SQUEEZE PLAY STRAIGHT

LACED NOTIONS ABOUT CORSETS GIVE WAY TO COMFORT AND STYLE

Denver Rocky Mountain News; 7/26/2001

Denver Rocky Mountain News

07-26-2001

The story goes something like this:
Once upon a time (namely the early 1900s), there was a woman - Jennie Rogers was her name - who was considered to be the most beautiful madam of Market Street.

She was 6 feet tall and hot-tempered, and she ran a parlor house called the House of Mirrors, the swankiest brothel between Kansas City and San Francisco.
Twelve years later, Rogers' rival, Mattie Silks, one of the West's most famous madams, took over the business for a few years until a national reform ran the red lights out of Denver.
The restored building, now called Mattie's House of Mirrors, 1946 Market St., is a restaurant and bar, but the old-time-parlor feel of the place provided the perfect backdrop to highlight one of the year's hottest trends: the corset - as outerwear.
``Corsets are a fantastic fashion trend that have been a standard in European lingerie for centuries,'' says Amy Vick, public relations specialist for Victoria's Secret. ``Corsets are ultra-feminine, and women like the versatility of a corset being a style that can be dressed up or down.''
The look is sexy and stylish and works as well with a worn pair of blue jeans and sandals as with a fancy ball skirt and heels. The new designs often come with zippers, and many come with Lycra for added stretch and comfort. These are not the corsets of the Elizabethan era.
And women are responding. Corsets are becoming so popular that some retailers say they're selling out before the garments hit the racks.
Victoria's Secret has even opened its second ``corset boutique,'' in its Cherry Creek store. (The first one is in New York.)
The assortment at Cherry Creek features more than 20 styles and colors, including traditional black and white, gold, wine, sapphire and even denim, one of the company's most successful styles. Prices range from $72 to more than $300 for high-end pieces.
It's the corset's versatility that's making it a fashionable option, Vick says.
``With the variety of fabrics, styles and colors available, it works well as an outerwear look,'' she says. ``We're seeing corsets worn quite a bit on the street as tops. Women are wearing them with a great pair of black pants or a pair of jeans. They are also being worn under suits.''
Denise Snyder, owner of Mariel, 1420 Larimer St., has carried corsets since her store opened 20 years ago.
``They're a vintage look and they never go out of style,'' she says. ``Corsets are timeless. To me, they're like camisoles, and they make a great layering piece. They're a basic, and everyone should have a couple in their wardrobe.''
Snyder says corsets can be worn for a variety of functions.
``You can wear them with a long skirt, and they're perfect for black tie,'' she says. ``Pair them with capris and a shawl and you're set for a more casual night.''
So, they look good, but how do they feel?
``Corsets are more comfortable today than they have ever been,'' Vick says. ``With today's material and technology, you can achieve the same great look and shape a corset offers without all the pain and suffering that used to be associated with them.''
And, here's the part we love: They really do transform a woman's body.
``I think that's the key to it,'' Snyder says. ``Once a woman tries one on, she's hooked. It pushes you up, makes your waist look tiny and your back look small. Even if you carry a little weight on your middle, they still give you that hourglass effect that everyone is looking for. It really can make you look 10 to 15 pounds lighter.''
Old Jennie and Mattie over at the House of Mirrors would have been proud. And a heck of lot more comfortable.

Copyright © 2001, Denver Publishing Co.