Orthodox6 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I admire them for really sticking to it as much as they can. That stuff is hard! Our house is from around the 1830s, although thankfully remodeled to have indoor plumbing. But we do heat with wood via outdoor furnace, and it takes work to collect, haul, chop, and feed, every day in the winter and sometimes twice on the coldest days, trekking through snow and across ice. It's not an easy choice. We also lived without a dishwasher for a good five years, hand washing seven people's plates, cups, etc. three times a day, every day. To do all of that, and more, voluntarily, is impressive. I think it's definitely easier to choose to do those things when you don't have small children. I also agree that they aren't living with the same social expectations and situations that were common in those times. I do think it's kind of a fun experiment, although not my cup of tea (and my idea of historic living, as I have mentioned before, is a wee bit older than Victorian times). Wish I could see your home! You beat my record for doing without a dishwasher. We went for only four years, handwashing everything for only six people. I found that episode more difficult to endure than the four years that we went without any heating downstairs. (Upstairs, where the children's rooms were, did not break down.) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I would like to recommend a book that I thoroughly enjoyed, and which I dip into for rereading when the mood hits: Inside the Victorian Home: A Portrait of Domestic Life in Victorian England by Judith Flanders. Today is listed on Amazon.com at $16.04 for a new paperback. If you go to Amazon and pull up the title, you can browse inside. Illustrations. Charts. Ties to contemporary literature. Plenteous quotations from notable women and men of the period. This is a really good "read" in social history! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 The more I think about this, the more I wonder about all the details. I think there is some benefit to even a bit of dress up. I remember being in a historical fashion show once (bridal gowns) and I learned a lot from just having to manage a bustle! But I do agree that if they aren't doing everything period, that they really can't set themselves up as experts and the tiny bit that I read does have a bit of the "we are experts" vibe to it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpyTheFrog Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I wonder if they've ever thought of trying to work in Colonial Williamsburg? Or maybe that isn't their preferred time period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Wish I could see your home! You beat my record for doing without a dishwasher. We went for only four years, handwashing everything for only six people. I found that episode more difficult to endure than the four years that we went without any heating downstairs. (Upstairs, where the children's rooms were, did not break down.) It looks more or less modern (but we have a few pictures of it back in the day); the exterior has siding covering the clapboards and drywall on most of the walls, and the big timber beam in the kitchen is covered with drywall. It does have a few plaster walls still, although they need some repair, and a few original windows (most were replaced with modern more efficient windows), and some of the original hardwood in a couple of rooms (one of them has nice, if a bit scratched up, wide hardwood, and it could be really pretty with some refinishing), although most of it is covered with carpet. We might eventually uncover the beam, but it's hard to argue with carpet for the insulation factor, perfectly good laminate flooring installed over hardwood, and modern windows. And I don't think we will turn the corner porches back into porches -- they're the bathrooms and laundry room. But we put in a couple of storm doors to augment the two old wooden front doors, which cut down on drafts considerably. It's always a question of blending modern convenience and efficiency with historic accuracy. :) No heat is hard! When we moved here, there was oil for the first floor but nothing upstairs where the bedrooms are. They had pulled lines for baseboard heaters but hadn't put them in. There's no ductwork for the oil heat to reach upstairs, so we put in the baseboards. The wood heats the main floor, but brr, our schoolroom does get chilly sometimes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsBasil Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I think the complaining about people staring come from the number of people she is saying have touched her waist, butt, and bust area uninvited. I would be unnerved if I was regularly groped or touched by strangers in public too and if the staring precedes the touching, I can see why it would be stressful. The smug is annoying, but it's similar to tones/ideas that many people who choose something wildly outside the norm. I've seen similar wording or tone in articles about homeschooling, people who don't watch TV, tiny house living, and coffee prep(wish I could find that one again". 