Corsets are back and in a big way. January 2021 saw a spike in searches for the item, more than at any other time in the past five years. That's quite the increase. I could say I'm surprised, but actually, in the fashion world, this is one trend that never really disappears. But first, it's only right we acknowledge the role that Bridgerton has to play in the popularity of this garment. There's no doubt that the Netflix period drama encouraged quite a few of those January corset searches, and considering it's the most-streamed show ever on the platform, this absolutely makes sense.
I'd argue, however, this is only the tip of the sassy iceberg. Since the start of the pandemic, lingerie and sex toys have seen huge increases in sales. Recently, La Perla revealed that the term "body” is up 135% and that "bustier" is up 57% on last year, and the word "corset” is currently in La Perla's top 10 search terms. Okay, Bridgerton combined with lockdown definitely accounts for some of this increase, no doubt, but when I asked Depop for a list of its biggest trends, the corset was number five, and it's consistently at the top. The platform has over 26 million users, and 90% of those are Gen Z, so this seems like a bigger trend that stems from more than just one TV show.
Fashion has been championing this look for hundreds of years. Without giving you a full history lesson here, let's just say the corset dates back to the 1500s. While its usage and style have definitely changed over time, this garment's popularity has rarely wavered. Countless designers have reimagined the corset, most notably Vivienne Westwood and Jean Paul Gaultier and more recently Jacquemus and Isabel Marant. Today's iterations include classic corsets but also tops and knitwear with corset shapes built in.
What's interesting, however, is that, unlike the G-string trend, which is making a comeback, the corset never really experienced much of an obvious decline. Rather, it just comes back reinvented to entice us every now and then. Keep scrolling to see how we've worn corsets in the past, how we're wearing them again, and where to find 2021's version of the corset trend.
French actress Pascale Petit wearing a corset circa 1960
Naomi Campbell walking the Vivienne Westwood runway, autumn 1994
Ashley Graham at the Met Gala in 2017 wearing a corsetted top
Kim Kardashian West wearing a bright-yellow vintage Versace corset top and matching skirt in 2018
Bella Hadid wearing a denim corset in 2019
Gigi Hadid wearing a corset and trousers at the 2019 MTV Music Awards
Isabel Marant S/S 21 runway
Isabel Marant S/S 21 runway
The character Marina Thompson in Bridgerton
The character Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton
The character Daphne Bridgerton in Bridgerton
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