Tag: history

Waist Trainers- Do They Really Work

While you’d think that waist trainers were a new fad brought forth by the Kardashian sisters you’d be wrong.  Waist trainers or corsets as they were called in days of old have been around for centuries. Ever since Eve donned her leaf women have wanted to accentuate the positive and a corset is a great way to get the curves every woman wants and every man desires.

What exactly is a waist trainer?

Good question!  Waist trainers are bands of fabric worn around the waist to pull the abdomen in tightly giving a woman more pronounced curves.  Often these body shapers are worn under clothing and help women have a more slender looking midsection. Women are also wearing them while they work out to give them more focused results in their tummy area.

The history of the corset:

Corsets first gained popularity in the Victorian era in sixteenth-century Europe.  However the earliest image of what appears to be a corset dates back to 2000 BC. Prior to the Victorian era corsets were tightly laced bodices worn from childhood until the wedding night to ensure modesty in young girls.  In the 1500’s corsets were introduced to France via Italy. At that time corsets were often worn with large bell shaped skirts popular at the time.  The corset not only made the waist slender but it also pushed the woman’s bosom up. By the mid sixteenth century corsets were popular among European and British women and often featured whale bone to keep them ridged and stiff.

By the 18th and 19th century corsets were less constricting and much more comfortable.  At this point they were mainly used to support the breasts and improve posture.  In the late 19th century worries about the dangers of the corset began to circulate causing a decline in their popularity.  However by the early 20th century they reappeared this time rebranded as “health corsets”.  The new design forced the torso forward and the hips back creating an “S” or swan effect.

Waist trainers today:

Today’s best waist trainer for women are used for health and aesthetics.  These trainers are worn to actually move the wearer’s internal organs giving her slimmer abdomen.  It is suggested that you begin wearing the waist shaper for a few hours a day working your way up to 12-14 hours.  As your body gets used to the tightness you slowly cinch it down more and more until you reach your desired size.

Some women wear their waist trainer while they work out resulting in a focused sauna type treatment on the abdomen.  The claim is that by increasing heat in the area you in effect melt unwanted fat away. Studies show that you can lose 2-4 inches in a matter of days.  It has also been touted that by wearing the waist trainer you’re are forcing your abdominal muscles to stay engaged thus working them and getting them toned much quicker than if you were not wearing a waist trainer.