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Did anyone else notice that he was homeschooled? And she credits that with his willingness to not follow the crowd and do something daring just for fun. My first response was that this reminds me of my own childhood, to some extent. My parents had a lot of "antiques" that functioned as useful household objects: egg beaters, other appliances, tractors from the 1939's, most of our furniture. My second response was to really admire these people who are doing something just because they want to. I cannot imagine what is harmful about how they live. She mentions the hatred, open criticism, and threats containing the word "kill"-from random strangers. Honestly-why??? For dressing up like a Victorian couple and using and icebox? I just can't believe how hateful people are. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobeatenpath Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 An interesting (and long!) discussion about this. With a lot more background - let's just say she doesn't come off very well ... http://www.metafilter.com/152850/This-is-why-more-people-dont-follow-their-dreams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpyTheFrog Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 People who grope her are creeps. I guess we need to add "Don't stare at or grope strangely dressed people," to the list of things we all need to explicitly teach our kids. That said, I think people would respect this couple more if it was presented as a project like that guy who followed all Old Testament laws for one year. If they said, "We think this will be fun and interesting," rather than act like that time period was superior, people wouldn't be so irritated by it. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I wish she hadn't mentioned he was homeschooled because people tend to go "Oooh. That explains it." Only it doesn't. From what I can see, she is the one who is driving this and he's just going along with it. And there is no mention that she homeschooled. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 An interesting (and long!) discussion about this. With a lot more background - let's just say she doesn't come off very well ... http://www.metafilter.com/152850/This-is-why-more-people-dont-follow-their-dreams I skimmed only a short portion of all that. It is just reader comment, thus all over the map, and not particularly useful. Yahoo article comments are similarly non-helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 An interesting (and long!) discussion about this. With a lot more background - let's just say she doesn't come off very well ... http://www.metafilter.com/152850/This-is-why-more-people-dont-follow-their-dreams Perhaps I didn't scroll down far enough, but this page appears to be a series of short comments, akin to the comments at the end of some internet news articles. Did I miss something? Where is the background you are talking about? The only ones who do not come off well in the page are the cynical haters, which I guess is pretty typical of internet article comments! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Ok, so she's living an authentic Victorian lifestyle... as a licensed massage therapist. I wonder if Queen Victoria had her own licensed massage therapist. ;) I also think my history education is seriously lacking, because it has never once occurred to me to look up all of the Facebook posts from Victorian times. Silly me! I didn't even realize they had the Internet back then. But hey, if this woman has it, it must be authentically Victorian, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Quick question -- do you think this whole "living Victorian" thing is a ploy to get a TLC reality show? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustEm Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 http://abc.go.com/shows/the-view/video/PL5554876/VDKA0_fi0z37rp She was on The View and you can see exactly what she means by people trying to grope her and how she reacts. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobeatenpath Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 The meta filter comments include links to her other stuff (including her book on Amazon) her blog and discussion about it. eta - this is a much funnier (and rather snide) series of comments about her book that give you a good idea. https://storify.com/ImAmandaNelson/in-which-i-hate-read-that-victorian-lady-s-corset- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 http://abc.go.com/shows/the-view/video/PL5554876/VDKA0_fi0z37rp She was on The View and you can see exactly what she means by people trying to grope her and how she reacts. Thank you for posting this. I can see both why someone would want to reach out and touch her waist and why she wouldn't want them to do so. However, my personal opinion on how to handle it is that she could have simply blocked the hand and said "Please don't touch me. I will be happy to answer questions about my outfit verbally." The finger wagging thing was . . . strange to me and a bit over the top. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Thank you for posting this. I can see both why someone would want to reach out and touch her waist and why she wouldn't want them to do so. However, my personal opinion on how to handle it is that she could have simply blocked the hand and said "Please don't touch me. I will be happy to answer questions about my outfit verbally." The finger wagging thing was . . . strange to me and a bit over the top. I agree. I think she startled Barbara Walters! She seemed a little odd to me in that clip. The weirdness with the finger-wagging, the jumping jacks... and when she was sitting on the couch, I kept wanting to tell her to move her knees closer together so she would look more ladylike. I didn't find her to be particularly appealing. Maybe she was nervous, though, and they didn't give her very much air time, either, so that could be why she came across so awkwardly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I agree. I think she startled Barbara Walters! She seemed a little odd to me in that clip. The weirdness with the finger-wagging, the jumping jacks... and when she was sitting on the couch, I kept wanting to tell her to move her knees closer together so she would look more ladylike. I didn't find her to be particularly appealing. Maybe she was nervous, though, and they didn't give her very much air time, either, so that could be why she came across so awkwardly. I agree, it was bizarre. She's wearing a COSTUME around all over the place, I don't think it's surprising that people want to touch it. ***Of course no one should touch her breasts or butt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 http://abc.go.com/shows/the-view/video/PL5554876/VDKA0_fi0z37rp She was on The View and you can see exactly what she means by people trying to grope her and how she reacts. Wow. That was interesting. That was worse than being pregnant. Did everyone see that they all clearly wanted to touch her? It wasn't just Barbara Walters. I see exactly what she meant now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I could see how it would support your back, but I do wonder what it does to her internal organs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeschoolingHearts&Minds Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I agree, it was bizarre. She's wearing a COSTUME around all over the place, I don't think it's surprising that people want to touch it. ***Of course no one should touch her breasts or butt. While I can understand curiosity, isn't it a part of being a grown adult that you are able to keep your hands to yourself and not invade someone's personal space? How does wearing a costume (and it's not a costume for this person, but her normal way of dressing) equal an invitation to "touch me?" I also don't see why it matters what part of her they wanted to touch. It's ok to touch her waist but not her butt? You can bet if a stranger touched my waist, I'd be startled and would react, regardless of how I was dressed. The finger wagging might be a bit extreme, but I'm not at all sure that B.W. didn't deserve it. Of course, this was TV---how much of it was real and how much of it was for shock value? ;) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 While I can understand curiosity, isn't it a part of being a grown adult that you are able to keep your hands to yourself and not invade someone's personal space? How does wearing a costume (and it's not a costume for this person, but her normal way of dressing) equal an invitation to "touch me?" I also don't see why it matters what part of her they wanted to touch. It's ok to touch her waist but not her butt? You can bet if a stranger touched my waist, I'd be startled and would react, regardless of how I was dressed. The finger wagging might be a bit extreme, but I'm not at all sure that B.W. didn't deserve it. Of course, this was TV---how much of it was real and how much of it was for shock value? ;) This might be a little awful... but I wonder if this is one of those times when Barbara acted inappropriately because her grandmother probably dressed like that... Kind of like how sometimes I get sort of snippy when I spend too much time with my favorite sister. We both start relating like we're kids again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 An interesting (and long!) discussion about this. With a lot more background - let's just say she doesn't come off very well ... http://www.metafilter.com/152850/This-is-why-more-people-dont-follow-their-dreams Reading through it. Lots of interesting points. I found this one resonated with me in my initial reading: The part of the article that struck me the most was when she talked about how the Victorian era was actually very optimistic about the future and was a time of innovation, and how she's also trying to latch onto that optimism -- but by burying herself in the past and by constructing a static historical bubble to live within. That made me wonder whether she wasn't missing the forest for the trees when trying to understand the Victorian zeitgeist. posted by rue72 at 10:48 AM on September 9 [11 favorites] 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 I could see how it would support your back, but I do wonder what it does to her internal organs. Supposedly it's good. I mean, when you tighten them it's bad, but stays and light corsets are supposed to be better for our posture and don't hurt our organs. It's just when people start using them to squeeze into things they shouldn't... