We all knew this day would come. I wore a corset to the grocery store.

A word about this corset: It’s not really terribly mid-century. By then, women were way past the level of cinching that had been popular in the late 19th century, and were using garments that were smaller than mine. These cinchers or “waspies” were somewhat like my corset, just shorter. But I don’t have one of those. Neither have I a “Merry Widow”, which was popular at the time. But I do have an underbust corset, which works about the same way.

Observations:

1. This feels so good on my back. I mean it. With steel bones and even pressure, I have never been so well supported.
2. I could have gone quite a bit tighter, I think, but as this corset isn’t broken in, yet, that would have been uncomfortable. If I were serious about using it a lot, I’d wear it for a couple hours a day, until it conformed to my shape more. Then we can talk tightlacing.

   

3. I walked to the grocery store, the bank, and around the neighborhood for about an hour and was perfectly comfortable. At least, until it was time to run across the street, and then I had to adjust and breathe from the top of my chest.
4. It took a couple of layers to cover up the lines in my clothes.

   

   Have I gone too far? Or…not far enough?