Corset

A corset is a garment worn to mold and shape the torso into a desired shape for aesthetic or orthopaedic purposes (either for the duration of wearing it, or with a more lasting effect).

Advantages and disadvantages of corsets

• Corsets can reduce pain and improve function for people with back problems or other muscular/skeletal disorders.
• Some large-breasted women find corsets more comfortable than brassieres, because the weight of the breasts is carried by the whole corset rather than the brassiere's shoulder straps. (Straps can chafe or cut the skin.)
• Corsets can instantly improve the figure without dieting, slimming drugs, or cosmetic surgery.
• Due to their tightness and close proximity to the body, corsets can make the wearer feel very warm. They have been most often worn in cool climates.
• The best corsets are custom made and personally-fitted. The more closely clothing or lingerie clings to the body, the more carefully it must be fitted to look and feel right. In modern times, when labour costs much more than materials, custom clothing can be extremely expensive. Even finding a competent corsetiere can be difficult.
• A badly-fitting corset can chafe, impede digestion, damage ribs, or pinch nerves.