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Elaine Carson: Corsets Show Assets, Trim Inches

Source:National Post Author:Tiffany

Editor:

Posted: June 18,2010 12:06

Carson designs lingerie for Coquette International, based in Cambridge, Ont., headquarters for a job that has her styling photo shoots and travelling to Paris, China and Los Angeles to source new fabrics and inspiration. Star AnnaLynne McCord wore one of Carson's corsets on the red carpet in March. Here, Carson speaks about corsets and confidence.

You may have one of Elaine Carson's intimate apparel designs in your closet, ready to bring out for a special occasion or vamp around your bedroom, eating chocolates and sipping chardonnay. Adult sleepovers can be so much fun.

Q: Have you ever worn a corset? Do you personally test your designs?

A: The great thing about being a designer is the ability to wear something unique and inspired by your own ideas. I personally admire the beauty and playfulness of corsets and have worn many. Whether I want to accentuate my best assets, to look sexy, or to give me support under an outfit, I can always rely on a good corset. As a designer and woman, I always test the designs I make for Coquette. I go out to a lot of functions and particularly enjoy the burlesque shows in Toronto where I will wear my designs. There's a great sense of pride wearing something I've created and I love hearing people's reactions to them.

Q: Is it comfortable? Or worth the pain?

A: Pain wouldn't be the best word; corsets are restrictive but they provide the women who wear them with an amazing hourglass figure and can take a couple inches off your waist. I understand that the restrictiveness of a corset can turn many women off. However, our newer corsets look form-fitting, but the "powernet" fabric we use gives them more stretch while holding the body in. The stretch fabric corsets allow for more comfort, and most styles have a lace-up back which provides for adjustments that can work for many body types. I think every woman should have at least one in their wardrobe.

Q: Madonna wore Jean-Paul Gautier's bustier for her Blond Ambition tour in 1990. Michael Jackson wore his version over pants. Now 17-year-old Hollywood starlet, Miley Cyrus, wears a silver scale corset in her music video, Can't Be Tamed. Racy lingerie — especially when it's front and centre on celebrities — creates a scandal. Why?

A: Madonna and Cindy Lauper defined the lingerie as outerwear trend in the 1980s which of course caused controversy. Throughout time, women have dressed primarily conservative to maintain a sense of sexual purity. I think that today we are more accepting of women wearing skimpy clothing, but there are still some outdated notions that women's bodies should remain hidden from the public. The controversy surrounding Miley Cyrus' risqué wardrobe could be attributed to her age and that she is a role model to many young girls. Corsets are often thought to be used to attract the opposite sex, which is where the controversy stems for her since she's a minor. How I see it, Miley is just trying to reinvent herself, not unlike what Madonna was doing in the 1980s, to break away from her Hannah Montana days and become a woman.