Everything I Can Do in a Corset (For Some Corset Myth Busting!)

A little #Shorts for you all to show everything (or at least some of what) I can do in a corset, including cartwheels, singing professionally (whilst definitely breathing), and touching my toes!
This was a fun little video to put together, and hopefully, it supports the point that historical fashion and historical corsets probably aren't restrictive as the myths and narratives general society likes to propel. Obviously, this is all anecdotal and everyone's experience with the corset will be different, but here's mine!
Please note: It's because of my body and my ability (mainly a hypermobility condition) that makes it possible for me to put on and fasten my shoes in a corset. Not everyone is able to put on their shoes in a corset and that's completely okay! We're all different and that's a beautiful thing. My intention in sharing this part was to demonstrate my own personal experience.
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[@VBirchwood]

How cute is our rescue puppy Rúna at the end? 🥰 Please note: It's because of my body and my ability (mainly a hypermobility condition) that makes it possible for me to put on and fasten my shoes in a corset. Not everyone is able to put on their shoes in a corset or not wearing a corset and that's completely okay! We're all different and that's a beautiful thing. My intention in sharing this part was to demonstrate my own personal experience.

[@ROZWBRAZEL]

heart-explodingly cute 💖

[@VBirchwood]

@@ROZWBRAZEL she is such a little baby! 🥰

[@carolinemaluca]

Rúna is totally cute! 🥰

[@VBirchwood]

@@carolinemaluca hehehe she says thanks 😊

[@Luna-bo6sf]

So cute!

[@michaelabeijer675]

The most ridiculous one I heard was “you can’t get pregnant if you’re wearing a corset!” Oh, yeah? Pray tell, where did queen Victoria’s 9 children come from? The stork?

[@VBirchwood]

LOL 😂 this is definitely the best comment I’ve read all day, thank you!

[@sometimessnarky1642]

I think they meant you can't BE pregnant in a corset. The baby would come out with ridges. Lol

[@michaelabeijer675]

@@sometimessnarky1642 while you can’t tight lace a corset after the first months of pregnancy (once you start to show), you can absolutely be pregnant in a corset. Women, including queen Victoria wore corsets through pregnancy as they still needed back and bust support. If you could afford it, you could even buy special maternity corsets which adjusted even more to the pregnant body than ordinary corset that most women wore. A corset doesn’t need to be tight laced, and there are different ways of lacing them to adjust the pressure on the abdomen for example. And no, they were under the impression that women couldn’t become pregnant if they wore corsets daily (when you can in fact get pregnant even if you are wearing a corset during intercourse). Apparently they thought that corsets prevented ovulation!

[@skeinofadifferentcolor2090]

@@sometimessnarky1642 Its as if they haven't googled a maternity corset. Those things were much more fashionable than any modern day maternity undergarment I have seen thus far.

[@kelsyebillman8694]

I think also most of our ancestors (especially if they were Caucasian) wore corsets

[@alienchola]

I have bad back problems. Having a corset helps me live my daily life and helps me stay active!

[@VBirchwood]

That’s wonderful to hear!

[@evientually]

Me too!

[@tjreyer7281]

Same! I have a connective tissue disorder and a corset keeps my ribs and spine where they’re supposed to be❤️ I describe it to people as a really pretty custom back brace lol

[@customerrepprotect2160]

There's a vast difference between a corset and backtrack. I corset actually weakens backs because of the 'cynch point' whereas a backtrack has even distribution of pressure

[@jahrose76]

I had the same experiences! My L5 & S1 are fused on one side only. I was born this way, but really cause pain after I had kids. I’m not wearing it anymore, but I do miss wearing a corset.

[@lliottthedumbass5804]

Yes! There is a huge difference between corsetry and tight lacing! Tight lacing can actually be dangerous if done too tight or wrong and shouldn't be worn long term

[@VBirchwood]

Definitely! And I think those who want to tightlace, they understand the risks, communicate with their doctors, and act responsibly (hopefully). But it’s always so silly to me that every single corset and corset wearer is often grouped when, like anything, it’s about how something is utilised/practiced rather than the thing itself.

[@queerqueen098]

And tight lacing is EXTREMELY recent like mid 1900s

[@annana6098]

I view it as a thing women did occasionally that get commented on when it had bad effects, so we have record of it. It certainly wasn't all women everywhere all the time.

[@jessie-chan98]

​@@queerqueen098 Tight lacing actually started in the 1820s, when metal eyelets were first introduced, and continued through the victorian period, though almost exclusively used by the upper classes and people of French court where the trend began(not anyone who'd be doing any physical labour), it wasn't something everyone was doing back then and was more of a show of privilege/wealth. Ps. This isn't a dig btw, hope it doesn't come across that way haha

[@henryward5457]

@@jessie-chan98 So tight-lacing falls into the same category as modern dieting to the unhealthy extreme?

