Casting Off The Corsets

This history of underwear is filled with a pageant of garments that are unhygienic, erotic, uncomfortable, mind bogglingly impractical, and frequently just plain funny.

Among them are heavy duty corsets, liberty bodices, voluminous knickers and knitted bathing costumes, which sagged alarmingly when wet! The wonderful photographs and illustrations in the book include a pair of Queen Victoria's vast drawers, with full Royal monogram. She was given to passing them on to ladies in waiting who had given special service.

Before brassieres, a full bosom was kept in place by a pair of stays. These were useful as a deep and generous décolletage could conceal a handkerchief, purse or even a letter. King Louis XIII once used a pair of sugar tongs to retrieve a letter he wished to read from just such a hiding place.

Pocket size (softcover) 64 pages

Author: Dulcie Lewis

ISBN 9781846742675