People have been striving to alter their body shapes at least since Classical times, but corsets and other shaping undergarments became required fashion items in the 16th century.  By the 18thcentury they were de rigueur for both men and women.

One of America’s founders, Thomas Paine, was a corset-maker by family trade.  See how the corset developed and changed from the 17th to the early 20th century.  Learn some basic corset construction and how to make modern reproductions at 7 PM on August 10th.