![Maternity & Nursing Corset With Open Bust, Elasticated Panelling & Laced Side Seams By Corset Au Coeur, c. 1910s, France. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice]()
The End of Maternal Corsetry
The end of the nineteenth century was marked by several political, economic and social changes that permanently affected the fabric of Western communities. To understand how these changes were reflected in the lives of ordinary people, it can be useful to explore their effect on clothing and more specifically, women’s undergarments. The changes that occurred in breastfeeding garments from 1900-1945 illustrate how social, economic and medical practices shaped the objects being designed during that time.
![c. 1830s corset - The Underpinnings Museum]()
New Acquisition: c. 1830s Corset
Earlier this year, The Underpinnings Museum ran its first major fundraiser since 2016’s Kickstarter (the crowdfunding campaign that helped us to launch this website). We took to social media to ask our…
![Behind the scenes at day 2 of the Underpinnings Museum photoshoot in July 2018]()
Behind the Scenes at an Underpinnings Museum Photoshoot
Running an online museum with people who live in three different European countries is exciting, but also means it’s very easy to forget how different things can be when you’re chatting in…
![Pointed Tea Rose Brocade Coutil Girdle With Side Lacing, c. 1930s, France. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice]()
#UPMTC: The curious history of Radioactive Corsets, by Lucy Jane Santos
This blog post documents the Underpinnings Museum Twitter Conference presentation by Lucy Jane Santos, entitled The Curious History of Radioactive Corsets. This presentation will look at the surprising use of radioactive materials…
![Liberty 'Nu-Back' girdle, manufactured by R & W H Symington & Company, c.1935-61. Donated to London College of Fashion Archives by Lorraine Smith]()
How Did Corsets Evolve Into Girdles?
The change from ‘old-fashioned’ corset to ‘modern’ girdle began in the 1910s with the help of some Parisian couture houses who began to adopt features of alternative modes of dress. For around…
