As if Spanx weren’t torturous enough for our bellies, it seems that the fashion world wants to assault womankind with corsets (again). Shapewear called fajas have been trending in Spanish communities for years, and now it looks like they may become mainstream. Will women really latch onto the look in pursuit of a great figure?
According to a recent New York Times article, Latina women don fajas in order to “look like a Coke bottle,” even though the garments can apparently “force the air out of your lungs” in the process. And cause organ shifting. Let’s not overlook the organ shifting. They run $20 to $70, and come in variety of shapes (including one that has butt cheek cut-outs). While these girdles may seem old-fashioned, they’ve been swiftly on the rise in Hispanic communities within the last five years, and one manufacturer had to raise production 47 percent last year. While Spanx are irritating-yet-painless, it seems that women are becoming to take a more painful (and old-fashioned) step to achieve a body ideal. [via Fashionista]
What do you think of fajas? Would you wear one?
guest
Yes, I would albiet I don’t own any yet.
guest
i would wear a corset for fun or to jazz things up in the bedroom, but as far as everyday use…heck no! we’re all different shapes and sizes, and not all of us are meant to have the same figure. how boring that would be! you want your body to look different? work out or build muscle volume. don’t stuff yourself into a sausage casing where you can barely breathe…silly women
guest
I suppose if the occasion called for one (tight dress, for example), I might wear one, but I wouldn’t on a regular basis. I wouldn’t put my health at risk for beauty. I’ll stick with Spanx.
guest
I probably would give one a try.
guest
They sell those in the US as well. I just haven’t found any at an affordable price to fit my waist. Ilove the feeling of a corset.
guest
My aunties in Mexico use them. I tried some before but they just fold over my jello in such an ugly way. -_-’ Ugh.So I rather just let my stuff flow freely.
tulip / 9 posts
Corsets have never really gone away; they just went underground and became a mainstay
for the ‘Fetish’ community.
The item in the photo looks more like a waist cincher/whittler than a corset…there
is no boning in this. Some find that a ‘traditional corset helps relieve back
pain, while others I know like the bust support they offer. Properly fitted a
corset should enhance the figure, true some go to extremes with them.
ranunculus / 3457 posts
Fajas aren’t so mainstream in Latin communities anymore… unless you’re talking about older women.
orchid / 184 posts
So wouldn’t wear it looks uncomfortable.
guest
Hahahaha I have one lol with the butt cheeks cut out. My mom got me wearing it since I was 16. It’s really not so bad. It’s like a spanx suit with more support basically. It’s painless and keeps you so warm during the winter. I think it definitely works tho. I used to be pretty athletic and developed a rather boyish figure. After 5 years of wearing that to bed, my figure’s pretty curvy comparatively. Of course it could just be me losing a lot of muscle mass and softening out.
Btw, butt cheeks cut out are for you to go to the toilet while you’re wearing it.
guest
i have the thing in the picture, but it’s not really a corset. it’s designed to smooth everything over, not to force anything in. and i pretty much only wear it to formal occasions.
guest
When the corset first came out, it did the same thing. Organs do shift as your body shape changes. To answer the question, yes, I would wear a corset. Not necessarily the one in the picture but I like the idea of corsets.
orchid / 103 posts
I would for a rare special occasion, and for dress the just doesn’t look right without one. Not long enough to cause permanent damage to my body, though.
guest
If my organs were going to be shifted around and it put my health at risk, no way.
guest
I love corsets so much! When they are used properly, they do not really have health risks. You need to do more ab and back strengthening execises if you use them full time, but that is not a big deal.. My organs were majorly shifted around a lot more when pregnant than when I use a corset.
You can claim an assault on women all you like, but my corsets are more comfortable than a bra will ever be and, after a long day, it keeps me on my feet when I am tired.
guest
Well, you *can* wear a corset and not have it squish the crap out of you…. Most ones I’ve seen, I really, really like. Not for pretending to be skinnier than you are, but I just like the cut/look of the thing itself.
guest
I already have an hourglass shape, although not perfect, but good enough to wear dresses without the “help” of corsets or bodyshapers
guest
My Mom used to wear corsets all the time. She stopped pretty recently…they annoy her worse now.
guest
Probably not. I think they look awesome, just don’t think I could pull it off :/
guest
I live in Florida so as little clothing as possible is preferred. I do love the look of corsets and think they’re dead sexy, but to wear one all day? No thanks!
guest
Only older women wear those.
guest
Let’s clear one thing up: the fashion world isn’t “assaulting” us with corsets. These women WANT to wear them. We aren’t being victimized, oppressed, or coerced here.
I don’t know if I would wear one. Maybe, but not so tightly that it hurt or made me breathless. Ultimately, I’d like my abs to act as a corset.