In more contemporary history, Roman women bound their busts to match the ideal of a small-chested, large-hipped figure, Victorian women were obsessed with the “wasp waist” and used corsets to shrink their waists down to 16 inches, while flappers helped achieve their boyish figure thanks to hip-slimming girdles.
In case you missed it, shapewear has become a huge category in fashion lately. Far from the granny girdles of old, the sculpting gear of today — items include bodysuits, tanks and sculpting shorts — is sexy in its own right, way more comfortable than those worn by our mums and, most importantly, represent the values of inclusivity and body confidence. Which is ironic, considering that the point of shapewear is to mask lumps and bumps and present a smooth, refined silhouette.
Lest you thought shapewear was a modern affliction the industry placed on women, ’tis not so. The earliest record of this trend dates back to around 1,600 BC in Mycenaean Greece. The ancient Cretans who lived on the island pre-dating the Athenian invasion celebrated the female form in all its glory, and created undergarments that accentuated the waist, hips and breasts.
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