Waist Management: A History of Unmentionables

Undergarments have been worn since the dawn of fashion to protect outer clothing from perspiration and soiling, while providing warmth, modesty and support for the body. However, undergarments have also been used to pad and bind the figure into exaggerated fashionable silhouettes. This exhibition is a visual journey through the sensational corsets, crinolines, bustles, and bras that have been used to idealize the female form since the 18th century.

Organized and circulated by the Fashion History Museum