I remember having a discussion about this on the list some years ago (10+?) after I had nearly fainted while playing the shawm in a 17th century corset in a sunny window. I was told that a corset should not be laced so tightly as to restrict your breathing. Of course I'm aware that corsets of later periods extend below the waist, increasing the problem. Having once worn an 18th century corset, I've often wondered how the lady singers of Handel's time managed. Of course, as Maggie says, they were used to it.
Kate Bunting Retired librarian & 17th-century reenactor. _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