[@CassianGray]

Love this! It's always funny to me when people are like "but can you touch your toes in a corset?" and I'm like "well, no, but I can't do that without a corset either, soo....." LOL The puppy is adorable, by the way!

[@VBirchwood]

Hahaha thank you! Exactly! If someone can’t touch their toes in a corset, they probably won’t be able to in one lol. It definitely doesn’t increase flexibility 😂 aww thank you! We adopted her about 6 weeks ago and she’s settling in very well 🥰

[@ragnkja]

I can’t bend forwards at my waist (only at the hips), so I can’t touch my toes while keeping my legs straight. A corset wouldn’t change that one bit.

[@sarahbettany7546]

Apparently women spent 800(?) years lying in bed! I'm not sure these people have thought the arguments against stays and corsets through.

[@VBirchwood]

Ironic that women have always led active lives if they could! What do people assume women used to do all day? Especially when most of the world were having to work long days to survive.

[@lucasmcinnis5045]

As we all know it was the dastardly time-traveling Catherine De Medici who invented the corset and subsequently lead to the 500 years of women never leaving their homes

[@VBirchwood]

@@lucasmcinnis5045 lol 😂

[@Luna-bo6sf]

@@lucasmcinnis5045 HA was that a reference to that one corset video with like every historical costume youtuber ever?

[@lucasmcinnis5045]

@@Luna-bo6sf Lol yes 🤣

[@Lela-plants]

People get all into the waist reduction part of a corset (thank you movies 🙄) while forgetting the original use was to support the breasts as there wasn’t a VS store around. If one isn’t tight lacing, which is another style, really, corsets are quite comfortable. I love how good period clothing looks when wearing the actual foundation garments that give them the historical shape. For example, I wear mostly 50-60s clothing and wearing a modern bra with rounded, molded cups underneath destroys the silhouette. Think Marilyn Monroe and her pointed breasts. I’m rambling but I’m trying to agree with you. Lol

[@VBirchwood]

Hahahaha I definitely understand where you’re coming from! It’s an easy subject to ramble on about too (guilty as charged over here as well) 😊

[@warriormaiden9829]

Ironically, I can't wear anything from Victoria Secret. I'm a DD. None of it fits! But you know what *does* fit, and fit well? A corset. And it has the added benefit of helping me restore the posture I had before carrying my 2 kids. Let's see anything from VS do THAT. 🤣

[@Lela-plants]

@@warriormaiden9829 yes! After my kids I found I just couldn’t shop VS anymore. As a natural 34DD their bras just aren’t supportive or flattering.

[@warriormaiden9829]

@@Lela-plants My biggest problem with bras is that I happen to fall right between the commonly carried sizes. I'm a DD, but I can squeeze into specific styles of D. The problem comes into play with the band size. Stores only carry up to 36D, and then start at 40DD. I wear a 38. 😭

[@lisafisher5465]

Oh I agree you can clearly tell that she makes sure that it won't be a restrictive corset because yes they did have super tight corsets but they were mostly for partying and the rich

[@skipp692]

Can’t sing in a corset? That’s what Opera singers did back than lol. People make up thinks all the time 🤣 I went clubbing in a corset I had a good ol time

[@sofiadahlen1187]

They did and still do sometimes! I'm a professional flutist and I love to wear my corset when playing. I still get enough air in and it helps me find a good support for my airflow! :D

[@ragnkja]

Classical opera is all written for the feminine roles to be sung by someone wearing stays or a corset.

[@Zazabazaa]

I have a deviated septum, a weak back from when I had* scoliosis, and weak joints, which makes it really difficult to be standing for long periods of time. When I wear a corset I last hours longer than I normally can, and in some cases it actually helps me breathe better than without.

[@VBirchwood]

That’s so awesome! I’m glad it’s been able to provide you with some relief!

[@SarahM-lw2gd]

I am sewing a 1914 corset by hand right now for the first time, and while it's probably the ugliest corset on earth, I love it and it fits really well. It feels like a hug. Just don't look at the inside 🤣 maybe I should line it...

[@VBirchwood]

Hahaha that’s amazing! The most important thing is you love it and it’s comfortable honestly 🥰

[@SarahM-lw2gd]

@@VBirchwood Thank you! I have finished it now, and it looks really nice on the outside. I love it so much, and it's so comfortable. I made it with blue and white striped ticking fabric. Thanks for responding!