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Reading through it. Lots of interesting points. I found this one resonated with me in my initial reading: The part of the article that struck me the most was when she talked about how the Victorian era was actually very optimistic about the future and was a time of innovation, and how she's also trying to latch onto that optimism -- but by burying herself in the past and by constructing a static historical bubble to live within. That made me wonder whether she wasn't missing the forest for the trees when trying to understand the Victorian zeitgeist. posted by rue72 at 10:48 AM on September 9 [11 favorites] Somebody else took it further: I'm a professional Victorianist and all, so I had Some Reactions. The part of the article that struck me the most was when she talked about how the Victorian era was actually very optimistic about the future and was a time of innovation, and how she's also trying to latch onto that optimism -- but by burying herself in the past and by constructing a static historical bubble to live within. That made me wonder whether she wasn't missing the forest for the trees when trying to understand the Victorian zeitgeist. This was also my immediate response. Most middle- and upper-class Victorians (to stick with folks equivalent to our author) would have thought this exercise not just bizarre, but inane: people liked new technologies and took advantage of them whenever they could afford them. Trains! Telegraphs! Typewriters! (I'm sure there are other things beginning with "T" that I'm missing here.) There's a reason that the Great Exhibition was such a hit across the social spectrum (even though a lot of commentators were also anxious about the effects of free market thinking). More to the point, aside from the nineteenth-century cosplayers (e.g.), high-profile Victorians who pursued similarly nostalgic projects weren't necessarily thinking of them in terms of personal lifestyle choices that could be commodified for a mass readership: they were making social, economical, and political statements. To the left, you've got John Ruskin and William Morris, who were trying to revive artisanal practices that predated the Industrial Revolution--because they were critiquing the physical and moral effects of factory work on the laboring classes, and trying to imagine alternatives. To the right, you've got somebody like the execrable Catholic novelist E. H. Dering, who walked around dressed up like somebody out of the seventeenth century because he was deeply opposed to the culture of the nineteenth. As it happens, Chrisman and her husband remind me most of Walter Scott and Abbotsford, and Scott liked his mod cons, thank you very much. On to the article: They help us understand the culture that created them — a culture that believed in engineering durable, beautiful items that could be repaired by their users. Constantly using them helps us comprehend their context. Absorbing the lessons our artifacts teach us shapes our worldview. They are our teachers. Seeing their beauty every day elevates and inspires us, as it did their original owners. Most middle- and upper-class Victorians could not, in fact, repair their own "items," unless it was clothing, and even then that depended on social status (a middle-class woman might make and repair many of the family's garments; an upper-class woman would probably hand this job to a servant or hire a dressmaker/tailor). More to the point, here and elsewhere the authors slip between the self-consciousness produced by historical distance to identification with Victorian self-consciousness, and that's what caused much of my own dissonant response to this essay. The Victorians were not particularly "mindful" (other than in the usual "how much did we spend on gas this month?!") way; most of them quite cheerfully bought factory-produced goods because they were cheap; and if they got more out of their possessions than we do in the twenty-first century, the documentation they left behind doesn't exactly prove it. Now, you absolutely had people attempting to produce this kind of mindfulness--that's part of the Arts and Crafts movement, for example, and the revolutions in interior decorating during the 1890s--but it wasn't some essential property of the period. Finally, those "ideals" were strangely...vague. For example, they're supposedly in the 1880s or so. Is the author a New Woman? After all, she's out and about on her cycle...and yet, she's wearing a chatelaine, when pockets were an important and liberatory late-century innovation in woman's clothing. (When you come across references to women's "pockets" in literature of the 19th-c. and earlier, they mean a separate bag attached to the clothing, not to pockets sewn in.) Are they imperialists? Anti-imperialists? Pacifists? Christians? Freethinkers? Vegetarians? Anti-vivisectionists? Free market capitalists? Socialists? Eugenicists? The article sells the performance as counter-cultural, but, as others have already pointed out, the Amish and Mennonites got there a long time ago, and it's not immediately obvious what "ideals" they think they're importing from the Victorians--given that the only visible ideals are pretty twenty-first century. posted by thomas j wise at 12:06 PM on September 9 [108 favorites] 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustEm Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I agree, it was bizarre. She's wearing a COSTUME around all over the place, I don't think it's surprising that people want to touch it. ***Of course no one should touch her breasts or butt. No one should touch any part of her if she doesn't want to. Is it common practice to go around touching stranger's costumes on Holloween? Now in the context of an interview like the on the view I can see why Barbara Walters wouldn't think anything of it. She is the host of a talk show that has many celebrity guests. Celebrities in the talk show environment tend to be more intimate with there hosts. So a host checking out an outfit wouldn't be weird to most celebrities. This woman isn't a celebrity though and clearly isn't comfortable with people invading her space. Plus she is not in a costume. This is her everyday apparel. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustEm Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I also imagine her reaction is more dramatic because she learned through trial and error what people attempting to touch her will react to. If you read her experience about being touch she mentions that even after asking not to be touch people don't respect that request and either continue or get pissed off at her. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobeatenpath Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Then again this is a woman who was shocked - shocked and offended - when she tried to get through airport security in a steel boned corset and was taken aside by a TSA person to be checked. She gets pissy when people ask her if she is wearing a costume. She actually claims people recognise she is an 'alpha female' when she wears a corset and because she dresses in a ladylike manner they treat her like a respectable lady - yet then claims everyone is trying to touch her and feel her. As I said above it is a bit much to make your life in to a spectacle - willingly and deliberately - then complain if people don't respond exactly as you want. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I also imagine her reaction is more dramatic because she learned through trial and error what people attempting to touch her will react to. If you read her experience about being touch she mentions that even after asking not to be touch people don't respect that request and either continue or get pissed off at her. I think she is exaggerating the whole "touching problem." I can imagine that she would attract some stares, but most people don't go around touching strangers, no matter what they are wearing. Her reaction to Barbara Walters seemed both cartoonish and well-rehearsed. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Then again this is a woman who was shocked - shocked and offended - when she tried to get through airport security in a steel boned corset and was taken aside by a TSA person to be checked. She gets pissy when people ask her if she is wearing a costume. She actually claims people recognise she is an 'alpha female' when she wears a corset and because she dresses in a ladylike manner they treat her like a respectable lady - yet then claims everyone is trying to touch her and feel her. As I said above it is a bit much to make your life in to a spectacle - willingly and deliberately - then complain if people don't respond exactly as you want. She seems like a drama queen who is looking for attention. If the Victorian thing doesn't work out for her (financially and fame-wise, in particular,) she will probably try something else. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 yet, she's wearing a chatelaine, when pockets were an important and liberatory late-century innovation in woman's clothing. I wish the fashion industry would remember that and start adding them back again! I think she is exaggerating the whole "touching problem." I can imagine that she would attract some stares, but most people don't go around touching strangers, no matter what they are wearing. Mmm, I don't know about that. My kid gets her hair touched a LOT by strangers who think natural hair is... I don't know what they think, but it's not acceptable. And she likes to wear wigs, and she's had people try to just take them off her head. When I used to wear a ring sling when the younger kiddo was a baby, a lot of people would go up to look at it, and to take a closer look they'd automatically touch the ring... which was positioned directly over my breast. This happened at least twice a month! It's amazing the number of people who think they're entitled to other people's personal space! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 The tweets while reading her book are funny: https://storify.com/ImAmandaNelson/in-which-i-hate-read-that-victorian-lady-s-corset- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 The tweets while reading her book are funny: https://storify.com/ImAmandaNelson/in-which-i-hate-read-that-victorian-lady-s-corset- Those tweets were great! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 The first page of reviews on Amazon for her book tap into the odd vibe I was getting when on her website. She just seems really angry and disdainful. http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/1626361754/ref=acr_offerlistingpage_text?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 And now I've spent enough of my day on her! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobeatenpath Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 And now I've spent enough of my day on her! I know the feeling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 It made me want a corset. 22" waist?! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 The first page of reviews on Amazon for her book tap into the odd vibe I was getting when on her website. She just seems really angry and disdainful. http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/1626361754/ref=acr_offerlistingpage_text?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 And now I've spent enough of my day on her! I found the review written by the woman who wears Edwardian clothing to be very interesting and insightful. