#The corset back is decorative and not functional

[keii4ii]

And so the little 🅿️rince tamed the "fox."

[shortnotsweet]

This technically applies to my Stepmother AU in which Alicent is around six years older than Rhaenyra, and occupies a wicked stepmother role as opposed to ex ‘friends-to-first loves-to-enemies’. Despite lacking the foundation of shared girlhood, both find simultaneous comfort and rivalry in one another, and undergo a gravitational pull. A young Rhaenyra’s eagerness to participate in swordplay and political affairs at a young is accommodated for, and she grows up with a sword in one hand and the weight of experience in another, which further helps pave her way to the throne.

Alicent’s Costuming

Alicent’s clothing is almost entirely bottle, emerald, or forest green. While there is layering present in her skirts and jackets, the accent should always be a darker green than the base color. The fabric is deep, rich, and retains an undeniably high-quality luster. Look to velvets and silks. Gold embroidery lingers around her sleeves, neck, and hemline to elevate the coloring.

Metallic embellishments should be almost military-like, and appear heavy. Contribute to the imagery of chains or shackles in addition to her status

Draws inspiration from historically accurate stiffness and Victorian shapes, with a tapered waist, imposing, puffy sleeves, and a high neckline. Despite inaccuracies, this shape is evocative of someone elegantly and conservatively feminine, repressed, and capable of exerting power over others. Reference a classic, trussed hourglass shape. Skirts should be notably heavy and full; may make noise in movement

The coloring and shapes remain relatively consistent but lack variation; this is to demonstrate a lack of freedom and exploration, as well as an adherence to conventional feminine roles

Despite these limitations, her costuming should always be put-together, coordinated, and unquestionably fashionable. Tight sleeve cuffs may be accompanied by a more traditionally medieval fan sleeve

Shoes should stick mostly to slippers, or flat designs

In this AU, her hair leans more towards a dark brown instead of auburn, as her show counterpart. This is mostly due to faux-book accuracy and to simplify the sketch process, since keeping her hair darker in comparison to Rhaenyra’s lighter hair translates more easily in uncolored renderings.

Keep her hair either in a tidy bun or pulled back and loose; avoid too many intricate shapes, braids, or styles. Occasionally, the hair will hang loose. Lean into medieval or royal headpieces, clips, coverings, etc.

Rhaenyra’s Costuming

Rhaenyra’s clothes are primarily black and red, occasionally accented or substituted with neutrals such as beige, white, or gray. Exceptions may include blue or yellow, but she generally stays in this color palette.

Strong focus is drawn to her shoulders and neckline, sometimes with embroidered or embellished detailing. She often has strong, angular shoulders in her dresses or jackets, occasionally theatrically pointed. Off-the shoulder necklines emphasize her collarbones and a certain broadness.

There should be decent variety in her clothing; there is a hypothetical outfit for every occasion and more (for battle, for riding, everyday, formal, feasts, everyday, etc.), and most should be composed of multiple pieces and utilize generous layering. This includes under-fabric, belts and corsets, jackets and doublets, draped fabric for aesthetic purpose, and even functional capes.

Most of her clothes should provide visual aid for movement; additional fabric to her skirts, for example. Her clothes should be highly stylized but still easy to move in. In riding and battle gear, it is presumed that she wears pants and boots under her skirts, even if they are not visible.

Shoes lean more into boot cuts, still practical but should have a sleek and uniform quality to them. When she walks, she should make some kind of noise. Shoes should usually be black or potentially red, the latter for decorative purposes.

Overall her style should be more contemporary and lean into the fantasy element. She’s not opposed to oriental details or showing skin, and her costumes should reflect both couture-height drama and period-reliant aspects. Longer lines and diagonal hems mean she is not as devoted to an hourglass shape, and her high collars should always be decorative in some respect.

Keep her hair long and mostly loose, sometimes pulled back. Small braids should be implied as incorporated. Occasional hairstyles feature complicated braids. With the exception of highly decorative braided styles, simple buns should be avoided unless accompanied with very high necklines.

Avoid headpieces that are not either a) her crown or b) ceremonial.

[hijackalx]

Headcanon thingy, but who would the boys (Gale, Astarion, Wyll, and Gortash) react to seeing their lover trying on lingerie?

felt like testing my drabble skills so i added a lil something extra to them 😎💗 enjoy pookie!!

GN!reader

SLIGHT NSFW BELOW

GALE

likes when you surprise him with it. wear some under your clothes as a little treat for when he’s undressing you 😌✨

you look so good that it makes him trip over his words. he’s too busy ogling your body to pay attention to what he’s saying. will have him laughing like a nervous virgin 😹

LOVESSSSS garters. can’t keep his hands off of them. particularly loves the way your thighs strain beneath them when you’re on your knees

instantly wants to enchant the bottoms to make them vibrate and watch you get off like that (don’t ask if that’s actually possible my brain functions on horny not logic)

your outfit is inconspicuous, plain— perfect for covering up the lingerie hiding beneath. you wait patiently in his lap as he unwraps your silken robe, biting back a smirk.

he pauses to take in the sight of the lace hugging your skin, how it flows so delicately around your shape. he tuts, shooting you a familiar, frivolous grin. “feeling naughty tonight, are we?” just moments later, his hands move to rest on your bottoms, a seemingly harmless action that results in a soft buzz and a gasp. “i can work with that.”

ASTARION

insists on going with you to pick some out. follows you into every dressing room to “make sure it fits right” lol. so picky but mostly because he loves watching you try them on

his favorites are flowy/frilly types, like babydoll tops or satin robes. also LOVES stockings of any kind

makes you feel like an actual doll ✨🌸 repeatedly tells you how perfect you are and can’t keep his hands off you. will also try to get you flustered by whispering really dirty stuff about how you look into your ear

likes when you have fun with it and show off for him— be cheeky. do a little spin. bend over in front of him. be prepared for him to pinch or smack your ass though

he sits comfortably on the dressing room bench as you approach him. “how about this one?” you pull your bottom lip in playfully, placing your hands on his shoulders as he takes your body into his grasp.

“mm,” erupts from his throat, watching as his lithe fingers slip over and under the fabric sparsely covering your skin. “now, this one i like.” he places a slow and deliberate kiss to your exposed abdomen, his ruby gaze flitting up to meet yours; there’s an impish glint to them that tells you he doesn’t plan on waiting to have you any longer.

GORTASH

likes to make sketches of you wearing it. has so many drawings of you in compromising positions with it on. definitely keeps them for when he’s alone

loves corsets and bustiers because of how they emphasize your chest, especially in blacks and reds. crotchless panties also drive him INSANE

the sluttier you act while wearing it the better. don’t try to be modest (there’s honestly no reason to be anyway, he’s a freak fr 😹😹)

a sucker for fishnets. likes to take them off and use them to tie your wrists together. will also shove them in your mouth/gag you with them on occasion

his dark irises glance up from his work every so often to study your decorated figure; they follow the arch of your back, the heart shape of your ass, and linger on the exposed area between your thighs more often than not.