[@randomvielleuse527]

Having worn corsets (steel boned and all) for ten hours a day while performing at ren faires, and watching the character actors do ALL THE THINGS in high quality period dress (like ride horses, "duel," etc.) I have first hand experience in how easy they can be to wear for daily life. As long as you're not tight lacing they can be extremely comfortable and helpful for daily activities. It sure helped me carry musical instruments and other things for those long days, that's for sure. The heat and humidity (thank you, summer Wisconsin...) was another thing but still my corset was not horrible the way so many people think they are. Thanks for putting this up here!

[@alykat3856]

I wore a corset for work at Six Flags during fright fest, and it was amazing! Especially once I added the shoes and adjusted the way I held myself 😊 I also got a promotion, that I forgot I had asked and been interviewed for, about a week into it. That really helped the confidence lol :)

[@VBirchwood]

Wow sounds like a super confident and fun week for you! 🥰

[@Tezemya]

I find it funny when people say that corsets are restraining. I do a lot of LARPing (live action roleplay) where I usually dress as a male soldier with like 25kg of armour and let me say, wearing a corset underneath all that metal helps inmensly with weight distribution and allows me to be able to wear my armour for way longer than the guys that participate in the events

[@VBirchwood]

Definitely! It makes sense why weight lifting belts essentially look like little corsets haha

[@Nstone53]

I got into a heated debate with someone on Reddit over this a month ago. Some know-it-all teen trying to tell me that fashion today is much more flexible than in the past and we should be thankful we're not all running around in skirts and corsets anymore. All this because I said, "I would take the full skirts with whole pockets and corsets again over skin-tight pocketless bodysuit clothing that is like gossamer today."

[@alexlavoie4174]

It’s definitely doable to put on shoes with a corset but it’s probably more comfortable and easier to put them on before you put on a corset.

[@VBirchwood]

Oh 100%! I have a no shoes house so for me it’s more convenient afterwards. I recognise though that not everyone can touch their toes and that’s okay! I have hypermobility so that’s why I’m able to.

[@idontevenknow9758]

I love the one myth, "You can't breathe". If that was an actual problem, corsets would not have lasted two minutes and no one would have used them.

[@tealablu3759]

I wear corsets to conventions. I walk around all day, and we’ve never had to stop because I couldn’t breathe 😂 I do sometimes loosen it a little to eat, but I’m also cinched like a cartoon character

[@cheshire0772]

I adore them, and use them as therapy. The compression is bliss for my Aspie senses. Nothing feels quite like the strings synching the corset against my ribs. It's like an "off" switch, and things make sense again. 🥰🥰🥰

[@VBirchwood]

Aww this is so beautiful! Thanks for sharing your experience 🥰

[@cheshire0772]

@@VBirchwood **total fangirl** OHMYGOODNESS, YOU RESPONDED TO ME?!?!!?!??! 😃🤩🥰😃💓😍🥰.

[@VBirchwood]

🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@cheshire0772]

@@VBirchwood I'm new to your channel, dear one, and am in the very early stages of learning about you. I have a question...or 3...if you have a moment? Do you make yours? If so, do you offer instruction, because I crave fashioning my own, to fit MY body. If you don't, is there a path down which I can happily skip, that will end with my own creation in hand? One that you favor? (SCA memeber, so making my clothing isn't an issue. Authentic corset making, oddly enough, is.) Where can I find good quality ones that will better fit a larger bust, but no torso?! I'm literally boobs, ribs-hips. The space between my bottom ribs and my hips...is laughable. Ok, thank you for letting me romp through your brilliant mind. 🥰🥰🥰. Grateful for whatever knowledge you share. Thank you!!!! 💞💚💛.

[@VBirchwood]

Welcome to the channel! I don’t make any of my own corsetry, rather I get it made bespoke by the fabulous TheBoudoirKey (on Etsy). She has a waitlist at the moment. She also has a lot of fabulous patterns though, including one designed specifically for larger busts. The great thing with corsetry too is you can always add padding to the hips or wherever. For example, I wear padding daily with my corsetry at both my bust and hips to create the silhouette I have, as I have a small busted/small hip figure

[@sima4162]

I've never worn a corset but I assume it's similar to a back brace. I sometimes wear mine if I'm on my feet all day. It's an absolute life saver

[@ameliareed3118]

I cant do a cart wheel at all lol So if you can do one while wearing a corset then clearly you’re the expert and a badass

[@VBirchwood]

Hahaha thank you! Of course this is just my experience and there’s nothing wrong with not being able to do a cartwheel in a corset, as not everyone can do cartwheels and that’s totally okay! It was just the best way I could think to put my point across in such a short video 😂

[@evientually]

I am a dog walker. I also have back problems that can at worst profoundly limit my mobility. A corset is one part of how I keep myself moving without a cane, functioning without serious limitations, and out of pain. I haven't worn one consistently since I moved to southern Virginia (where it is HOT 3/4 of the year) and I can really tell a difference in my mobility and pain levels. I've adjusted my exercise regimen to accommodate (more exercise *for me* means less pain and better mobility), but again, I'm a dog walker. It's not always easy to fit in more exercise on top of ±10 miles a day walking: even when the time is there for another hour of yoga or swimming the energy is a big ask on my body. But it's just not possible to walk at all if I backslide on my routine and my legs start to go numb and stop functioning. Thus the corset is the easy option, and it looks great too! 😊 I'm very fortunate to have found such a beneficial, relatively inexpensive (when compared to medical costs) and frankly sexy addition to my health arsenal.

