For a few hours, I knew how it felt to be a Kardashian. How was it? Painful. Although the Kardashians have posted photos of themselves in waist-training corsets on social media, which started a craze for women to have the perfect (if not sometimes cartoonish) hourglass figure, who knew that right here in Toronto waist trainers have been around for more than a decade.
At Stella’s Corset on Wilson Avenue, they offer over 80 different types of body shapers and corsets, and even butt lifters (so you, too, can have a Kardashian butt).
There is no question that I need help getting into a waist clincher, or corset. (For those of you who are of a certain age, you’ll remember lying on your bed trying to put on those tight Jordache jeans with a hanger. Yeah, it’s like that!)
Sales associate Danna Pizarro’s face literally turns a dark red as she clips the corset on me. This is a workout for her. In fact, I think she may be huffing and puffing getting me into this thing.
“This hurts!” I tell her. “This really hurts!” But when she’s done clipping me up and I look in the mirror, I am speechless. My waist looks amazing. I suddenly have a super-enviable hourglass figure, like Barbie.
Pizarro says that “the first time is always the hardest challenge to get them on, and it takes about an hour to get used to wearing one.”
In fact, a lot of customers leave the store wearing them. (I can see why. I’m not sure who, at home, could help me get this thing on again.)
While not only a fashion undergarment to make your waist look tiny, the corsets are also plugged as “instantly slimming orthopaedic solutions.” Many with back problems use them as well, and some are covered by insurance.
They are great for back support because the corset does not allow you to bend over, and thus, your posture has never been better. I could not slouch in this thing if I tried.
The waist trainers also, supposedly, help with weight loss because not only does it suppress your hunger, but it also makes you sweat because of the fabric.
I’m not even sure I could sneeze in one of these things without breaking a rib. Yet at the same time, as every woman knows, fashion and looking your best is painful. (Think stilettos!)
Of course, you also have to exercise and eat well if you want to actually lose any weight. Pizarro is surprised that many customers just think that by wearing one of these things they are going to lose weight.
Pizarro suggests that women (and men — they do have a men’s training vest) wear them between five and eight hours a day, five days a week.
“But I do have customers who wear them all the time, only taking them off to shower,” she says. Ouch.
All Stella’s corsets are made in Colombia. Teenagers as young as 17 come in to buy them.
The price point is reasonable, ranging from $25 to $120 (cheaper than plastic surgery!)
If you think taking a bra off at home after a long day at work is a great feeling, imagine how I felt taking off a corset after three hours. Finally, I could breathe again.