“lower,” he directs, and you immediately respond by deepening the angle of your back. he hums contently, scribbles some more, then adds, “spread your legs further.”

you comply once again, happy to flaunt your body under his gaze. the corner of your lip pulls upward, anticipating your reward for being such an obedient little muse.

WYLL

bust this out on your honeymoon and he gets SOOO flustered. i’m talking stuttering/looking away/rubbing his neck

his favorites on you are lacy teddies— especially in blues, purples, and whites. more traditionally sexy styles really get him going

lowkey so obsessed with how you look in it. the kind of thing that’s on his mind 24/7. almost always asking you to put it on for him at the end of the day with a little pout 😹💗

LOVES when you strip for him nice and slow, especially how you tease him by carefully revealing each skimpy garment beneath your clothes. a lapdance is also mandatory

you spot the anxiousness simmering beneath his lax surface— he longs to touch you, but you’d rather toy with him a little more.

prowling closer to where he sits, you slowly unbutton your blouse. with each maneuver of your fingers, you reveal the lingerie lying beneath, watching how his hungry, needy gaze fixates on it.

he inhales sharply as you straddle his lap and take his hand in yours. he lets you guide it over your ornamented body, his eyes heavy with desire as he mutters a low and raspy, “you’ll ruin me.”

[shokupanko]

It’s not Monday but it’s certainly Mayu Monday for me! This is my only artwork for March so I’ll see you all again in April or soon after! （⌒▽⌒ゞ

Pantyhose: I actually went back then forth trying to decide between bare legs and pantyhose but I ultimately decided pantyhose was the way to go. The pantyhose are meant to match the corset except no leather and comfort of course. It has lace details and a leather belt on her left leg. The lace stops around her ankles.

Hair: to stay within steampunk territory, I decided to make her hair fluffy, swirly, and lots of curl heart shapes. I don’t like to use one range of colors so I made the choice to go with my heart and make it extra colorful! (Although Mayu’s hair always proves to be a challenge (∩︵∩)

Makeup: I tried to make her extra girly- sorta 40s makeup vibe. So red lipstick and pink blush. I also tried to make her details more rounded to give a softer appearance :D

Shoes: it was my try of Mary Jane’s inspired shoes so please remember they are NOT accurate. She has small legs warmers over the shoes and tied off with pink bows, a short heel, and golden beads to go around the rim.

Gloves: blacks gloves with the tips of her thumb, middle, and ring fingers revealed, and well as leather and golden beads to go around and lace at the bottoms.

Dress: sheesh I’ll try to explain as well and possible… the dress comes with a color, ruffles, folds, and lots of lace for the underskirt. She has two belts below the sleeves to emphasize the ruffles. The dress also comes with a front tying corset that I took extra care to seem functional. The corset comes with lace, leather, and POCKETS! Because every girly in a dress needs pockets (she was originally gonna have a gun in her beta design shhh). The pockets are attached to the leather part of the corset in the back, and is also joined with golden beads? Buttons? Idk those things. She also has three rows of the golden beads on her skirt!

Hat: Her top hat is decorated in clocks, chains, and gears for a some steampunk effect, as well as a pink bow and pink bunny ears. Around the hat is black lace and under the hat is pink lace for some pop!

[clotpolesonly]

**print of a painting that my mom has been trying to give me for literal years and finally actually got into my room, and it's this highly detailed sexy but undeniably ominous merman that may or may not be a tool for satan. cuz, see, my mother owns a picture framing shop and she had this picture in there for a long time after getting it framed, waiting for me to evolve into a functional human who decorates her living space, so it was just leaning up against the wall and this lady comes into the shop to get something framed. and she sees this picture and is immediately like 👀 but in a bad way, like, she's alarmed, she's concerned, she's sweating bullets. she didn't say anything at first, she just left. but she turned around and CAME BACK an hour later specifically to inform my mother that her daughter had a painting from that artist once, and it was demonic. straight up, demonic, i don't remember exactly what she said about it but it was either that it possessed her daughter or that it was just a bad spiritual influence and led to all kinds of self-destructive behavior. and she got rid of the painting, i think she burned it i shit you not, and she strongly advised my mother AGAINST giving this painting to me, lest i be corrupted.

needless to say, my mother called me, giggling uproariously, and i finally came and got the picture after years of lowkey avoiding it (because, as mentioned above, i am just not inclined toward decorating, i never even unpacked my bookcase much less put things on the walls). demonically possessed sexy merman. needed me a freak like that.

.

anyway, thanks for the tag @spiritofcamelot 😂 there's legit barely anything in my room besides clothes, i had to reach real hard to think of things to put on here

tagging @seavoice @adamprrishcycle @cabeswatercowboy @nyxelestia @adrianfridge @nooowestayandgetcaught @alloverthegaf @thedaughterofkings

[apilgrimpassingby]

One of my projects (on hold currently) is designing the Kingdom of Anchorage and Kodiak, an Alaskan kingdom in a post-apocalyptic/dystopian world, ruled by a Native American Orthodox dynasty. I've already consulted @rebelnurse for designing the hunting rifle of the founder figure, Queen Abigail. I've also designed an outfit worn by her, which I'm submitting to my female followers for their opinions - I especially want to hear from @melisssg99, @miss-rogers-all-american, @cactusflowerfemme, @roses-red-and-pink and @femme-et-traditionnelle but I'd like to hear from any of my female followers (or just women and girls reading this post).

The base layer is a chemise, and above that is a corset (not tightlaced) and pouches tied to the side that are accessed through slits in the skirt and function as pockets (this is how pockets were made historically). Above that is another undershirt and a petticoat, and then the dress proper - made out of matching skirt and jacket in a medium shade of pink. The skirt hem and sleeve edges are decorated with bead patterns of purple saxifrage, the neck is decorated with lace and the waist with snow goose feathers. The hair is held in a bun at the back with a hairnet, and covered with a light pink flower-patterned silk scarf. Completing it are a pink bowler hat, a pair of wrist-length white silk gloves and a string of pearls.

So, my female followers, your opinion?

[kpop-stories-21]

Fantasy section | His Beloved Beauty

Group: ATEEZ

Pairing: Yeosang x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2k

Rating: 18-21+

Genres, Tropes and AUs: Non-Idol AU, Faerie AU, Dark Fae, Light Fae, Smut, Arranged Marriage

Content & Trigger Warnings: Dark Fae Prince! Yeosang, Light Fae Princess!Reader, two dicks, saliva as an aphrodisiac, first time, multiple rounds, unprotected sex(wrap that shit up kids), multiple orgasms, loss of virginity

Summary: Your marriage to Yeosang has brought peace between the Fae clans, but you can't help feeling worried when it comes time to spend the night with your new husband.