[@VBirchwood]

That’s so awesome!! Thank you for sharing your corset experience 🥰

[@marionmorgan5972]

My grandma, who was born in 1892, always wore one. She did everything. Did her gardening. Hung out wash. It didn't stop her. She lived to be 96. ( she turned 68 just after I was born. I'm the oldest grand child)

[@Sukekiyoki]

I love wearing corsets, although, I haven’t found one quite small enough for me yet, I just really like the compression and it helps when I’m struggling from sensory issues

[@illiengalene2285]

One thing I can add: Modern chest support garments hurt my back, neck and shoulders! Stays support my ribcage and spine, effectively stopping them from dislocating due to EDS, they hug me and help with my anxiety and Hypo Proprioception. They have saved my life!

[@VBirchwood]

That’s so awesome to hear!

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

Such a lovely short! Beautiful editing Cute rescue pup!

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks Catherine 🥰

[@hw9060]

I’ve always wanted one. It’s a perfect fashionable back brave that you can wear all the time without being embarrassed.

[@Thebirthdaylibrarian]

I’m only 15 and already have back issues, I can’t wait for the day when I can buy or make a good corset.

[@firecracker3911]

Bust those myths!

[@VBirchwood]

Woohoo!

[@jessolengsmeadow2185]

I heard that they weren’t only for looks but were practical used by even the servants bc of the heavy material and it would support them when they worked and stuff idk 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@VBirchwood]

They were mostly used as a practical supportive garment I’d say!

[@VBirchwood]

Which is part of why people of all classes had them and wore them if they could.

[@CashCatMoney]

I mean corsets were the precursor to the bra

[@tgphteachingfanatic465]

Yes! Please keep spreading the good word about corsets and historical costumes! Your work looks exquisite and you look gorgeous! I'm a vintage and historical costumer as well. Please post more tiktoks of your different pieces. I'd love to see them.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much! I’m still pretty new to short form content, but I have a bunch of long form videos on my channel 😊

[@tunathecat1608]

Corsets are basically just early versions of back braces in my opinion

[@LucieCornelia]

And bras

[@enolp]

I was wearing my Victorian-ish under-bust corselet to my music theory class recently and it totally caught me off guard when someone sitting on the couch with me asked me genuinely why I would want to wear something they used to wear in the past I always find it interesting to be reminded that not everybody has yet learned the things I have learned, just as there are things others have learned that I have yet to learn myself

[@queenmarshmallow8013]

I find hilarious it that people forget that women wore these as brassiere, therefore if they couldn't do shit in them they wouldn't have worn them for hundreds of years

[@VBirchwood]

I know!! It’s so frustrating sometimes lol. I blame Hollywood film 😂

[@brileycarter5042]

Very late to the party but I did a full PT session in 18th century stays out of curiosity (including running, jumping, push ups and deadlifting 40kg) 🤷‍♀️ I love your videos, btw! Gave me the confidence to wear my stays more often ❤️

[@VBirchwood]

Hahaha that’s so cool! Thanks so much, much appreciated 🥰

[@julyol119]

I wear a modern corset to concerts, so I can stand for 4 hours straight without getting back pains. It's pretty amazing!

[@keybyss98]

Reminds me of when people would think that knight armor was somehow clunky and awkward, only to see real knight armor in action and actually give wearers a shit load of mobility.

[@18thcenturyfan]

Your singing voice is so lovely!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you!! I’m going to be getting my singing voice more involved in the future 🥰

[@Froggy77100]

@@VBirchwood Where can we see your singing?

[@VBirchwood]

@@Froggy77100 on my channel page, I have a link to my music channel where I have some songs (hasn’t been updated in a while though but I’m going to be releasing something else soon 😊) the channel page is called “VASI”

[@macdaiddavidson8051]

I love the dress. And I would love to have a properly fitting corset. I’m just having trouble with my sewing machine and right now I don’t have the cash to get it fixed but when I do I have the pattern and materials to make one.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you!! I hope your sewing machine gets repaired soon so you can get back to making 😊

[@thecryingcryptid]

Once I started lacing my corsets correctly, I actually found I could breathe extremely comfortably with my bad asthma in my corsets! I still have some trouble in extreme heat but arguably I have trouble with that without the corset haha

[@IraLuxuria]

Corset discourse has genuinely been a major factor in my revisiting my understanding of history. Like, the snap assumption that every corseted woman (1800s and earlier) just had to sit around and do nothing. Like a) it's wildly classist to think that every woman could afford to be idle, and just sat around until they were 'allowed' to work and b) people before the modern era weren't stupid. They wouldn't mildly suffocate all day every day for fashion.

