How about a lovely and fashionable Swiss Waist for the holidays this year? Swiss waists, also known as corselets, corsages, or swiss belts, were highly popular during most of the 1860s and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity during the late 1880s and early 1890s. Publications such as Godey’s Lady’s Book featured Swiss waists as a fun yet practical way to enhance one’s wardrobe. The decorative belts had stiffeners or boning to hold their shape and were atop women’s gowns or skirts and blouses. The high quality of construction (we’ve included a back view for you) indicates that this particular Swiss waist was most likely made by a professional dressmaker. However, Swiss waists were relatively easy to make by any good home sewer with just some silk scraps and some decorative trim. Visit our E-Museum website to see what other lovely accessories we’re adding now!
Original source can be found here.
