wearing such a device must have been very painful, although women were much smaller in the days. Goodness knows how they breathed. If they breathed! [p1kef1sh]
I think i would be one to stay on the "porky" side. I've never been one to follow the fads and fashions. Half the time the "in" thing makes me so mad because it doesnt look good on a normal average not stick thin person. PLUS you can rarely find anything but the in thing. [saundyl]
I know what you mean. I have a 19 year old daughter who complains all the time about fashion. She has enough clothes to start her own store, but she's always looking for something new. The idea of living a corseted lifestyle is not really one for me. Although I have had on respondent who I think looks stunning in her corset - Galena. [p1kef1sh]
wow a thirteen inch waist! i bet it's the dream of many women. however, i find that this is pretty hard to believe. our waist depends more or less on the size of our ribcage. our ribcage size in turn depends on the size of our organs. we've got the lungs, heart and stomach in the ribcage. i don't see how she can even breathe with a 13" waist. she won't be able to eat too as the stomach will be pressed against the back of the ribcage so much there's no space for food. cheers ;p [applefreak]
They were very restricted in their movements and fainted a lot..shocked [MsTickle]
Back in the days when I was a size 12, I had a pair of jeans that were a famous brand I can't think of the name for. I used to have to lie down to do them up. They simply had no shape and were really tough denim. Once I had them on for a while they would stretch slightly and be comfy. These days if things are too tight the excess me bulges out somewhere else and is not a good look, I'm into really loose fitting comfy things now (shame on me). The idea of a tiny waist like that is making me slightly physically ill. It would look so unnatural with the ribs and pelvis sticking out as it would....yuck! [MsTickle]
Ah Pikey...I'm touched by your kindness and thoughtfulness and tickled at the whole idea of it...it's a good thing we live a long way from each other....wubblush [MsTickle]
There is a trend in some areas of body modification and the BDSM scene for corset training, and I have heard believable reports of women trained down to 18" in this way. It's an costly fetish, corsets are horrendously expensive and you have to go through about 12 of them to reduce by 6". And 2" nipples if you want a little bit of food for thought. Lash [grandpa_lash]
Yes, I wish I'd had the time to read all the responses before I came in, Galena obviously knows far more about this than I. I look forward to the new pic though Pike. Lash [grandpa_lash]
Ah the lady from the family famous for poisoning their rivals. Yes they used corsets and they managed to distort the female figure in doing so. I have heard that by constant use they caused the body to grow to that shape. The trouble with these corsets is that they were unhealthy and caused women to faint a great deal, that is why women have a reputation for fainting so easily, it was brought on by the unhealthy corsets. As to me, no I have never tortured myself for fashion, I mean I have never been guilty of conforming to fashion. My boss used to be upset that she could not get me doing the make-up, pretty dress routine to try and look more professional. Well that is what she said, more feminine is what I said and I flatly refused to wear high heals. I tried that when I was young and I have many twisted ankles to show for it. High heels equal bad backs. They are EVIL. I do not know why men think women look pretty in high heels but they are a death warrant for a healthy spine. They should be exterminated!!!!!! [sharra1]
So you won't be joining my campaign to get Aussie women into heels then?! LOL. From a male perspective I thnk that women in heels attract on a number of levels. However, corsets! I find it quite amazing that women managed to get their waists so thin, although it had to have been life threatening. Presumably they didn't do too much of this when pregnant! Naturally I see nothing wrong in being feminine if you are a female. I was once "persuaded" by the ladies of this site to wear a bra as my avatar photo. (On my profile page if you want to see) Blooming uncomfortable if you ask me! [p1kef1sh]