Tags: @kpop---scenarios @stardragongalaxy @jeonrose @skittlez-area512 @mybiasisexo @skeletor-ify @biaswreckingfics @anyamaris @trashlord-007 @liliesofdreamsskz @rdiamond2727 @naturalogre @thelargefrye @yoonguurt @wooyoungmybelovedhusband @sanjoongie @bxffietheblxxdy

If you want to be added to my taglist, click here

Network pings: @cacaokpop-fics | @kdiarynet

MDNI banner courtesy of @cafekitsune

Event Masterlist || Main Masterlist

As you rose to your feet and pocketed the peridot-inlaid key from the Adventure section, you started to feel guilty for snapping at Seonghwa the way you did. The man had been nothing but kind to you, and this was how you repaid him? You decided that you would apologize when you came to him with all the keys, and hoped he would accept your remorse.

Time for the last one. Be strong, you can do this! You told yourself sternly as you entered the section.

Standing in front of the glowing book you took a deep, calming breath and opened it.

You stood in front of the black-trimmed mirror in your bedchambers, watching your new handmaidens go over your wedding gown to ensure that everything fitted as it was supposed to. 

Not for the first time you wished that it was an ordinary wedding, that you were not in this position right now. But you were, and it was all thanks to your father.

The Light and Dark Fae had been at war for countless centuries, until the current King of the Light Fae managed to come to terms with the King of the Dark Fae and a peace was brokered. Being the eldest princess of the Light Fae, you were offered in marriage to Crown Prince Yeosang of the Dark Fae as a way of sealing the peace and uniting the Fae. 

The Dark Fae were frightening in general, but you had heard terrible rumours about your betrothed and begged your father repeatedly not to go through with the marriage. He, however, was adamant and now here you were: about to be wed to a man who terrified you beyond belief. 

To make matters worse, the traditional wedding gown of the Light Fae had been forgone in favor of something that paid homage to the union of Light and Dark. The gown was mostly white; with the bell sleeves, layered skirt, and functioning corset-style back common to the wedding gowns of the nobility. The differences in your gown were the black roses and ribbons that decorated the top layer of the skirt and bell portion of the sleeves, the onyx brooch at the top of the white lace bodice, bands of black lace around the tight upper section of the sleeves, black lace at the edges of the corset, and black ribbons in the corset.

It felt sacrilegious, almost, to wear a design other than the one that had been deemed most appropriate by your forefathers. Unadorned gowns meant most eyes would be on the ceremony, not the bride's appearance. But then, these were the same forefathers who said peace with the Dark Fae was not possible, so maybe they hadn't gotten everything right. 

You had no idea what Yeosang looked like, only having heard that he was extremely attractive and garnered attention from all the females. You had also heard that he had an awful temper and lashed out over the smallest matters, and that he had trouble keeping his magick under control. Dark Magick was scary enough when wielded with total control, so the thought of what might happen when it was out of control scared you even more. 

A knock sounded on your bedroom door just as the handmaidens finished going over your gown. One of them went to open the door and revealed your older brother, Crown Prince Yuta. 

He smiled at you and you returned it, but you couldn't help the little twinge of envy in your heart. At least he would get to marry a Light Fae and stay in the castle where he'd grown up. Still you would always love him no matter what, especially since he'd become more like a best friend than a brother over the last few years. 

"How are you holding up, sis?" He asked, coming to sit on the big black bed behind you. 

"As well as can be expected." You replied, gently pressing your hands against your skirt in an effort to calm their shaking. 

Yuta sighed. "The little ones said to tell you they'll miss their favorite playmate." 

You smiled softly upon hearing the message from your younger siblings. You would most certainly miss playing with them, as they all had vivid imaginations and could come up with some interesting scenarios.  

"Tell them I'll miss them more." 

Yuta chuckled, then eyed you seriously. "Are you sure about this? You know there are laws you can invoke to stop the marriage." 

You nodded. "Yes, I know. But I'd much rather it be me than one of the younger girls. At least this way they can all marry Light nobles and stay in their home nation." 

At the end of the day you couldn't really be mad at anyone for this series of events. Peace was desperately needed, otherwise the two sides might battle each other to extinction. You would marry Yeosang a thousand times over if it meant ensuring that there would be an end to the senseless killings. 

The appearance of a handmaiden at the doorway drew your attention. "The ceremony is about to start, Your Majesty. I'm to take you to where you're supposed to be." Yuta stood and exited the room with a small wave. Once he was out of sight, you allowed the handmaiden to lead you through the castle to the Grand Hall where the ceremony would take place. 

As soon as you entered the room everyone stood, all eyes on you as you slowly approached the altar. Looking up, you felt your face heat as you got your first look at Yeosang. 

He was gorgeous, skin smooth and sunkissed. His shoulder-length ebony hair was slicked back, save for a few strands that dangled into the fiery silver of his eyes. His all-black attire consisted of a black shirt with open shoulders and loose, flowing chiffon sleeves that hung down over his hands. A black choker hugged his neck and a corset wrapped around his waist accentuated his slim figure. His black dress pants were crisp and wrinkle free, with a black chiffon sash encircling his hips. 

For the first time ever you found yourself hoping that the rumours about him weren't true, because how could someone so beautiful be so terrible?

The ceremony passed in a bit of a blur, and before you knew it a crown of white diamonds with black diamond accents was placed upon your head. A similar crown of black diamonds with white accents was given to Yeosang, and then he was kissing you. His lips were soft against yours, the kiss gentle and sweet. 

The celebration that followed was long and tiresome, and by the time your handmaidens whisked you away you were more than ready for bed. Unfortunately, sleep could not come just yet, because this was your wedding night and you were expected to consummate your bond with Yeosang. 

You were dressed in a white silken nightgown with black roses going up the front of the skirt, as well as all over the train. The front and back of the bodice had black ribbons laced in a corset-like pattern, and a curling pattern of black embroidery covered the bosom. Similar to your wedding gown, the dress had long bell sleeves edged in black, with bands of black lace around the tighter part. A detachable hood, also edged with black lace, completed the ensemble.

Upon walking into the bedroom you would share with your new husband, you found him dressed in an flowing black silk robe with elegant gold patterns on the wide sleeves. He wore something of an awed expression as he looked you over, and you felt your skin grow a little warmer from the attention. 

"Skies and stars, Y/N, you are breathtaking. I must be the luckiest Fae in the world to be married to a goddess like you." 

