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{{Short description|Women's fashion silhouette}}
{{About|the human silhouette|the insect feature|Petiole (insect anatomy)|the fuselage shape of supersonic aircraft|Area rule}}
[[File:Polaire, French actress 5.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Polaire]], a French actress famous for her wasp waist.]]
[[File:Polaire, French actress 5.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Polaire]], a French actress famous for her wasp waist.]]
[[File:Wasp waist.png|thumb|upright|Photograph (1890)]]
[[File:Wasp waist.png|thumb|upright|Photograph (1890)]]


'''Wasp waist''' refers to a woman's fashion silhouette, produced by a style of [[corset]] and [[girdle]], that has experienced various periods of popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its primary feature is the abrupt transition from a natural-width [[human rib cage|rib cage]] to an exceedingly small waist, with the hips curving out below. It takes its name from its similarity to a [[wasp]]'s segmented body. The sharply cinched waistline also exaggerates the hips and [[Breast|bust]].
'''Wasp waist''' is a women's fashion silhouette, produced by a style of [[corset]] and [[Girdle (undergarment)|girdle]], that has experienced various periods of popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its primary feature is the abrupt transition from a natural-width [[human rib cage|rib cage]] to an exceedingly small waist, with the hips curving out below. It takes its name from its similarity to a [[wasp]]'s segmented body. The sharply cinched [[Waistline (clothing)|waistline]] also exaggerates the [[hip]]s and [[Breast|bust]].


==History==
In the 19th century, while average corseted waist measurements varied between 20 and 23 inches, wasp waist measurements of 16 to 18 inches were common and were often striven for as the reigning standard of [[femininity|feminine]] [[beauty]] in the period.<ref>Kunzle, D.[http://www.corsets.de/Data_from_paper_patterns_advertisem.php "Fashion and Fetishism"], Accessed June 20, 2007</ref><ref>Klingerman, K.M. [http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-04072006-115441/unrestricted/Klingerman_thesis.pdf "Binding Femininity: The Effects of Tightlacing on the Female Pelvis"], Accessed June 20, 2007</ref>
In the 19th century, while average corseted waist measurements varied between {{convert|23|and|31|in|cm}}, wasp waist measurements of {{convert|16|to|18|in|cm|}} were uncommon and were not considered attractive. [[List of women's magazines|Ladies' magazines]] told of the side effects of tight lacing, proclaiming that "if a lady binds and girds herself in, until she be only twenty-three inches, and, in some cases, until she be only twenty-one inches, it must be done at the expense of comfort, health, and happiness."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Chavasse|first1=Pye Henry|title=Advice to a Wife on the Management of Her Own Health, and on the Treatment of Some of the Complaints Incidental to Pregnancy, Labour, and Suckling; with an Introductory Chapter Especially Addressed to a Young Wife|date=1863|publisher=John Churchill and Sons|location=London: New Burlington Street|page=[https://archive.org/details/advicetoawifeon01chavgoog/page/n31 19]|edition=5|url=https://archive.org/details/advicetoawifeon01chavgoog|quote=size of the waist.|access-date=29 January 2018}}</ref> Fashions instead created the illusion of a small waist, using proportion, stripe placement, and color. [[Photograph manipulation#History and techniques|Retouching photographs]] was sometimes used to create the illusion of a wasp waist.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-07-28|title=How Photo Retouching Worked Before Photoshop|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/83262/how-photo-retouching-worked-photoshop|access-date=2020-06-23|website=www.mentalfloss.com|language=en}}</ref>


Extreme tight lacing ({{convert|15|-|18|in|cm|abbr=on|disp=or}}) was a [[:wikt:fad#English|fad]] during the late 1870s and 1880s, lasting until around 1887.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kunzle |first=D. |url=http://www.corsets.de/Data_from_paper_patterns_advertisem.php |title=Fashion and Fetishism |access-date=June 20, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis |last=Klingerman |first=K. M. |url=https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/3732 |title=Binding Femininity: The Effects of Tightlacing on the Female Pelvis |degree=Masters |publisher=Louisiana State University |year=2006 |access-date=June 20, 2007 }}</ref>
⚫
Among the multitude of [[medical]] problems women suffered to achieve these drastic measurements were deformed [[ribs]], weakened [[abdominal muscles]], deformed and dislocated [[internal organs]], and [[respiratory]] ailments. Displacement and disfigurement of the [[reproductive organs]] greatly increased the risk of [[miscarriage]] and [[maternal death]].<ref>O'Connor, E. [http://yjhm.yale.edu/essays/eoconnor20070608.htm "Medicine and Women's Clothing and Leisure Activities in Victorian Canada"], Accessed June 20, 2007</ref>

