The Corset: A Cultural History by Valerie Steele 2001

Condition: Very Good +  Appears Unread.  Dust jacket has minimal shelf-wear otherwise in excellent condition. A rare collectable. 

The corset is probably the most controversial garment in the history of fashion. Although regarded as an essential element of fashionable dress from the Renaissance into the twentieth century, the corset was also frequently condemned as an instrument of torture and the cause of ill health.  Valerie Steele, one of the world’s most respected fashion historians, explores the cultural history of the corset, demolishing myths, and revealing new perspectives on its changing significance over the centuries.  The book explores the corset's recent developments as a symbol of rebellion and female empowerment, its revival in high fashion, and its shift from undergarments to outerwear.

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