Waist cincher

A short corset, 1860, of one part.

A waist cincher (also known as a Waspie) is a short underbust corset. The garment ranges in length 4 to 9.5 inches. It begins just under the bust extending just above the hips.

Today

There has been a resurgence of the waist cincher in the 21st century. They have become an increasingly popular garment. This is tied to the perceived health benefits of waist cinchers. Claims span from rapid weight loss to an improved aerobic condition of the body. There are 3 basic types of corsets, fabric, latex and rubber.

The short underbust corset cinches or nips the waist. Its length allows for greater mobility and is less restrictive. The waist cincher is used by beginners who wish to pursue waist training. Fabric corsets are crafted with traditional materials. Fabrics include statin, jacquard and cotton twill. They are supported with steel boning, have strong lacing, waist tape and a modesty panel to protect against lace burn.

Latex and rubber waist cinchers have the same qualities as their fabric counterparts. However, the material their made from has properties that make them attractive for weight loss and sports. These materials are elastic in nature. A garment constructed from latex or rubber compresses. A circular force pointed inward that nips or cinches the waist.

Compression from fabric corsets are achieved through lacing. The strong construction allows the laces to be pulled tight to nip the waist. Corsets have a special waist tape built in between the fabric layers to resist tear. Major differences in use and application arise when the properties of heat retention of considered.

Latex and rubber corsets retain heat. A property of the material their made from. Heat retention increases perspiration and maintains heat around the waist area. Claims for health benefits include removing toxins from the body, mobilizing fat cells and the ease of muscle soreness. Such claims for health benefits remain controversial.

Ribbon corset

The ribbon corset is made of pieces of ribbon, as opposed to fabric. In 1901, a simple pattern of silk ribbon, two bones, and a busk was available, allowing women to construct their own ribbon corsets.

A pseudo-ribbon corset looks like a ribbon corset but is made from cut cloth instead of ribbons. The outside seam of the cut cloth is sewn fine, while the tight inside seam is sewn plain and curved.

Function

A short corset from 1906

Short corsets have been used as light corsets for sleeping or light corsets that may be used next to the skin or over clothing. There are also elastic girdle belt styles that have been used on the inside of shape enhancing garments, on their own as shapeware (items designed to be worn under and not be visible that help smooth, shape the figure to improve look of the wearer.)

There are a number of modern fashions that resemble the styles of the past. From wide elastic belts to actual modern corset styles. The trend and styling of these belts moves rather quickly but the basic design remains the same elastic in the back with some sort of closure in the front meant to define the waist or accent an outfit.

The more traditional boned styles of corset still exist in modern corset making. The corset styles that best represent this classic waist clincher fashion are 'Spanish belts' that can also come with elastic in the back upon request, that acts very much like the more modern belt like styles.

There are more classic corset styles that the lighter styles have mostly adopted their fit and function from still available, they work basically the same way as the elastic and lighter styles giving accent to an outfit or defining a waist but they also offer better back support, some actually serve as a fashionable alternative to certain kinds of medical back braces; these styles include the 'French underbust' and the 'long line underbust'.

The "New Look"

Dior's "New Look" brought the waist cincher to popularity around 1947. In his autobiography, Dior wrote: "I designed clothes for flower-like women, with rounded shoulders, full feminine busts, and hand-span waists above enormous spreading skirts". The hand-span waists so beloved by Dior were achieved by foundations garments, of which the most popular was the waist cincher. Called the "waspie" or "guepiere", it became the quintessential undergarment of the "New Look". Boned and back-laced, it differed from the Victorian corset of decades past primarily in its length, usually only 6 to 7 inches. Fashion magazines of the time stressed that it was "super-light weight" and containing "feather boning". Such garments were worn tightly cinched at the waist, usually over a girdle. The combination was described by Anne Forgarty, an American dress designer who popularized the "New Look" in the US "To maintain your figure at its flattering best, depend on foundation garments to control and distribute; a cinch or tight belt to restrain."

Examples and similar corsets and belts

• 
  Bodice Belt
  (1893)
• 
  Straight-front short corset of ribbon, named Ribbon Corset, circa 1901.
  (concealed underwear 1901-1908)
• 
  Lady's belt,something between belt and waist cincher
  (visible 1902)
• 
  A Waist Cincher for rest.
  (concealed underwear c. 1905)
• 
  A Waist Cincher for a singer's costume.
  (visible c. 1905)
• 
  Belt Corset
  (concealed underwear 1920)
• 
  Inner Belt in corset, concealed underwear, but the same principle as a Waist cincher
  (1890)

Sources

• Waist Cincher 101
• Waist Trainer 101
• Waist Trainer Corset
• The Physical Properties of Rubber
• Waist Cincher 101 – Compression
• Latex Waist Trainer

See also

• Corset controversy
• Waist chain

External links

Media related to Waist cinchers at Wikimedia Commons