You blushed. "Th-Thank you." 

Yeosang laughed softly and slowly walked towards you, a strong aroma of sandalwood flooding your senses as he did so. 

His hands came up to rest on your shoulders and you looked up, getting lost in the smouldering embers of those silver eyes. 

"Will you come to bed with me, my dear wife?" 

You nodded nervously and allowed him to lead you over to the edge of the bed. 

"May I kiss you?" He asked sweetly. 

You nodded and his lips met yours once more. As he deepened the kiss the two of you fell back onto the ebony duvet. Breaking the kiss, Yeosang slowly slid the skirt of your dress up to your waist and began trailing kisses up your thighs. Stopping just short of your mound, he looked up at you seriously. 

"If anything feels uncomfortable, tell me immediately." 

"Okay."

He smirked and leaned back down, tongue slipping inside your wet heat. You let out a squeal of surprise at how cold his tongue was, but it warmed up quickly and you began to let out soft moans as your walls relaxed. 

After a bit he added a finger in beside his tongue and the pleasure doubled. You felt heat gathering in your stomach and tried to warn Yeosang, but didn't exactly know what you were warning him of. 

Apparently Yeosang knew what was happening, because he started moving his finger faster until the heat in your stomach exploded, ripping an almost-scream from you. 

"Mmm, you look so divine laid out like this baby. Think you can cum for me again?" 

You nodded, feeling suddenly needy for everything he could give you. 

"What-Why do I feel so good?" You ask him, only slightly concerned. 

Yeosang chuckled. "My saliva is a natural aphrodisiac, it makes you feel really good." 

Sliding in two more fingers, he began stretching you out in preparation for what was to come. In the process you ended up cumming a second time, much to Yeosang's delight. When you were relaxed enough to take four fingers easily, he deemed you ready enough and began to disrobe. 

You felt your eyes go wide at the sight of not one but two dicks, both of them very thick and leaking precum. There's no way they'll fit! You thought to yourself. You decided to trust Yeosang since he'd been gentle with you so far.

The first press of them against your folds had you shaking with anticipation. Then they pushed inside inch by inch, and before you knew it he was bottoming out. You felt so full you thought you might actually explode, but it felt so good at the same time. 

He began moving slowly at first, letting you adjust to the stretch before gradually picking up his pace until he was pounding into you. Every thrust reached deep within you, hitting spots you didn't even know existed. 

By the time your third orgasm came over you, you were sobbing in pure ecstasy and seeing stars, barely able to hold yourself upright. 

"Cum for me baby." He murmured, wrapping an arm around your waist to hold you in place.  "Get your sweet juices all over my dicks." 

You screamed his name on repeat as your whole body shook from the force of your high, walls clamping tight around his members. 

"Ah, fuck, baby girl. Gonna cum if you keep squeezing me like that." 

His movements began to stutter and then he slammed into you one last time, teeth biting into your shoulder as he spilled his load inside you. 

Once both of you had calmed down Yeosang cleaned you up and climbed under the duvet, pulling your bare body flush against him as he pressed a kiss to the back of your head. 

"You did so good for me, baby." He said, a smile in his words. 

"Take this for now, and come see me again soon." 

Something metal crossed your palm and everything faded to white. 

You weren't sure how long you had been roaming the Library, looking for your missing Fae husband, when a split-second of clarity had you stopping in your tracks as you fully returned to yourself. 

Frightened at how deep you'd gone this time, you ran your fingers over the silvery-white key with black opals decorating its surface before putting it with the others in your pockets and heading for the front desk. It was time to face Seonghwa so you could claim the treasure and get the hell out of this place. 

[gabessquishytum]

yesssss hob dressed up all pretty under his normal professor clothes is so good. and may i add. sometimes he dresses up in waking world lingerie/harnesses/etc that he actually owns. but sometimes it's dreamstuff. those days, he gets dressed in his normal clothes, with the exception of skipping underwear entirely. and then dream manifests that day's accessories. so hob gets to wonder all day what he looks like under his clothes. he's very much not allowed to strip down in his office but he is allowed to touch himself through his clothes as much as he likes. so he'll spend ages in his office trying to work but instead totally distracted by tracing the shape of the corset under his shirt and wondering what colour it is, what material, if it's simple and functional or one if the beautiful ornately decorated ones dream likes dressing him up in sometimes. he won't find out until that evening, when dream comes by to undress him. in front of a mirror, of course, so hob can fully appreciate his handiwork.

(hope you feel better soon 💜💜💜)

-🐈‍⬛

Oh!!! This is both sexy and adorable!!! I love the idea of Hob dying of anticipation all day, closing his eyes while he’s peeing so he doesn’t ruin the surprise of what his underwear looks like today,, so sweet!!

Some of his students are observant and start to notice that some days he’s definitely wearing a corset… maybe they get brave enough to ask about it and Hob turns red and gets all shy and mumbles that his boyfriend makes them for him,, all the students are immediately KO’d because there’s just something so hot about that?? And then Hob goes on a mini lecture about the history of men’s corsetry and everyone is like ah yes. back to usual.

When he gets home Hob has to tell Dream that people are noticing and complimenting the parts of his lingerie sets that Dream allows to be seen or that are simply obvious under his clothes. And of course Dream uses this as an opportunity to tease Hob about how slutty he is. After that there are several instances where Hob is simply forced to strip the outer layers of his clothing — someone spills boiling coffee on him, his shirt gets accidentally lit on fire?? Poor Hob is left standing in his pretty underwear more often than should really be happening. He suspects Dream is responsible but he just can’t bring himself to complain. After all, he gets to see what he’s wearing before the end of the day for once. And he sure does get a lot of compliments these days.

[ooops-i-arted]

I just saw Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and I LOVED IT (fun and unique characters with motivations, goals and development! a story about the characters in the movie instead of setting up three new spinoffs! Easter eggs that were actually proper Easter eggs that enhanced things for a viewer in the know instead of plot points you need three other shows to understand but are referred to as Easter eggs anyway!) and what I loved most was HOLGA KILGORE. Barbarian is my fave class to play and also I love potatoes. I want to cosplay her.

Obviously that is gonna take a LOT more research and I haven't decided what level of screen accuracy I'm aiming for but here's what I noticed just from my first viewing and some promo images in case any other cosplayers could use the info:

Costume seems to be sleeveless undershirt, corset, chest armor that includes shoulder pieces, gauntlets, belt with attached hip pieces and long tie that hangs down, pants, and boots.

Holga takes her chest armor off at one point and you can see the undershirt is a rather roughspun fabric (linen?) with no hemming. V-shape neckline that hides under the chest piece. It tucks into the corset. The sleeve line does not extend under the shoulder pieces.

