What is a vintage corset?
The word "vintage" refers to any designer object that is quite old (car, technology, advertising poster, but also dress, bustier, or clothing in general) that is generally between 20 and 100 years old. Beyond 100 years, the object is rather considered antique. It is a widely accepted convention in the fashion and antique trade, rather than a strict legal definition.
A vintage corset is therefore an original corset, made between 20 and 100 years ago. We also often hear the term "retro", which characterizes nostalgia for a past-out-of-fashion object, without necessarily respecting this precise range. We offer both vintage corset styles for women and even older retro corsets in our shop, for all price ranges according to your budget. Want to buy a piece with history? Browse our selection of vintage corsets now.
What was the role of the corset in the 20th century?
At that time, the style of the corset evolved towards the first slimming garments, with very little boning. The waist is less cinched than before, as the production of the traditional corset was considerably reduced during the First World War due to the demand for steel for armaments. The steel thus freed up would have allowed, according to several historical sources, to build the equivalent of two warships.
The 30s: the vintage corset becomes less popular
During the 30s, vintage corsets from that era largely disappear, replaced by overbust garments in various colors, but we mostly saw white and pink, trimmed with lace or floral patterns. Women's lingerie had also greatly developed. Designer after designer, year after year, the garment industry developed in response to the discomfort caused by traditional corsets, which gradually disappeared from advertising in favor of the garment and lace.
After the war, the rubber industry was booming, and it expanded to women's clothing. Advertisements of the time sold rubber garments that replaced corsets for a time: these famous slimming garments, highly appreciated for their quality.
The corset as such was also set aside in the 50s, after the appearance of the "New Look", a very cinched silhouette style popularized by haute couture at the time. Women of this period again wanted to slim their waist daily, to get closer to the then-popular pin-up aesthetic.
Their wardrobe was therefore no longer furnished with a beautiful corset belt or an underbust corset like a few decades earlier, but with an elastic fabric waist cincher, equipped with steel boning and often trimmed with satin or cotton. The great couturiers of the time willingly integrated a waist cincher directly into their dresses.
The corset, the garment, and the waist cincher disappear in the 70s
Too often associated with constraint, the traditional overbust corset, as well as the corset belt and slimming garment, are shunned by almost all women. Almost none wear a corset daily anymore, unlike their great-grandmothers.
It is then only seen in lingerie, with major modifications made to its structure: fewer bones, more elasticity, more lace. It is also available in a lighter form: the bustier.
There are still a few professional corset makers at that time, but their activity is mostly limited to orders for theater and cabarets, or for the emerging steampunk and gothic fashion (especially black leather models).
The return of the corset over 30 years ago
In the 90s, the corset experiences a real comeback in the West, driven by several striking figures in fashion and pop culture of the time — including the famous Jean Paul Gaultier stage cone corset, which has remained in collective memory. Other icons, from burlesque cabaret to more recent popular culture, have contributed to popularizing waist training over the following decades.
The white corset also becomes increasingly popular for weddings, as well as in gothic fashion. Its most common use today remains in lingerie. This is why, at Univers Corset, we offer an expanded collection, both vintage corsets with laces and those with built-in clasps.
Why is the vintage corset becoming popular again?
Nostalgia and the elegance of old times regularly resurface in the collective unconscious, and the retro corset is fully part of this tradition. Some successful historical series have also largely contributed to this resurgence of interest in recent years. Available both as a fashion piece and lingerie, it allows a visual reduction of the waist circumference, without causing pain if the lacing is gradual — current technologies allowing us to offer models that are much more comfortable than their historical ancestors.
Today we find all types of vintage corsets: floral pattern, star pattern, black gothic-style leather, or white and innocent, typical of a wedding. Enough to easily find the piece that suits you in our collection.
What is the difference between a corset and a bustier
Originally, the bustier comes from the corset, and its price remains more affordable. In current advertising, it has even stolen some of the spotlight from the corset, even if the trend is gradually reversing.
The main function of the bustier is to wrap around the waist and highlight curves, while slightly lifting the chest for a flattering neckline. Some bustiers even incorporate push-up cups to shape the curves and lift the chest. Its versatility, as both a shaping garment and a bra, is truly impressive — especially on the fuller models, with sleeves in particular.
Corsets are a bit different because of the technology of the boning that composes them: a designer will generally have less trouble making a bustier than a corset. The latter are mainly designed to provide a visible reduction of the waist circumference. Whether you choose a mesh, cotton, or satin corset, the effect is achieved by a gradual tightening of the laces, gently and without ever forcing.
One of the most notable differences between these two garments of Victorian origin: the corset, overbust or underbust, holds the hips and tightens the abdominal belt to better shape the curves. The bustier, on the other hand, pushes the breasts up to support the bust area. It offers more freedom of movement, less restrictive than the corset, which makes it a common choice for women today.
A bustier necessarily covers the chest
Another difference that we notice less often: corsets can be under the bust (underbust, like a wide belt) or over the bust (overbust), with a real diversity of styles. The bustier, on the other hand, does not offer this same diversity, its main function being to support the chest. Place a vintage corset and a vintage bustier side by side, and the difference is obvious.
Conclusion
Corsets have experienced a real resurgence in popularity since the 90s, further reinforced recently by several successful television productions featuring historical settings. The bustier has long been a popular clothing choice for modern women, while the vintage period corset, in retro brocade or various patterns, continues to attract a growing audience.
The various patterns you will find on our vintage corsets
At Univers Corset, we like to pay tribute to the vintage corset in all its splendor. Here are the most common types of patterns and prints on our vintage corsets:
Floral print, usual in the vintage register.
Lace, very lingerie-oriented.
Satin, ideal in lingerie as well as as an evening piece on a corset dress.
Leather, especially for the steampunk and gothic genres.
Brocade, typically retro and of Victorian origin — its price is generally higher.
Built-in petticoat, common in a theatrical context or in lingerie.
Thin straps, highly appreciated for their retro look.
When to wear a vintage corset?
Advertisements of the 30s already presented the corset more and more as a lingerie piece — a use that persists today. The old corset, on the other hand, rather looked like a demonstration of social status at the king's court and at balls. Since the 90s, the corset is gradually coming back into fashion; it remains to be seen in what context it will permanently settle.
If you like a floral pattern model, light and with flexible boning, you can wear it without problem in the city in the summer. A white model is more suitable for a more serious occasion. A black-colored corset, on the other hand, remains timeless and can be worn on any occasion, both in lingerie and paired with a jacket and jeans.
We also offer long-sleeved corsets, to vary the styles and bring a more modern tone to the entire collection. Fall for the model that matches your mood of the day, discreet or bold!
Another point to consider for a vintage corset: its shape. To stay discreet, favor an underbust vintage corset — equipped with laces, it offers a customizable adjustment and hides easily under clothes, or can be worn over a floral dress. For more boldness, a vintage overbust corset is an excellent choice: we offer them in black with star or floral patterns, in yellow, or simply in plain satin.
Why choose our vintage corsets?
All our vintage corsets benefit from free delivery in one business week, even during sale periods. You have a wide choice of available corsets, for all budgets — enough to choose the model that truly matches your personality. If a product is sold out, do not hesitate to send us an email beforehand to find out its return date to stock.
Ready to make a purchase? Explore now our entire collection of vintage corsets and find the piece that will tell your own story.
If you have a question about delivery or payment by card, our customer service will answer you within 48h.
In the same style, our wedding corsets will accompany you on the big day with their appreciated vintage look!