How to style corsets with sarees for every occasion

1 HOUR(s)

Sabrina N Bhuiyan

How to style corsets with sarees for every occasion

Photo: Adnan Rahman

Corsets were invented in the early sixteenth century to attain an hourglass shape by cinching the waist into submission! The earliest corsets were made by inserting wooden panels and whalebone into silk or layered linen bodices, and were worn by aristocratic men and women to attain better posture and structure. From being a marker of status to attaining a desired body silhouette, corsets have transformed from being an undergarment to being an essential element of an upper-class Victorian woman’s wardrobe, then eventually being discarded for their rigidity and impracticality.

Corsets of yore were demonised by women forced to wear and endure them; their accounts have been immortalised in literature and various accounts of that time as being extremely restrictive. Fainting was a regular occurrence as blood circulation was severely limited, and bruises and wounds were commonplace from ‘tightlacing’ the corsets, well, too tightly!

Modern corsets are anything but; appealing, stylish and elegant, they look and feel fabulous and fierce!

A saree, traditional as it is, when worn with a corset is a match made in sartorial heaven! A refreshingly modern way to pair two ancient pieces together to fantastic effect. In the Western world, corsets have always been a great reference point for legendary designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, whose entire repertoire is based on it. Worn with pants, skirts, on top of shirts and even dresses, corsets are highly versatile. However, wearing corsets with sarees and lehenga is remarkably stylish and unique too. Not for the faint of heart, sarees worn with corsets make a fantastic statement and are a mark of a true-blue fashionista.

When planning to wear a corset with a saree, keep the occasion in mind. A slinky sheer georgette number with a black lace corset will look fabulous for your next cocktail night.

Pick a lovely floral one for the next ladies’ lunch; contrasting colours also look lovely. For a chic dinner at your friend’s new penthouse apartment, pick an elegant corset with pearls and pull up your hair in a sleek bun. And that’s not all. Traditional sarees look drop-dead gorgeous when worn with a corset too!