[@VBirchwood]

Oh 100%! I couldn’t agree more. It does require though completely challenging what mainstream narratives teach us about history and people historically. Which can be really hard to do sometimes! And requires a lot of outside research in your free time.

[@derekobrien4684]

I admire your style it is great to keep history alive it definitely is my favorite subject

[@cartooncrazy9883]

People talk about historical women's fashion like women weren't the ones making it lol

[@VBirchwood]

Yep! A lot of these styles came from women. Though the caveat is very fashionable things were mainly from the elite women, which could have put pressure on working class folks to be “more fashionable”

[@bonniebunny3956]

When a corset is properly fit, it actually helps and makes singing soooo much easier. Opra singers wear them practically 24/7 at work

[@VBirchwood]

Agreed! I’m a professional singer and I have a video about this on my channel 😊

[@erinszarban7711]

I'm a cook, and when I injured my back or when it acts up, a corset is what gets me through the day....working, lifting, and being active all day. They are so supportive and durable, and adjust to fit your body perfectly.

[@astridmaack4516]

The only one I’ve heard that I kinda believe is that wearing a corset is bad for you as it may squish ur organs. May, as in, if u wear it very tight. I imagine u don’t have to wear a corset as tight as some people make it seem they were worn. Corsets are also starting to become part of fashion, so if any of these things were true, you’d think we’d be seeing that failing. But nah, seems about as popular as those body belt harnesses.

[@VBirchwood]

I think tightlacing gets a lot of focus because it’s extreme, but historically tightlacing was only popular amongst the upper class and only for a short duration of time (late Victorian to Edwardian). If we consider that the majority of the world was working class, that’s true a very small amount of people tightlacing and for very short periods of time

[@hellkittyninja7237]

I wouldn't wear one while pregnant but that's about it. I love wearing corsets and unfortunately I haven't been able to replace any of mine or get any other new clothes in a long time... Eventually though, it'll be nice.

[@Zazabazaa]

Fun fact, the women back then didn't wear their normal corset while pregnant either! Pregnancy corsets were a thing, made to adjust to and support your belly better. I saw a review from a mother who wrote different types of supports during her pregnancies, including historical pregnancy corsets and stays, and not only did she love them, but she actually stated that they were more comfortable than the modern belly support that we have nowadays.

[@hellkittyninja7237]

@@Zazabazaa I know they're just not for me. I've had rough pregnancies, I've asked my doctors about belly supports before and they said it would not be a good option for me. For the women that can and want to wear them, more power to em. Nothing against their decision, it's just not for me.😅

[@Magpiebard]

The active bit always makes me giggle. I worked events ranging from fantasy (and therefore, do what you gotta underneath, keep the outside fine for the tourists) to actual required historically accurate kit. While the ACTIONS I might have been doing had NO relationship to how a woman would act - I could still: climb trees, ride horseback bareback (even do some tricks like swap directions on it's back and pull myself off when riding under a low hanging sturdy branch), swing a sword so on, pull a bow. The only things that ever really were miserable to do in a "proper" corset? The shows I had to get 'kidnapped' by a highwayman, a knight, a viking, etc. Corsets physical flaw once you get used to them? Getting tossed over someone's shoulder and carried off.. A state I'm rather hoping wasn't a common occurrence for women in history. At least, I'm hoping 'kidnapping' didn't happen sometimes 4x a day 5x on weekends. Once or twice a week was SURELY enough lol. Anything women wore to run after a child or was expected to cook over a fire in is gonna be wearable in most situations.

[@gretchenjackman7452]

FINALLY!! A *PROPERLY* laced corset in a corset video! Please, make as many of these as you possibly can!! The WORLD must know you, and your lifestyle!! My Tailor's heart is positively twitterpated!

