Waisted Efforts

Chertsey Museum’s new fashion exhibition, Waisted Efforts, charts the changing styles of the waistline in fashion from the 1750s to the 1950s.

Highlights include a stunning ‘sack-back’ gown from the 1770s, a man’s suit from the 1780s, examples of women’s high-waisted Regency clothing, an exquisite girl’s dress from 1850, an 1880s day gown, a flapper dress from the 1920s and lovely examples of 1950s ‘New Look’ styles. The foundation wear includes corsets from a variety of eras, an Edwardian man’s corset, a 1920s bust bodice (designed to flatten the chest) and a ‘Waspie’ corset from the 1950s.

The majority of the pieces are selected from the Olive Matthews Collection which is housed at Chertsey Museum.