CORSETS ARE A NECESSITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 September 1939, Page 8

CORSETS ARE A NECESSITY

TRIBUTE TO MODERN DESIGN. A DOCTOR’S VIEWS. - -■» /.. . How do doctors regard corsets? Very rarely will a member of the medical profession discuss the subject, and rare still will he allow his comments to be published. It is particularly interesting, therefore, to have the views of a leading American doctor (who for reasons of professional etiquette wishes his name not to be disclosed).

To the first question—“Do you think corsets a necessity?” came the gratifying answer —“Yes.” He then proceeded to qualify his statement: —“If women would exercise properly they could dispense with the corset altogether, from the health viewpoint. But there is the difficulty. In the whirl of modem life it is impossible except in the case of the leisured few to do consistent and scientifically planned exercises Occupied as is every active woman today in a multitude of duties, business or social, it has become increasingly inconvenient to reserve the necessary amount of time and concentration for exercising.”

He then gave five specific instances where the corset was obviously essential:—

I—The1 —The brassiere is a necessity for nearly everybody 2. —In surgical cases a figure support of medical prescription must be worn

3. —Except in rare instances, age inevitably produces flabby muscles and disinclination for exercise This age barrier can, of course, be delayed If the body, however, has been allowed over a long period of time to go its own way, and no steps have been taken to keep the muscles toned up, it'is more difficult to restore a pendulous abdomen or bust to its original and natural state by mere exercising. Here the corset is necessary for the maintenance of health and as an aid to posture.

4. —People who in spite of exercise, are glandularly constructed to put on fat, find the corset a valuable aid in distributing the flesh and rendering it less obvious, if not entirely disposing of it. 1

5. —From the aesthetic point of view, the line of the figure can be improved and enhanced by the gentle moulding which scientific corsetry affords, and Doctor X temporised that the corset may be more effective than exercising in moulding the figure into graceful lines

Every now and again there is heard murmurs against the foundation which persist from the bad old days of corsetry In other words the objections do not apply to modern corsetry at all, but are a relic of the long-past iron (c) age of corsetry, when corseting mearit tight-lacing, wasp waists and compressed busts. Modern corsetry is an etirely different thing. It is based on health. And Dr X, appreciating this, summarises as follows: that provided it is fitted by an expert who has some knowledge of anatomy (and most corset fitters have) the modern foundation, with its skilful planning' and scientific design, is as much an aid to health, through support and good posture, as it is to beauty, f