The ideal of what a woman's body should look like has changed dramatically over time and varies by culture. One of the most well-known historical attempts at changing a woman's body shape -- corseting ...

"As long as the female form runs the gamut in sizes and shapes, a Saginaw manufacturer will enjoy a profitable business hiding milady's unsightly curves and accentuating those more lovely."-- The ...

When it comes to fashion, it can seem as if the body is meant to fit the design. Nowhere is that more obvious than the corset, the French undergarment invented in the 1500s made to cinch the waist to ...

Atlas Obscura on Slate is a blog about the world’s hidden wonders. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. It seems obvious now, but it wasn’t until the late 1800s that doctors began to notice ...