Corset goes under waistline of pants. It has a slanted what's the word... you know where it would open? But it's fastened, not laced. Not sure about any back lacing.

Chest armor is ribbed but I don't see stitching, so it doesn't look like something that could be replicated by putting piping under fabric/pleather and stitching it down unless you didn't care about visible seams. There is lacing under the armpits. The back has an attached holster for her greataxe. Fastenings are possibly hidden under the metal plate in front over her cleavage. The plate appears to be fastened on by buckles so it could be that's the actual fastening for the chest piece as well. There are studs lining the edge of the arm holes and bottom and iirc the neckline too. Fur pokes out around the bottom and iirc the armholes too.

Gauntlets may be two pieces? They strap around her lower arms and are lined with fur and there is also an elbow piece. I can't remember if that's fur-lined too.

Not sure how tall the boots are, but they seem to be the "slouchy" kind. They blend in with the pants a lot so it's hard to tell.

The belt has some kind of diamond decorative pattern, possibly metal studs. There is a rope-like material used as a tie (not sure if decorative or functional) and the front pieces hang down very low, past her knees. There are two hip pieces, rectangular, made of overlapping pieces of leather with fur lining.

There is also a V-shaped belt visible but it's unclear if it's a separate belt, the waistband of the pants, or a bottom piece of the corset.

I would love to carry a bag of potatoes as an accessory and hand them out at the next con I go to or something lol. Assuming that's within con rules. She has a large rectangular plain brown bag with I think a flap top.

These are all from memory, so take with a grain of salt. I'm hoping to do more research into the costume and hopefully actually make it!! We'll see how long my fixation lasts but oh I did so really love this movie.

[chrystalwynd]

Everybody Comes to the Black Hole

I don’t write a lot of sci-fi (or any, really. This is my first), but I like this setting and may use it again in the future. Sci-fi readers’ opinions appreciated here.

Everybody Comes to the Black Hole

words: 2700

mc mf ff md fd sci-fi

                “Mmmmmm, look at you. Why don’t you come inside for a drink?”

                She was a six-and-a-half-foot blue-haired beauty, with fingernails and toenails to match. Her breasts made all kinds of threats about bursting out of the leather corset that was straining to contain them, while the rounded cheeks of her ass moved like two bubble hovers trying to pass each other in a tight race. Her lips made promises her eyes had no intention of keeping, but her hips made promises that made the risk worth it. She was a three-dimensional wet dream.

                “Don’t go away,” pouted the blue hair bird. “I’ll miss you.”

                “I’m sure you’ll find a way to work through the pain,” I said, pulling out a vita-cig and lighting it. I blew a stream of smoke through the hologram.

                A figure moved next to me, setting off Blue Hair’s automated offer of a drink. A skinny berk stood there, looking like a rodent on the back nine of a bender. I’d known he was there even before Blue Hair told me, but he didn’t need to know that. Being a mindwire was my own business and none of his.

                “Waller,” I said. “What’s the chant?”

                “’Ello, Gar,” said the rodent, without moving his lips. A neat trick. “Tonight at the Black Hole. 2200 digital. Bring cash.”

                “Bring what?”

                “Cash, guv. Old Earth slang for money.”

                “I see. You’re a man of the stars, Waller.”

                “Shite, cutter. Just a berk trying to make enough shiny to get off this hunk of metal, savvy? Now how ‘bout providin’ some bounty, yeah?”

                “Don’t be a tentacle’s ass, Waller. Half now, half if the meetin’ goes well.”

                “I can’t be held vertical for a meeting that goes horizontal, Gar.”

                “Relax, Waller. Just blowing your airlock. Mostly, anyway. Half now, half after they show.”

                “It’s a fair pop.”

                I worked my wrist tech-band for a few seconds. Waller’s band beeped in reply.

                “There you go, Waller. Stay off the meteor dust and you’ll be off Port Kepler in no time.”

                “Shite, cutter. Dust the only t’ing makes this rig bearable.”

                I had nothing to say to that, so I nodded and Waller went on his way.

                I started up the strip of shops and services that made up Port Kepler. The creaky space port had been circling Kepler B for so long, few people even knew it’s launch year. Everybody could, however, tell you to the day how long they’d been stuck here. There were far more berks than jobs and saving money to get that off-port ticket was every port resident’s dream.

                But that was irrelevant at this moment. Tonight I was going to get something that would make my stay a little more tolerable as well.

*****

                At 2100 digital I walked into the Black Hole.

                The décor wasn’t, strictly speaking, a reflection of its name. While some sections were certainly darker than others- intentionally so- a colorfully bland motif was vaguely evident. But the effect was pale and the effort fell flat, and everybody knew the decorations were secondary to function.

                Drinks and business. Anything else was comet-tail. A wretched hive of scum and villainy, to be sure, but whatever you needed could be found here. For a price.

                I glanced around, doing a whom’s-who, then moved toward a table of figures donning brown hooded robes. The typical cutter couldn’t tell which was who, but I wasn’t a conventional.

                A hood turned in my direction. “Bright night to you, neighbor. Do you seek a higher plane?”

                “Bright night to you, brother abbot,” I said politely. The sensate monks were no one to screw with. “I seek a verbal with Brother Ivan about a previously placed order.”

                The monk stared for a moment as I waited. Sensate monks were the source of the best narcotic chems on the station, but they were so formal and conservative that they barely believed in starlight. Getting saucy with ‘em didn’t score credits, either.

                One of the monks stood, ending the suspense. I’d already known Ivan was there, but the abbot at the table didn’t need to know that.

                Ivan and I wandered away from the table, moving into one of the darker corners of the bar.

                “Bright night to you, Gar,” said Ivan. “Did my last delivery meet expectations?”

                “As advertised, my friend,” I said. “It kept me awake for 2 cycles, as you promised. I needed every minute.”

                “Marwake is a potent stimulant, neighbor, and it does so with few side effects.”

                “What side effects? I didn’t notice any.”

                “That’s because you used it as instructed,” said Ivan. “There are those who use it to stay away a week or longer. That never goes well.”

                “Oh?”

                “Hallucinations are the typical result,” he said, “typically followed by a further breakdown of faculties. For the first week, anyway. After that-“

                I held up my hand. “Apologies, brother, but I have no digital for this. My clock is short tonight.”

                “As you will, neighbor. How may I serve?”

                “Street chant suggests you have a new product I might be interested in.”

                Since he was wearing a hood, I couldn’t see his expression, but he somehow managed to convey surprise.

*****

                That business concluded, I moved further inside the Black Hole. I soon came to a table with an attractive redhead. She wore loose-fitting leather pants and a sleeveless top that showed off her muscular shoulders and arms. Attractive women sitting by themselves in the Black Hole were usually automatic targets, but not this one. Everybody knew better than to test their luck with Vette. She was a merc and believed it was better to be good than lucky. The ones trying to get lucky with Vette usually found themselves at the med-unit.