[@abbyroach205]

Hasn't anyone ever read the "Little House" books??! Laura Ingalls had to farm in a corset lol! Pretty sure that's considered being, "active" 😂🤣

[@TheInga90]

Love this, know this and obviously believe you - however, I cannot wrap my head around that in periods with more tight fitting corsets (not refering to tight lacing), such as the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th, wearers could not possibly take deep breaths? I'm thinking about those "yoga breaths" that we're suppose to do. Most of us breath too shallowly. Can one do "stomach breathing" with corsets? Anyone have thoughts on this? :)

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you! You definitely can, in fact, diaphragmatic breathing is fully possible in a corset and if anything it encourages those muscles to strengthen. Next month I’ll be releasing a video explaining the mechanics of diaphragmatic breathing in a corset from the perspective of a professional singer, since this is the type of breath we use in training 🥰

[@TheInga90]

@@VBirchwood wow how interesting - looking forward to that video! Thanks for responding, i feel a bit honored Haha 🥰🍓🌸

[@VBirchwood]

Awww that’s very sweet, thank you! It’s important to me to engage with you all in the comments as it means a lot to me 🥰

[@beepboop7090]

@@VBirchwood idk how you do it! I have worn corset and can’t take deep breath with them. It restricts my breathing too much for that.

[@VBirchwood]

@@beepboop7090 I never tightlace, in fact often corsets add about an inch of bulk to my waist, and I get corsets that are historical so they’re far more comfortable, and save up for custom fit corsets for optimal comfort. The bones inside are also generally synthetic whalebone which is far more comfortable in my opinion and more similar to how they would have been historically before steel bones became more of a thing.

[@mouhitorinoboku9655]

i also have scoliosis and wear them for work, it's helped me to lose weight, as well as helping a whole lot with back pain. im also very active when im not wearing it, so it just adds support when im on my feet a lot running around a grocery store or getting carts in the lot. they arent that tight and they definitely dont make breathing hard; if anything it's more comfortable because it stops my chest bouncing around. (if you know, you know)

[@mifuyu8756]

As someone who used a corset everyday,no matter the season when I was fat,I can say I acted normal as any teenager would just made my stomach smaller

[@mjlim6610]

I remember ripping my stage corset while I was singing, and it was made of pretty tough cloth as well

[@VBirchwood]

Wow! That’s some impressive diaphragm strength 😁

[@galonyouradio]

PERIOD.

[@VBirchwood]

🥰🥰🥰

[@ahnifollett]

THIS is exactly why I call malarkey on Emma Watson's "feminist" decision not to wear a corset in the Beauty and the Beast remake. Corsets weren't invented by the patriarchy to be some sort of death trap for men's pleasure, they were essentially the equivalent of a modern day bra. They support the body to fit the clothes and make life a little easier with two permanent watermelons strapped to your chest.

[@VBirchwood]

Yep! Lol. Plus I believe true feminism is supporting all women and their decisions for themselves (as long as they aren’t hurting others of course).

[@ahnifollett]

@@VBirchwood I agree and apologies if I implied otherwise. But I believe if someone is going to make a decision like that for the sake of feminism, one should do their research on it. Personally preference is totally fine, but it bothers me when people spread misinformation about history.

[@avourrito1819]

Corsets back then are like modern day bras just that they help with your back pain by keeping you in the right posture. It was also made in such material that we definitely cannot get anymore which is a type of animal bone that overtime morph into your waist shape as your wear your corset more and more, basically corset that fits you. They fit you if you stop goddamn tight-lacing

[@VBirchwood]

It’s funny because the whalebone used historically is actually a misnomer! It’s whale baleen even though it’s called bone, so it’s extremely flexible like a finger nail 😊🥰

[@carolinemaluca]

Your voice when you sing is perfect!!!!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you darling 🥰

[@celestabelleabethabelle7551]

I don’t know, I struggle to breathe in a bra, I think a corset might kill me

[@VBirchwood]

It's very different to be fair (at least in my experience). Because of the absence of elastic, there's a lot of space between the wearer and the corset still. Unlike a bra where it is literally right against your skin and is skin tight at times. A lot of people I know who hate bras absolutely love corsets (myself included). Obviously, the corset has to be worn safely, not tight laced, and also well-fit.

[@mos5905]

To be honest I can’t stand bras but I love my corset. It was made to my measurements so that might have helped in regards of me feeling comfortable wearing it

[@vithevee]

thank you for debunking these myths

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks for watching!! 🥰

[@ildonoa3928]

As a well-endowed woman with an injured right shoulder, I can tell you DEFINITIVELY, I would be so much more comfortable if I had a properly fitted corset right now. And my shoulder might actually heal, without me having to not leave the house for 2 months.

[@Rosecoloredstitches]

I put together some costumes for a small opera show a while back; the aesthetic the director wanted was “steampunk” so of course I put the female lead in a corset. I was so nervous at the first fitting that she wouldn’t be able to breathe well enough to sing. She assured me that she actually loves wearing corsets to perform because they give her lungs and diaphragm something to push against and she feels like she has better breath control when she wears them.

[@thecraftycyborg9024]

I have literally sprinted in an aggressively laced, steel bones Elizabethan corset. So yeah, a lot is possible in one. And while I could lace my shoes in one, I preferred to do them first just for convenience.

