@Ashley Morgan @Nasma Begum @Ecom solomon Godwin Welcome Welcome to The Atelier Hub A sewing group different to all the others, we discuss ALL sewing disciplines, history, technical and much more. Building in real time, very excited to have you all here! Do introduce yourself, and any questions, pop them into the hub as we're here to help 🤗 Claire Amelia ps. corsetry month history chats was fun! Can't wait to share what's next up, we may get measuring...

As we reach the final chapter in our historical corsetry journey, it's fascinating to see just how dramatically foundation garments changed throughout the 20th century. Unlike previous centuries, where silhouettes evolved gradually, the 1900s brought rapid social, technological and cultural change, and corsetry evolved alongside it. The Edwardian Years (1900–1910) The century opened with the elegant S-bend corset, designed to create the fashionable "health corset" silhouette. These corsets encouraged an upright posture with the bust pushed forward and the hips gently back, creating the distinctive S-shaped profile that defined Edwardian fashion. The 1910s & 1920s As women's lives changed, so did their clothing. The First World War brought practicality to everyday dress, and by the 1920s fashion had shifted dramatically. The fashionable silhouette became long, straight and youthful. Rather than shaping the waist, foundation garments were designed to smooth the body and minimise curves beneath the loose-fitting dresses of the Jazz Age. For the first time in centuries, many women no longer wore heavily boned corsets every day. The 1930s & 1940s Fashion embraced softer, more natural lines. Corsetry didn't disappear—it adapted. Lightweight corselettes, girdles and foundation garments became increasingly popular, offering support without the rigidity of earlier corsets. Advances in textiles and manufacturing allowed garments to be lighter, more comfortable and better suited to modern lifestyles. During the Second World War, practicality and resourcefulness influenced every aspect of clothing, including foundation wear. The 1950s With Christian Dior's famous "New Look," structured foundations returned to fashion. Nipped waists, full skirts and beautifully sculpted silhouettes relied on carefully engineered undergarments, including waist cinchers, longline bras and girdles. While different from Victorian corsets, they shared the same purpose, creating shape through thoughtful construction.

As we continue our journey through the history of corsetry, we've reached perhaps the most recognisable era of them all the 19th century. When many people hear the word corset, this is often the image that comes to mind. Yet the Victorian corset was far from static. Throughout the 1800s, it evolved dramatically alongside fashion, technology and society itself. The century began with the elegant, high-waisted Regency silhouette, where corsets were relatively short and lightly structured. As fashions changed, so did the corset. By the mid-century, waistlines returned to their natural position, skirts became fuller, and corsets grew longer, offering increased shaping and support. One of the greatest developments of the Victorian era was the introduction of industrial manufacturing. Advances in metalworking transformed corsetry, introducing stronger steel busks and more reliable steel boning. These innovations allowed corsets to become both more supportive and more comfortable, while maintaining the fashionable silhouettes of the day. During this period, makers commonly worked with: 🪡 Cotton coutil and tightly woven cottons for strength 🪡 Linen and fine cotton linings 🪡 Flat and spiral steel boning 🪡 Steel busks for secure front closures 🪡 Hand-worked and later machine-set eyelets 🪡 Silk, satin, brocade and decorative trims for fashionable finishes The Victorian corset was also an extraordinary feat of pattern engineering. Carefully shaped panels, precise seam placement and graduated boning worked together to support the body while distributing tension evenly throughout the garment. It's important to remember that not every Victorian corset was designed for dramatic waist reduction. Everyday corsets were worn by women from many walks of life, providing support beneath clothing and helping garments fit as intended. Like modern bras or structured undergarments, they were practical foundation garments as much as they were fashionable ones. Many techniques used by modern corset makers continue to build upon Victorian innovations. From panel shaping and boning placement to busk installation and precision fitting, the craftsmanship of the 19th century still influences couture, bridal wear, historical costume and contemporary corsetry today.