Genuinely means so much to me to see a period photo of someone not wearing a corset. I can't tolerate pressure on my ribcage (a wel fitting bra causes so much pain) and so probably can't tolerate a corset and I've been feeling bad about it wanting to try making historical costumes. Thank you for showing that just like today not everyone wore support!
While a good corset shouldn't be putting any pressure on your ribs, it is a fact that there have always been people who either a) simply cannot tolerate pressure and have to go without support or b) don't care enough to do so.
That did not stop them from wearing clothes!!
(KL22.25, c. 1875 -- KL23.258, c. 1880 -- KL23.457 [Nena Palmer Roberts, June 6, 1908])
It is quite rare to find images like this, though, which speaks to two things:
Most women did wear corsets, which was accomplished by the diversity in available corsetry. People could easily buy corsets with less or no boning if they needed it; those choices simply weren't the fashionable ones.
Paintings and photography inevitably show people dressing their best. Even if they didn't wear a corset in everyday life, the likelihood is that they would put one on for a portrait.
Among the images you do find of corsetless people, most of them are older women. It is even rarer to find young women going without (which is part of why I bought the above photos for my collection).
Probably 1760s, [Christie's, Old Masters & British Paintings, auction 6360, 6 July 2012, lot 141] -- 1787, Giquello et associĂŠs (Binoche et Giquell), Objets d'Art et d'Ameublement, 10 June 2016, Paris, lot 17.
Disabled people have always existed and disabilities are not always visible. And while corsetry and ideal body shapes are an important aspect of fashion, they did not preclude a disabled person from engaging in fashion. People have always wanted to look their best :)
Mid 1880s, KL23.122 (Miss Shulze, "Tannte mäh laufen [couldn't walk]" written on back) -- c. 1908, KL23.62
I do want to end by reiterating that 19th-century corsets should not be putting pressure on your ribs or chest. (Bras give me back spasms even when they barely feel like they're putting pressure on my ribcage, and I've never had the same issue with corsetry.) 18th-century corsetry also should not be pushing on your ribs, but it does compress the bust a bit, so I can see it causing issues.
Make the historical costumes! Enjoy yourself!
All photos can be found here.
