Uploaded February 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Let's rank some corset scenes in historical shows and movies in a tier list-- but without being the historical accuracy police! It's the writing of corset scenes where the fashion history myths need to be debunked. Thank you to Ritual for Sponsoring this video. Get 20% OFF your first month Go to ritual.com/Snappy20
As a fashion historian, it's tempting to only consider the historical accuracy of how period drama corsets are MADE when looking at a corset lacing movie scene. But it doesn't really matter whether something is a reproduction Victorian corset or not, the problem with these scenes is to do with the corset myths the writing relies on. I ranked some favorites like A Discovery of Witches and Gentleman Jack, some old not-so-favorites like Titanic and Brave, and some new-to-me shows like The Alienist and The Essex Serpent. What I noticed was the same as in my last video about corset tight lacing scenes in period pieces : the corset itself is not the problem.
When period dramas rely on wearing a corset to do the work of character development or moving the plot along, I just see lazy writing! Relying on old corset myths that should be debunked isn't good for the story, but it's frustratingly common. Disney films like Brave use these tropes in garments that weren't corsetry! Pirates of the Carribean uses beautifully made 18th century stays which have been tight laced under improbably circumstances to get the characters where they need to go. The Nevers, which had very well-designed victorian corsetry, still insisted on doing the impossible and ignoring victorian dress history to make a character do a fight scene in her underwear. And shows like The Alienist and The Essex Serpent have wonderfully made historically accurate corsets, one of which is a reproduction of an extant Victorian corset, but the writers still use them in terrible corset torture scenes.
However, it is absolutely possible to give a corset a role in the story without resorting to tired old tropes. The Outlander wedding night scene does it reasonably well by making a corset a focus for character interaction : instead of relying on corset myths, it uses a very cute trope from Victorian literature! I loved seeing Anne Lister's corset lacing scene in the Gentleman Jack opening titles, because of how tough and assertive her mannerisms are. The 2017 Little Women miniseries also had a great scene where Meg March laces tighter than usual to wear a borrowed ball gown, but does a great job of showing that it's uncomfortable the way a modern evening gown might be to us. And the recent movie Corsage even manages to show a corset tightlacing scene that serves as good exposition, showing us the main character's mental state in a faster and more effective way than much else could.
It's not impossible to write a good corset scene in a historical show or movie, but it has to be done without using debunked myths or lazy, sexist tropes. Unlike a certain Metro article would have us think . . . the corsets are NOT the problem.
Join my Patreon for behind-the-scenes updates, pattern diagrams, research lists, monthly video chats, and more! patreon.com/snappydragonstudios
Or, you can buy me some Ko-Fi : ko-fi.com/snappydragon
Follow me on IG for more stitchy business : @missSnappyDragon
For business inquiries, send an e-mail to : SnappyDragon at TBHonestSocial dot Com
I do not take personal costume/sewing or research commissions.
Want to send me letters? Send mail to PO Box 11573, Oakland CA, 94611! Letters and cards only please 💚
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The Harborough Museum page for this corset is down, but you can still see the extant black-and-yellow Symington corset at this Google Images page : google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.harboroughmuseum.org.uk%2Fwpharborough%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F02%2FCorset-456x600.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.harboroughmuseum.org.uk%2Fblack-front-busk-corset%2F&tbnid=J_6Oa4HUmQywTM&vet=10CAIQxiAoAGoXChMIqKiyge-k_QIVAAAAAB0AAAAAEB4..i&docid=zXKm88Z7lsk6MM&w=456&h=600&itg=1&q=symington%20black%20and%20yellow%20corset&ved=0CAIQxiAoAGoXChMIqKiyge-k_QIVAAAAAB0AAAAAEB4
Let's rank some corset scenes in historical shows and movies in a tier list-- but without being the historical accuracy police! It's the writing of corset scenes where the fashion history myths need to be debunked. Thank you to Ritual for Sponsoring this video. Get 20% OFF your first month Go to ritual.com/Snappy20
As a fashion historian, it's tempting to only consider the historical accuracy of how period drama corsets are MADE when looking at a corset lacing movie scene. But it doesn't really matter whether something is a reproduction Victorian corset or not, the problem with these scenes is to do with the corset myths the writing relies on. I ranked some favorites like A Discovery of Witches and Gentleman Jack, some old not-so-favorites like Titanic and Brave, and some new-to-me shows like The Alienist and The Essex Serpent. What I noticed was the same as in my last video about corset tight lacing scenes in period pieces : the corset itself is not the problem.
When period dramas rely on wearing a corset to do the work of character development or moving the plot along, I just see lazy writing! Relying on old corset myths that should be debunked isn't good for the story, but it's frustratingly common. Disney films like Brave use these tropes in garments that weren't corsetry! Pirates of the Carribean uses beautifully made 18th century stays which have been tight laced under improbably circumstances to get the characters where they need to go. The Nevers, which had very well-designed victorian corsetry, still insisted on doing the impossible and ignoring victorian dress history to make a character do a fight scene in her underwear. And shows like The Alienist and The Essex Serpent have wonderfully made historically accurate corsets, one of which is a reproduction of an extant Victorian corset, but the writers still use them in terrible corset torture scenes.
However, it is absolutely possible to give a corset a role in the story without resorting to tired old tropes. The Outlander wedding night scene does it reasonably well by making a corset a focus for character interaction : instead of relying on corset myths, it uses a very cute trope from Victorian literature! I loved seeing Anne Lister's corset lacing scene in the Gentleman Jack opening titles, because of how tough and assertive her mannerisms are. The 2017 Little Women miniseries also had a great scene where Meg March laces tighter than usual to wear a borrowed ball gown, but does a great job of showing that it's uncomfortable the way a modern evening gown might be to us. And the recent movie Corsage even manages to show a corset tightlacing scene that serves as good exposition, showing us the main character's mental state in a faster and more effective way than much else could.
It's not impossible to write a good corset scene in a historical show or movie, but it has to be done without using debunked myths or lazy, sexist tropes. Unlike a certain Metro article would have us think . . . the corsets are NOT the problem.
Join my Patreon for behind-the-scenes updates, pattern diagrams, research lists, monthly video chats, and more! patreon.com/snappydragonstudios
Or, you can buy me some Ko-Fi : ko-fi.com/snappydragon
Follow me on IG for more stitchy business : @missSnappyDragon
For business inquiries, send an e-mail to : SnappyDragon at TBHonestSocial dot Com
I do not take personal costume/sewing or research commissions.
Want to send me letters? Send mail to PO Box 11573, Oakland CA, 94611! Letters and cards only please 💚
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The Harborough Museum page for this corset is down, but you can still see the extant black-and-yellow Symington corset at this Google Images page : google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.harboroughmuseum.org.uk%2Fwpharborough%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F02%2FCorset-456x600.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.harboroughmuseum.org.uk%2Fblack-front-busk-corset%2F&tbnid=J_6Oa4HUmQywTM&vet=10CAIQxiAoAGoXChMIqKiyge-k_QIVAAAAAB0AAAAAEB4..i&docid=zXKm88Z7lsk6MM&w=456&h=600&itg=1&q=symington%20black%20and%20yellow%20corset&ved=0CAIQxiAoAGoXChMIqKiyge-k_QIVAAAAAB0AAAAAEB4