                I gave her a nod. “Evenin’, Vette. What’s the chant?”

                She lifted a glass at me. “Hey, Gar. Just walkin’ and talkin’.”

                She hadn’t thrown anything at me or suggested I self-procreate. Professional courtesy.

                Vette used her glass to indicate the empty chair at her table. I sat down.

                “I think,” she said, “that I’m going to get me some of Catamon’s thrall tonight.”

                “The new one?” I said, suddenly interested but speaking casual.

                Vette took a swallow of her drink. “Yep. No one’s tapped that yet. She’s good and Catamon’s getting cocky. Think I’m gonna get a piece of that and a stack of credits as well.”

                “Be careful,” I said. “Street chant says this one likes to leave her mark on conquests. She doesn’t just win, she embarrasses her conquests.”

                “Aww, your concern is touching. You jealous?”

                “Sure,” I said. “I’ve been there.”

                “Watch it, gonk,” she said, though without real heat. “You just got lucky with that royal flush. I’ll admit you weren’t bad, though. For a man.”

                I felt like I was tiptoeing through a minefield. “Props to you for honoring the marker. Figured you to tell me to self-procreate.”

                She took a swallow, then grinned. “Thought crossed my mind. But I ain’t javascripted that way. Word’s gotta count for something. Don’t get over yourself, though. You were good, but nothin’ to drop the ladies for.”

                Vette finished her drink, then slammed both hands on the table and stood. “All right, time to delta. Gonna bang me some thrall.”

*****

                Catamon smiled as Vette approached his table.

                He was a large man, well over six feet, with green skin so dark it was bordered on emerald. Dressed in gold and silver robes, his presence radiated beyond the table. He was covered in gold and jewels. That wasn’t what made his wealth obvious, however. The true sign of his position was the woman sitting next to him.

                Catamon was a Taur from Tau Ceti-D. An ability specific to Taurs was being able to claim and bond with Taurettes. This bond turned the Taurette into a thrall completely under the control of the Taur. By all accounts it was a very intimate, powerful, erotic state. The Taur could claim only one thrall and it wasn’t always voluntary. The Taur controlled all aspects of the thrall at that point. But the bond between them was powerful and they could amplify each other in ways that were still unknown to non-Taurs.

                Catamon looked up as Vette approached. A large bowl sat in front of him, with piles of credits stacked within. When he spoke, his voice was a deep baritone.

                “You bring honor to my table, Vette,” said Catamon, “and a certain level of erotic ability. Your last visit left my poor Wenni exhausted. She was days recovering from servicing you.”

                Vette smiled. “What can I say? I work hard, I play hard. Now how ‘bout you screamsheet the stats on your new joytoy?”

                Catamon smiled. “Were we on my world, Vette, referencing my vassal in such a matter would result in a challenge that would leave you with a collar on your neck, a true joytoy on my chain, servicing me as I wish.”

                Vette shrugged. “You mean you’d try to put a collar on me. But that’s no bones here, ‘cuz we’re not on your world. Just give me the figure so I can get busy putting your girl to work.”

                Catamon nodded. “Very well. Xarissa, stand.”

                At his words, the woman next to him stood. Thralls from Tau Ceti were typically blue or green skinned. On rare occasions, red or orange skinned vassals might be seen. On extremely rare occasions, a white albino skinned thrall might be seen, although it had been years since one was seen here on Port Kepler. In this case, however, Xarissa was a black skinned thrall.

Not just black-skinned, actually. Her skin was so black that it verged on ebony. Her stark white hair was long and hung down to her exotically rounded ebony bottom. Her impossible curves were so erotically charged that her sensuality radiated beyond the table to the surrounding patrons.

Vette took out a number of credits and dropped them in the bowl. Catamon nodded and then spoke again in that deep baritone.

“For the benefit of all observers,” he said, “what is happening is that this young lady Vette has just made a wager on her ability to overwhelm my thrall Xarissa. What will happen is this. I will open a psionic connection between them. They will then psionically battle each other. Whichever one is victorious will then have control of the loser for approximately three hours. And should Vette win, she will also receive back her bet and an equal amount from me. Meaning that if Vette is victor, she will win both money and have the use of my thrall for the next three hours. Should she lose, however, Xarissa will have control of her for the next three hours.”

Catamon turned to Vette then. “I wish you no ill, of course, but that will prove most interesting. Most recently my Xarissa has taken to piercing the nipples of her female conquests with Taurian steel.”

Ouch. Taurian steel was the diamond of metals. There was no known way of cutting through it without travelling to Tau Ceti. It was essentially a permanent piercing.

Vette nodded her understanding. Her confidence was impressive.

They faced each other across the table. Catamon said, “I’m opening the connection…

…now.”

A small crowd had gathered now. That happened often here at the Black Hole and it was usually due to games of chance. This was no different.

For long seconds, nothing seemed to happen. Vette and Xarissa stared at each other, neither blinking. Vette right eyelid flickered and there was a murmur amongst the crowd. One of Xarissa’s bare shoulders moved then, jerking up.

Sweat was breaking out on Vette’s forehead now, but she showed almost no other sign of difficulty. Xarissa appeared to be almost relaxed.

I pulled my glance away from the tension of the table and took a viddy at Catamon. Suddenly I knew what he was doing.

Vette’s face still remained calm. Too calm. And then I knew why. She had lost.

Xarissa smiled and crooked her finger at Vette. Vette walked around the table and stood in front of the collared Xarissa.

“Be a good girl,” said Xarissa in a throaty voice, “and take off your top.”

And just like that, Vette was topless at the Black Hole.

Xarissa began kissing Vette then, running her hands over Vette’s body as if she owned it. And she did. And when she pushed Vette to her knees and told the redhead to lick her pussy, the crowd cheered.

I could have intervened sooner, most like, but I opted not to. I wanted Xarissa hot for the next act, so I chose to let the scene play out. Besides, while Vette may have preferred the top position, being the down for an exotic beauty like Xarissa wasn’t the worst thing.

The crowd had cheered itself hoarse by the time Xarissa lifted the enthralled Vette to her feet, using only her finger under the redhead’s chin. Vette’s nipples were rigid at this point and I suddenly intuited what was about to happen. The thrall was about to pierce Vette’s nipples.

“Before you go that route,” I said, “perhaps we could have a bit of verbal?”

Catamon rumbled. “You’ll verbal with me, Gar, and none other.”

“Fair enough,” I said. “This is such a fine digital that I’m inspired to throw my helmet in the quad. Before you let your joytoy javascript Vette’s nipples for perm, perhaps we could match first? I’ll put up double the funds with the conditional that if I win, Vette will be spliced to me as well for the remainder of her clock. Savvy?”