[@PrinceDuCiel7]

I loooove corsets! They Are a bit Uncomfortable when I have extra weight, but being very curvy even when slim, they make certain outfits More comfortable to wear! I often come home from an even and sit for a few more hours in my outfit cuz I don’t want to take it off!

[@PichiyLife]

Every time I keep seeing these videos I want to wear those dresses and a corset!

[@zeenoash.8805]

What people always get wrong is that not all corsets are worn as tight as you see it in those movies. Some just wear it for back protection, no bras at the time, etc. Most of the time those uncomfortable looking corsets were only worn when in a ball, and most of the time it's only the high class who wears them.

[@glitterbug5678]

I'm someone who wears modern steal bones corsetry on a regular basis. I wear it hiking, climbing, and even while I work in housekeeping. A properly fitted and properly laced corset is a comfortable support garment, not a steal cage that prevents you from moving. Extreme tight lacing can cause discomfort and make breathing difficult. But that's your own fault for lacing too tight, not the corset.

[@Lydia_Badidia]

ive never worn a corset before but i feel like it would be pretty comfortable to have that extra support

[@dakotaredd1742]

Properly sized corsets are so comfy- they tend to ease my back pain by correcting my posture. I still haven’t gotten the hang of singing in them though!

[@VBirchwood]

That’s lovely to hear! With regards to singing, it’s about the diaphragmatic breathing technique. I’m actually releasing a video on this topic tomorrow, so stay tuned 🥰

[@dakotaredd1742]

@@VBirchwood That’s exciting, I’ll definitely give it a watch!

[@BanglesAU]

I'm thinking a lot of people just assume that tight lacing and wearing a corset are the same thing, since nearly everytime you see corset wearing in a movie or tv show they have the scene with the girl holding onto something while the laces get pulled ever tighter.

[@charlaleibrock2080]

I don't have a response to the subject of thus particular video, but let me just say that you wearing these period pieces is really neat. You look beautiful, and it's cool to have a clear, colorized view of what women wore back then.. thank you!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much 🥰

[@dontmindme2267]

I can confirm you can be active because I’m in show choir and we all sing and dance for 20 minutes straight in a corset

[@ollynolly4592]

I also feel like people should know by now that corsets will hurt if they are not made for you. People have different bone structures, hold fat in different places, pull and stretch in different ways so a good corset is one that is specifically tailored to your body. If you simply buy one from any store, more likely than not it is not going to fit well and you will be in pain. Corsets were used by women to hold their boobs but also offer back support, help with posture, etc. And men wore them for much of the same reasons too except they also wanted to give the illusion of a flat more toned stomach.

[@VBirchwood]

You would be surprised though honestly how many really, truly awful comments I get here, proving that not everyone knows that even well-fit corsets worn responsibly generally won’t hurt you. It just shows how myths can carry on decade after decade 🥲

[@nuthead8888]

Brother my tig ol bitties have never felt more SUPPORTED in a corset 😭😭😭

[@pumpkincat4594]

I’ve work corsets and had trouble breathing, normal clothes do that to me as well though, it doesn’t take much to affect my breathing

[@VBirchwood]

Yes definitely for anyone that doesn’t like tight clothing, corsets probably won’t be comfortable either. I’m sorry that they’re uncomfortable for you though 😞

[@jamie6506]

People think all corsets are tight-laced, when in fact that is not how they were ever worn for daily life

[@VBirchwood]

It’s true!

[@callumfootitt5366]

How very dare you have this many talents

[@VBirchwood]

Lol thank you 🥰😅

[@agoffgrid640]

I love mine. I actually enjoy how it helps with my posture and iv never felt out of breath or unable to do anything physically. People that claim they can't haven't had theirs fitted correctly.

[@devyncdc]

I wear a corset occasionally just to go out and about my day because I like the way they look and they help my bad back. When I get questions about how uncomfortable they are or if I can actually breath in them I always tell people “if you can’t breath, it doesn’t fit you right. If you are uncomfortable the entire time you’re wearing it or it cuts off any kind of circulation, then it does not fit you and you need a different size and or style.”

[@VBirchwood]

Yeah! I’d definitely say fit generally has a big impact as you mention, but also some people might have sensory issues and just really not enjoy tight clothing which is completely understandable. I think the key is that the conversation around corsets is far more nuanced than a lot of the mainstream narratives 😊

[@jujubee2662]

i’m sorry but the sped up clip of you running across hiking up your dress absolutely got me 🤣🤣

[@VBirchwood]

Hahahaha I don’t blame you! It looks quirky 😂

[@APG-fu6gk]

You have a BRILLIANTLY CREATIVE sense of style! My wife and I also wear period clothing. Enjoy your corset, be careful with crinoline. You and Runa are a good match.