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I think she is exaggerating the whole "touching problem." I can imagine that she would attract some stares, but most people don't go around touching strangers, no matter what they are wearing. Her reaction to Barbara Walters seemed both cartoonish and well-rehearsed. I agree. And my guess is that most people are reaching out to feel the fabric of her sleeve or something. I'm am 100% certain that the interaction between her and Barbara was scripted. She may not view her clothing as a costume but it's going to look like one to almost everyone she encounters. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Supposedly it's good. I mean, when you tighten them it's bad, but stays and light corsets are supposed to be better for our posture and don't hurt our organs. It's just when people start using them to squeeze into things they shouldn't...She said she lost 10" off her waist after she started wearing it. Wouldn't it have to be tight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 She said she lost 10" off her waist after she started wearing it. Wouldn't it have to be tight. Hm. I know that you naturally will lose some because it gets redistributed. But that does seem like a lot. Maybe she's got it seriously cinched? I'm no expert... now I'm sort of curious... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 It made me want a corset. 22" waist?! Waist training is back in fashion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Waist training is back in fashion. I might have to take this up. Maybe all my guts that four babies pushed frontwards would go back into more pleasing arrangements! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I could see how it would support your back, but I do wonder what it does to her internal organs. There's a show I like called The 1900 House that features a modern British family going "back in time" to live/dress for that time period. At one point in the show they had a doctor visit the house to examine the mother, and she had to breathe into a peak flow meter with and without her corset. Her results were better without the corset. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 There's a show I like called The 1900 House that features a modern British family going "back in time" to live/dress for that time period. At one point in the show they had a doctor visit the house to examine the mother, and she had to breathe into a peak flow meter with and without her corset. Her results were better without the corset. There's also that Guiness Book of World Records lady with the world's smallest waist. Her husband is a doctor and says he has x-rayed and whatever else hos wife's body. He has determined that her organs have simply been redistributed by the corset and she is in no way damaged. That said, it's weird as all get out. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SCl7BIoA17Y Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Quick question -- do you think this whole "living Victorian" thing is a ploy to get a TLC reality show? Of course! Reality tv shows were all the rage in the Victorian era!! 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Of course! Reality tv shows were all the rage in the Victorian era!! I laughed so loud at this DH asked what was so funny. When I read it to him, he said, "Of course! But she better watch out or the Victorian Mafia will attack her." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobeatenpath Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 They are getting a TV show, I think on Canadian television. Here is an article about why this is so annoying and problematic (note - lots of strong language) http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/to-hell-with-voxs-victorian-living-idiots-1729873090 As to losing 10" with a corset - well you can do it with tight lacing, and not the first time you put it on. I can, with tight lacing, reduce my waist by around that much but I don't care what she says, if you are tight lacing every day it will do damage to you and make breathing more difficult. I mean plenty if not most female opera singers are wearing a corset while performing both for costuming and the support it gives but they are not tight laced. Personally - reading her book and articles and such I think the corset thing is a fetish/kink at play in their relationship (and hey, nothing wrong with that) rather than part of some 'I wish to really understand Victorian culture'. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeganCupcake Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 There's also that Guiness Book of World Records lady with the world's smallest waist. Her husband is a doctor and says he has x-rayed and whatever else hos wife's body. He has determined that her organs have simply been redistributed by the corset and she is in no way damaged. That said, it's weird as all get out. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SCl7BIoA17Y Redistributed, as in pelvic organ prolapse? That's the first thing I think of when I think of corseting and binding. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Quick question -- do you think this whole "living Victorian" thing is a ploy to get a TLC reality show? Of course! You have to finance the whole shebang and living upper class Victorian is not inexpensive. You have not seen her horses and carriage yet 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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