Catamon bristled at my use of ‘joytoy’, as I’d hoped. He should have known better.

“So if you’re victorious over Xarissa, you will have both she and Vette?”

“Affirmative,” I nodded.

“And if Xarissa wins, she will have both you and Vette simultaneously?”

“Also affirmative.”

“Very well,” said Catamon. “I agree to your wager. Place the credits in the bowl.”

I did so, then turned around to face Xarissa. To my surprise, her eyes were already locked on mine.

“When I defeat you, Gar, I want you to know one thing,” she said. “I will continue to use Vette’s body for my pleasure. You, on the other hand, will be pleasing Catamon. You will be pleasing him in every way you can. And after marking Vette as my conquest, you too will be marked.”

I smiled. “I guess that gives me something to look forward to, doesn’t it? Shall we begin?”

Catamon didn’t even give me a chance to get ready. He immediately opened the psi-link between us.

I nearly blinked. The sudden intensity of Xarissa’s psionic pressure against my mind caught me by surprise. Had this been a typical match, I might have lost it right then.

The problem for Catamon and Xarissa, however, was that this wasn’t a typical match and I wasn’t strictly playing by the rules. But I was fine with that, because neither were they.

I had realized that Catamon was using his psychic connection with Xarissa to boost his thrall whenever she got in trouble. So Vette hadn’t been just battling Xarissa. She’d been battling Catamon as well. And it’d worked for them, which was why Vette was standing there, her eyes glazed, Xarissa’s juices on her cheeks and chin.

Vette wasn’t javascripted to cheat. I, on the other hand, had no such reservations, as the willpower chem in my system- the one I’d acquired from Brother Ivan earlier- attested. And with my psionic willpower boosted, not only was I able to circumvent Xarissa’s defenses instantly, I was able to follow the psionic link from Xarissa’s brainpan to Catamon’s, catching them both almost simultaneously.

Catamon and Xarissa were finding out what happens when one attempts to take on a jacked-up mindwire in a psionic knife fight.

So was Vette, but I was pretty sure she wouldn’t mind.

The crowd around Catamon’s table was murmuring now, beginning to realize what had just happened. My street cred had amplified without losing clock. A profitable night. And looking at Xarissa and Vette, a fun night. At least for the next three hours.

A fun night for me. A typical night for the Black Hole.

END

[zoroslost]

This is my genshin one piece au because I have two hyperfixations and I have to combine them.

Design and AU details under the read more

In this AU, the Straw Hats travel with Luffy with his goal being to defeat the archons and celestia. The archons in this au take the place of those who work for the world government and the abyss order takes the place of the more corrupt pirate crews. The only major change to the rules of Teyvat as we know them is who give visions. Visions are given out by the original archons, who died at the hands of the archons put in place by Celestia (the world government/celestial dragons). I will expand upon this concept more in future posts. Almost everyones motivations remain unchanged but altered slightly to fit the setting.

Nami is from Mondstadt because of how it reflects her worldview of freedom coming from money and how that is one of her primary motivators. I gave her a hydro vision to show her strong sense of Justice and willingness to challenge wrongs, especially when it’s happening to women and children.

Her story in this au is pretty similar to her original with just the settings changed. Arlong is the leader of a group of treasure hoarders who have aligned themselves with the abyss order and use their power to control others so they can gain profit. Nami and Nojiko are still adopted by Bellemere, who has an orange grove on an island a ways out of the port city that hasn’t been named as of writing this. As in canon, Bellemere is killed by Arlong because she cannot pay for all of them and Nami works for them with the goal of buying back her village.

Nami awakens to her vision when she decides to work with Arlong to keep her village safe, however she doesn’t use it for much other than sneaking around without being seen until the fight agains Arlong. She doesn’t end up fighting in the actual battle but does use her new abilities to protect the villagers.

Nami’s Abilities:

Catalyst user, I haven’t designed a weapon for her (yet) but I imagine it would have design motifs that call back to the pinwheel

She is able to become near invisible and moves faster than the average person when running, similar to Mona’s sprint and Yaelan’s skill

If she were a playable character in the game, her elemental skill would create a whirlpool that pulls enemies together and causes them to stagger

Her burst would fire a series of bubbles that travel out for a short bit before rabidly ascending up and creating a rainstorm that deals continuous damage over a wide area. If an enemy is hit by the bubbles before they form into a cloud, they become trapped and receive a hydro resistance debuff. It would also change effect depending on the element she’s affected by when the burst is used, for example if she’s affected by electro when she uses the skill, the cloud that forms would also deal periodic electro damage in the form of lightning strikes.

Some design details I added that I thought were cool:

She wears her Vision on her wrist like how she wears the log pose in canon

Her shirt has exposed shoulders that show off her tattoo

The sleeves of her shirt are decorated with oranges and orange blossoms

She has two layers of a cape, the top one fades to white like clouds covering a sky and the bottom one is patterned like a topographical map

Her belt buckle is a functional compass and the buttons in the center of her corset are compass roses

The socks under her boots are supposed to look like the top of stylized clouds

She purposefully wears her shirt so that she has a large amount of cleavage in order to help with manipulating men

I have seen some design analyses of Mondstadt characters where people note that characters who are nobility in mondstat tend to have more form fitting clothing than the rest of the characters. Her clothes follow this trend because she wants to appear rich in order to get close to the nobility to steal from them, however her sleeves stay loose to show that she hasn’t forgot her past.

Nami’s eyes are designed to look like a cats eye gem to reference her epithet as the cat burglar in one piece

And that’s it for this one, this AU is still a WIP so if you have any suggestions please let me know!!

[ur-boyfiend]

okay okay i'm gonna be a fashion autistic for a moment here.

adding my og tags for reference:

#his top is stressing me the FUCK out like what the hell#WHY IS THERE A ZIPPER IN THE BACK ???#THERE'S LITERALLY LACING ON THE FRONT LIKE#IS THAT JUST DECORATIONAL ???#WHY WOULD THAT NOT BE FUNCTIONAL PLEASE GOD#ESP BCS THE ZIPPER LOOKS DUMB AS FUCK#whoever designed that is making me wanna cry#like. what was the decision making process here.#or did they just decide to fuck around n find out#please god help me

definitely did not get distracted by his abs while i was looking at the lacing- anyways like ,,, there's six eyelets for the lacing and you're telling me that instead of deciding to just make it so you take the lacing out and then redo it they decided to add a fucking zipper ??? like the way the lacing is done in the photo looks awkward as fuck but if you did it simply then it wouldn't be a horrible way of designing it. or even like , corset kinda lacing and you just loosen it enough to put it on over your head ?? literally anything would've been better than that fucking zipper as far as i'm concerned. it looks fucking dumb and zippers are a pain in the ass to sew anyways. (though that whole thing looks like it was a pain in the ass tbh). plus if it was laced up in front it'd be easier for someone to put on by themselves , shit with zippers on the back are a fucking contortion nightmare- speaking as someone who's had to zip up his own dresses before.

