I chose this maternity corset females from the 20th century wore during pregnancy. This corset contradicts with my idea of fashion and its relationship to my body. The purpose of a corset is to synch in and emphasize a woman’s waist. During that time period, the idea of beauty is extreme contrasts and drama. Women were appreciated for large blossom, extremely tiny waist and wide hip. I call it artificial beauty. Fashion from the period altered and manipulated the body. “The fashion industry has historically treated the body (particularly the female body) as malleable, something that can be molded and changed with the cut of a garment, sculpting underwear…” In a way, the body is merely a mannequin to display fashion: fashion is the focus, not the wearer. Fashion designed in the 1900’s were appreciated for its given structure to emphasizes its value and the wearer’s status. On the other hand, in today’s trends, we tend to shape the garments to fit our body and show off the natural curves of human bodies. We determine the value by its material and fit. I dress oppositely to how women from this time period dresses. I enjoy wearing oversized clothing to cover myself up and only show the slimmer areas. Unlike a corset that shows curves, I show shapes and drapery of my garments. In a way, like what a corset does, I am also disrupting my body through fashion. I am also allowing fashion to be the focus when its place on my body.