==Health effects==
⚫
Among the multitude of medical problems women suffered to achieve these drastic measurements were deformed [[ribs]], weakened [[abdominal muscles]], deformed and dislocated [[internal organs]], and [[respiratory]] ailments. The displacement and disfigurement of the [[reproductive organs]] greatly increased the risk of [[miscarriage]] and [[maternal death]].<ref>{{cite web |last=O'Connor |first=E. |url=http://yjhm.yale.edu/essays/eoconnor20070608.htm |title=Medicine and Women's Clothing and Leisure Activities in Victorian Canada |access-date=June 20, 2007 |archive-date=October 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001045152/http://yjhm.yale.edu/essays/eoconnor20070608.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

* [[Breast augmentation]]
* [[Corset controversy]]
* [[Corset controversy]]
* [[Foot binding]]
* [[Foot binding]]
* [[Labiaplasty]]
* [[Neck ring]]
* [[Polaire]]
* [[Tightlacing]]
* [[Tightlacing]]
* [[Female genital mutilation]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
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[[Category:20th-century fashion]]
[[Category:20th-century fashion]]
[[Category:Corsetry]]
[[Category:Corsetry]]
[[Category:Metaphors referring to insects]]

[[Category:Body shape]]
{{fashion-stub}}
[[Category:Waist]]

Latest revision as of 02:45, 3 December 2024

This article is about the human silhouette. For the insect feature, see Petiole (insect anatomy). For the fuselage shape of supersonic aircraft, see Area rule.
Polaire, a French actress famous for her wasp waist.
Photograph (1890)

Wasp waist is a women's fashion silhouette, produced by a style of corset and girdle, that has experienced various periods of popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its primary feature is the abrupt transition from a natural-width rib cage to an exceedingly small waist, with the hips curving out below. It takes its name from its similarity to a wasp's segmented body. The sharply cinched waistline also exaggerates the hips and bust.

History

[edit]

In the 19th century, while average corseted waist measurements varied between 23 and 31 inches (58 and 79 cm), wasp waist measurements of 16 to 18 inches (41 to 46 cm) were uncommon and were not considered attractive. Ladies' magazines told of the side effects of tight lacing, proclaiming that "if a lady binds and girds herself in, until she be only twenty-three inches, and, in some cases, until she be only twenty-one inches, it must be done at the expense of comfort, health, and happiness."[1] Fashions instead created the illusion of a small waist, using proportion, stripe placement, and color. Retouching photographs was sometimes used to create the illusion of a wasp waist.[2]

Extreme tight lacing (15–18 in or 38–46 cm) was a fad during the late 1870s and 1880s, lasting until around 1887.[3][4]

Health effects

[edit]

Among the multitude of medical problems women suffered to achieve these drastic measurements were deformed ribs, weakened abdominal muscles, deformed and dislocated internal organs, and respiratory ailments. The displacement and disfigurement of the reproductive organs greatly increased the risk of miscarriage and maternal death.[5]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Chavasse, Pye Henry (1863). Advice to a Wife on the Management of Her Own Health, and on the Treatment of Some of the Complaints Incidental to Pregnancy, Labour, and Suckling; with an Introductory Chapter Especially Addressed to a Young Wife (5 ed.). London: New Burlington Street: John Churchill and Sons. p. 19. Retrieved 29 January 2018. size of the waist.
  2. ^ "How Photo Retouching Worked Before Photoshop". www.mentalfloss.com. 2016-07-28. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  3. ^ Kunzle, D. "Fashion and Fetishism". Retrieved June 20, 2007.
  4. ^ Klingerman, K. M. (2006). Binding Femininity: The Effects of Tightlacing on the Female Pelvis (Masters thesis). Louisiana State University. Retrieved June 20, 2007.
  5. ^ O'Connor, E. "Medicine and Women's Clothing and Leisure Activities in Victorian Canada". Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2007.
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