[duelbraids]

ro "rook" mercar design notes for future me when i finally have energy to draw:

underwear/nightgown

just. worlds most basic set of stays, function over form (corsetry maybe? anything with boning to protect from stabbing. also, thedas' underwear technology confuses me deeply. the canon femme undergarments are like a shitty bandeau. no wonder you can't make your chest area very large.)

nightgown is short, undyed with lace trimming and patching. Patch works fabric will match her other clothes. No sleeves, square neck, straight cut. One patch is more decorative, in the rough shape of a dog. (implication being that she has kept this for a very long time, and has outgrown it, but keeps trying to patch/add to it so she doesn't have to buy a new one. dog patch has sentimental value, so she's obstinate about it.)

casual wear

red high neck blouse, balloon sleeves (or anything that comes a closed wrist cuff) somewhat hidden other the rest of her clothes (from one of the items in game: "red for the blood of the people lost" held close to her chest and protected.)

possible collar shapes: peter pan (too youthful?) johnny (feels more piratey than rebel?) lace bib (too formal? too fancy?) need to cover the full chest for Scar reasons. shawl collar could also work. (too matronly?) bird lapel pin/collar clip (sparrow.)

IDEA 1: dark blue vest - similar vibes to a victorian walking suit, or like, menswear-adjacent. something with the implication of internal pockets, patched but less visibly than the night gown. newsies shit, y'know the vibes. teal trimmings (maybe buttons? that would be cute)

IDEA 2: Teal sash/belt/"corset" which would allow the shape of the blouse to be More Visible but also, wouldn't tie into that idea of hiding the red blouse/blood of the people, as much?

i'm torn on bottoms. a skirt would be cute, though my brain tells me to be more realistic (since video game characters rarely wear full skirts) if it were a skirt, it would be some kind of over-skirt/short dress/kirtle situation.

however, i also like the idea of straight leg pants - again, broadway newsies the musical ish. Patterned, maybe? Plaid would be an option (both to tie in more teal and to tie her to Varric?)

A middle ground could be some kind of tabard-type vibe? Though, tabard leans too much into armor, i think, so maybe keeping her casual wear to red and dark blue works the best.

i want to work in some embroidery, somewhere? less messy than the cutesy dog patch on the night gown. embroidery ties into wings and maybe some snakes (lol snakes and songbirds)

armor:

likely? a variation on the tevinter battle robes, but with my favorite aspects of the other armors.

specifics: I want more of the legs visible, rather than it being a true robe. Either more leg split (?) or just nix the skirt and tie back into that idea of a short kirtle.

the KEYS from the rogue aspirational armor. i hate the rest of it, rogues should never be shiny, but the idea of keeping all the keys you've stolen from slavers fucks so hard

i want to tie into what we see from the Companions, where their casual clothes are clearly what's under their armor. (most visible with Neve and her blue scarf.)

ties her hair up ala Neve as well, though with a hair pin rather than a sick hat

dark blue scarf, big enough to tie over her face if need be. big hood as well.

inner layer: casual clothes, red. middle layer: teal, with hints of white. outer later: dark blue, hidden, assassin's creed liberty vibes. all metal is silver/grey.

[silvershandiin]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: SO | bustier bodice dress.

[lovesmcfashion]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: NEW LONG SHEATH OFF THE SHOULDER SLEEVELESS SATIN DRESS WITH LACE UP BACK E1044.

[shinygivercoffee]

Tracing the Evolution and Impact of Corsets Throughout History

The history of fashion is an ever-evolving tapestry, intricately woven with cultural, societal, and aesthetic influences. One particularly iconic garment that has left an indelible mark on fashion history is the corset. Often seen as both a symbol of beauty and a source of controversy, corsets have a rich history that spans centuries. From their inception as functional undergarments to their evolution into fashionable statements, the history of corsets provides a fascinating glimpse into changing ideals of beauty, gender roles, and societal norms.

The Birth of the Corset

The origins of the corset can be traced back to the 16th century, where it emerged as a practical undergarment designed to shape and support the torso. Initially known as "stays," these garments were made from stiff materials such as whalebone or wood, and were intended to provide structure and support to the upper body. They were worn by both men and women, reflecting the desire for an upright posture and a well-defined silhouette.

The Rise of Fashionable Restriction

As the Renaissance gave way to the Baroque and Rococo eras, the corset began to evolve from a functional garment into a symbol of beauty and refinement. The 17th and 18th centuries saw the corset becoming more ornate, with intricate embroidery and decorative fabrics. The emphasis shifted towards achieving the fashionable ideal of the time: a constricted waist and an accentuated bust and hips. Corsets were laced tightly to create the desired hourglass figure, leading to the concept of the "tight-lacing" phenomenon.

Corsets and Changing Ideals

The 19th century marked a period of heightened corsetry, where societal pressures and beauty standards played a significant role in shaping the lives of women. The Victorian era, in particular, saw a proliferation of corsets that were designed to achieve an exaggerated hourglass figure. However, the corset's restrictive nature also garnered criticism for potentially harmful effects on health, as it could lead to difficulties in breathing and organ displacement.

A Symbol of Rebellion and Liberation

The turn of the 20th century witnessed significant changes in societal norms and women's roles. The suffrage movement and shifting attitudes towards women's rights began to challenge traditional notions of beauty and femininity. This also influenced the fashion landscape, as some women began to reject the tight-lacing practice and embrace more practical, comfortable clothing.

The Corset's Evolution into Modernity

By the mid-20th century, changing aesthetics and the rise of more relaxed fashion sensibilities led to a decline in the popularity of corsets. However, corsetry didn't disappear entirely. It found new life in lingerie and shapewear, adapting to more contemporary preferences for comfort and subtlety. The corset's aesthetic influence also persisted in bridal wear and avant-garde fashion, showcasing its enduring impact on design.

The history of corsets is a testament to the complex interplay between fashion, culture, and identity. From its origins as a functional undergarment to its evolution into a symbol of femininity, beauty, and even oppression, the corset has undergone remarkable transformations over the centuries. It has reflected and shaped societal norms, gender roles, and body ideals. While the corset's role has changed over time, its legacy endures in the way we perceive fashion, self-expression, and the ongoing conversation about body image. As we continue to navigate the ever-changing world of fashion, the corset remains a touchstone to remind us of the intricate relationship between clothing and the human experience.