Please send get well wishes to Tina! Corporate Curves is taking a sick day today. In its place, here are two images that caught my eye over the weekend.
First, I’m sure you know why this Wolford Como top caught my eye–the scoop neck and elbow sleeves are my two favorite ways to dress my full-busted body shape. However, I was also struck by how far the model’s shoulders extend past the shoulder seams. This is an excellent example of how shoulders–and not the bust–can give a woman an hourglass shape.
When I think of an hourglass shape, I think of corsets, which is why this second image caught my eye. It’s a screenshot from Season 1, Episode 7 of The Paradise, so please forgive the blurriness.
The character Pauline is pretty petite everywhere, including her bust, so I was struck by the corset “carveout” for her breasts. I know nothing about corset construction, but I’m accustomed to corsets looking squashy at the bosom, so I love the idea of a corset that builds around the bust. It turns out that gussets are our friends.
Here are two more images from my subsequent search for “corset gussets”. The first comes from a blog post discussing whether “gore” or “gusset” is the right term. All I know is that I’d like a denim corset with boob room like this!
Next up is this beauty from the 1820’s. Imagine the lift!
I know that many stylist define hourglass through the shoulders, waist and hips, not bust, waist and hips. I think it’s a better way to define body shape, because shoulders define front silhouette more than bust.
PS Corsets that doesn’t squash are great! )
I agree with you, but when the bust line is equal to or wider than the shoulder line (when viewed from the front), and at least equal to the hip line, then I definitely think the bust defines whether a woman is hourglassy.
By the way, how about leather jackets that don’t squash??? I was noticing yesterday how even women w/ mid-size breasts look squashed into a leather jacket when it’s zipped. I’m thinking that bust gussets in a leather jacket could be a neat idea.
I always have that issue with jersey tops, shoulders continue way past the shoulder seam! That’s why I often need to size up in tailored clothing and also the reason for my pleasant surprise in how Campbell&Kate shirts fit!!! My bust in a bra is not wider than my shoulder so have always thought that shoulders, waist, hips define the hourglass shape but can now see that bust, waist, hips could possibly do that too. I tend to probably not notice if the bust is wider than the shoulders unless there’s a huge difference.