[@shariwelch8760]

I tell people that all women wore corsets or stays in the past, including the maids that scrubbed the floor on their hands and knees. Including the women that rode horses or played tennis. Including the women who helped bring in the harvest or swam in the ocean. The idea that a person can't breathe or be active in a corset is persistent, though.

[@VBirchwood]

Absolutely! It is definitely so persistent. Just a small glance at this comment section will show 😂

[@MrsNanaBlue]

The thing is, that people back then did things that were unsafe or are not healthy. And nobody would care. If you were a maid back in the days, and your boss said you should do something, in some years you probably just would follow, because of fear to loose your job etc.. So I understand a bit, that some people question this.

[@shariwelch8760]

@@MrsNanaBlue That has nothing to do with corsets. A working woman would have a perfectly comfortable corset, made to fit her body.

[@ahriplays9436]

forgive me, I thought she was about to say, "here is me breathing in a corset" 🤣🤣🤣

[@VBirchwood]

Lol! That would’ve been funny

[@thehostwiththeleast7184]

Absolutely stunning

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you!!

[@mialemon6186]

I like stays most (particularly late 18th century styles) and not only do I live my life "stealthing" wearing them... I don't suffer from nearly as much pain as I did in bras. No amount of fit help made the neck and shoulder strain better. It's gone now. I wish I'd been brave enough to jump in sooner.

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks for sharing your experience with them! 🥰

[@Emma..9.75]

As a fellow corset lover and someone who likes having one on I can also say if you can’t breathe you have done something wrong. Or if you can’t function it’s probably laced to tight. Just saying 🙂

[@VBirchwood]

Some people have sensory issues that make it uncomfortable to wear tight clothes and can induce panic attacks, so I can very much understand that the corset isn’t for everyone, but it’s definitely so frustrating how the mainstream narrative is just assuming that people all tightlaced because that’s so far from the case as you allude to in your comment 🥰 thanks for sharing!

[@HiNinqi]

Putting on shoes is soooo much harder in a corset but it's possible. I need that hook thing you're always using

[@VBirchwood]

This is definitely my own experience for sure, also as someone with a hypermobility condition. The reason I mention that aspect is just because people tend to group all corsets together as being impossible to put your shoes on in, but some people still can. And that’s more so about personal flexibility/ability I think than it has to do with the corset (though that might be different for some people) 😊

[@worstkiterchan9207]

As a lover of a good belt, occasional cosmetic corsets and a big enthusiast of my waist - anything that hugs me tightly is comforting. I wanna get a professionaly tailored corset. They so far offered me tons of comfort. It feels nice to feel like smt is hugging me

[@VBirchwood]

The hug factour is definitely a nice one! 🥰

[@marilynmonroe6130]

You, my dear, are a unique enigma. Have a lovely journey!

[@hahaahah7214]

The people against corsets usually think of the times when corsets were so tight the lives actually got the shape of the ribcage

[@VBirchwood]

Tightlacing was also such a small duration of history though and mainly only a percentage of the upper class, so it’s interesting people always forget about this but forget about the millions upon millions of working class people that didn’t tightlace

[@bunnyxxjay4189]

I wish I could do this every day too

[@SomeRandoDum]

I tried on a corset once. It was tight, but but it didn't affect my movement, breathing or anything.

[@lottchen0751]

I LOVE your style!!!!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you 🥰

[@akitoyaname7897]

Corsets are great. They stabelise your body, fix your posture, can help with back pain and even help you to lift more weight with ease. I often wear them, i love my corsets. I think most of the bad rep came from movies and stories calling them restricting and cinching people to look like a wasp.

[@beaolayon7344]

Gowns like these are literally so pretty 😍

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you!

[@genderno7448]

if corsetry impeded that much on women’s lives- corsets wouldn’t be a thing for daily wear- i feel like people forget that just because its history doesn’t mean its not advanced, corsets had a lot of trial and error before the beat iteration

[@4rm69]

I love corsets and your videos, and yes you proved every point but also they squish your guts together, just to let you know, also i loveeee your videos ❤

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you! This myth has been heavily debunked by a bunch of historians 😊

[@Some_Chick]

Absolutely love!!!!

[@RaynNotRyan]

I think that a lot of the stuff you mentioned people say has to do with people having worn corsets far to tight in the Victorian era, like tight to the point it moved their organs out of place or they would faint. But as long as you wear your corset safely then you should be fine, kinda like a binder!

[@livvybrown6560]

Wonderful short! ♥️

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you!! 🥰

[@yararinamiil]

I've even seen people say that wearing a corset helped them sing because it helps with breath support (using the diaphragm)

[@VBirchwood]

I’m one of those people! (I’m a professional singer and have a video about it on my channel 😊)