Traditional Corsets VS Latex: All you Need to Know

Ever pondered whether you should invest in a traditional corset or latex shapewear? Here we provide all you need to know to make the best decision for yourself..

Being armed with all of the information you need to make a decision on choosing the right corset is a sure way to ensure you’ll be happy with your purchase. Corsets are investment pieces, which is why we take the time to provide you with all of the details you need to know when it comes to helping you find your perfect style.

A query that often comes up is whether more modern latex corsets are better than more traditional styles. With the intention of helping you make an informed decision to workout what’s best for your unique needs, here’s everything you need to know about traditional corsets VS latex…

A brief history…

For over 400 years, traditional corsets were the most popular undergarments worn by women. The traditional corset style was first worn in the 1600s, but the lace up back corset began to fall out of fashion in the early 20th century. As more modern textiles and fabrics became more widely available, stays and girdles became more popular. As a result, the more traditional corset became a specialist garment, rather than an essential everyday piece.

By the 21st century, performance compression wear, latex shapewear and Spanx were leading the way in the market. These modern garments are still being used for the very same reasons that corsets first became popular - to provide support and create a more desirable silhouette to boost confidence. Modern shapewear is considered to be more lightweight and practical, but there’s a variety of benefits that latex shapewear can’t offer in the same way that traditional corsets can.

The pros and cons…

As with anything, there are pros and cons to both traditional corsets and latex. To help you decide what’s best for you, here we look into the traditional corset’s benefits, and some downsides when compared to latex…

Pros:

● Profound waist reduction and bust support

● Fully adjustable, allows you to focus tension on the bust, waist or hips independently - control or comfort is the wearers choice

● This adjustable nature of corsets actually makes them more comfortable than shapewear

● Aesthetically more acceptable as lingerie than shapewear

● Can we worn as outerwear - few of us would like to wear shapewear as outerwear

● Improves posture.

Cons:

● Dry clean only, expensive

● Takes practice to get the corset on and off, also quite time consuming

● Not too sure what to do with the excess cord/lacing

● You shouldn’t get your corset wet, the metal components can rust

● More difficult to disguise underneath clothing (especially sheer fabrics or tight fitting dresses)

● Overbust corsets can be quite heavy on a hot day

● Can’t use them in the gym.

Traditional corsets VS latex: The conclusion…

Both traditional corsets and latex garments are quite different, and so what’s best for you really comes down to personal preference and your own unique needs. What we can state is that traditional corsets are better at waist reduction, can be worn as an alternative to a bra, and have more features with the adjustable lacing to adapt to the body shape. In addition, corsets are flexible - our weight fluctuates even during the day, and corsets can accommodate this as they are fully adjustable.

When it comes to cost, the price of traditional corsets is comparable to the price of shapewear. While there might be cheaper shapewear options on the market, a corset is a long term investment and can be worn for many years. Finally, corsets can be worn as outerwear, or underwear that you wouldn’t feel embarrassed of should it peep above your shirt or similar, whereas shapewear is typically designed to be hidden from view.

On the other hand, today many of us want easy to use garments that are simple to put on and easy to clean too. Corsets take a little more patience. You need to invest time into getting to know your corset and learn how to put it on without help. Many of us do still own garments that are dry clean only, but generally these are pieces that are special, and worn for special occasions only. Corsets are dry clean only, but we also see them as garments saved for special occasions.

There are many benefits that a corset can offer that shapewear just can’t match. For further assistance finding your perfect corset, we’re always happy to help: sales@corset-story.com