Corsets, or bustier as they are now called, are not what they used to be. It is claimed that women and some men wore corsets for aesthetic and orthopedic purposes since the sixteenth century. It is believed that they were invented by Mary Brush who patented them in the United States in 1815. Feminists traditionally viewed corsets as a symbol of repression against women. They were tight, stiff and close fitting undergarments that gave shape to the torso from the breast to the hips, giving the appearance of an hourglass figure. They had no straps or sleeves and were used for both temporary purposes (day or evening wear) or as a permanent method of body modification to achieve a slimmer waist. Ironically, the same corsets that were regarded as a symbol of oppression against women are now part of every fashion conscious womans wardrobe.

Corsets have been in again since the 1990s; most new styles are a derivation of the Victorian style corset. They have become a symbol of femininity and grace, though still not a favorite with feminists. Some still like to use the corset for some figure reduction, but most wear a corset as a fashion statement. Wedding dresses, bridal gowns and party dresses have a bodice that requires a corset to be worn underneath the garment. Corsets have also been endorsed by the most glamorous women of our times, such as Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, Ingrid Bergman and more contemporary stars like Kate Winslet, Madonna and Nicole Kidman.