Emma Watson Corset

Factsoverfeelings Jan 2017: Harry Potter actress and noted feminist Emma Watson forgot to do her research after accepting the role of Belle in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast. The media was awash in praise after Watson announced she wouldn’t wear a corset in the movie… indicating that they didn’t do their research, either.

See, many feminists (and fauxminists) demonize the corset as a symbol of female subjugation… which may have been true toward the end of the Edwardian era. But it’s far from the whole story. Corsets have provided different shapes (from inverted cone to… insect) throughout the centuries, and it wasn’t always about tightlacing and oppression. ​ For example, here’s a video of Lucy Worsley, author of At Home with Jane Austen and If Walls Could Talk: An Intimate History of the Home, donning an Armada style dress. This replica outfit was worn by Elizabeth I for a portrait celebrating her victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588. Worsley is wearing a corset, which, in her own words, “isn’t at all like Victorian stays that give you a lovely waist.”

The end result is hardly a lung-restricting, organ-crushing hourglass. The purpose, here, was to be “queenly, ” taking up as much space as possible, projecting worth and confidence. The fact that the inside of the dress, which no one will see except the maids who dress the queen, is made of fine silk, kind of suggests that inner beauty is just as important as outer beauty. Other versions of the corset were often focused on much more practical things than queenliness and confidence. For example, warmth and safety. Wearing several layers of big, heavy skirts helped women stay warm in drafty castles — and these big, heavy skirts needed a sturdy base to anchor to. Moreover, the shape this base provided wasn’t just pretty – it also kept skirts from getting wrapped around women’s legs, tripping them and causing injury, and even drowning. Throughout many eras, the corset also increased the comfort of the skirts – those skirts were heavy. Think about how sore your shoulders would be if you wore a heavy backpack without a waist strap:

More Pics Of Emma Watson Corset Top (1 Of 11)

(believe me: that waist strap makes all the difference!) … But having a sturdy base also allowed dresses to be beautiful and elegant. I mean, here’s Lily James in Cinderella:

Without a corset, all the weight just kind of hangs. With a corset, it could have had gorgeous, airy sleeves and a skirt with shape and volume:

Kind of like the Lily James/Cinderella dress – which was stunning, magical and fantastical. But maybe it will look better on film. Going back to the history, rather than the functionality, of the corset. The male characters wear waistcoats and Gaston has a blunderbuss, which was fashionable for men of the 18th century. (Moreover, Gaston storming the castle calls to mind the French Revolution, 1978-1799.) At that point in time, French women’s fashion was all about abundance. Hoop skirts, panniers, petticoats, and, yes, corsets. Court dress was restrictive and forced a proper standing posture – but outside the court, dress had shifted to be more comfortable. The waist, at that time, was not particularly small, and stays were laced snugly, but comfortably. They offered back support for heavy lifting, and poor and middle class women were able to work comfortably in them. In fact, by the Empire and Regency periods (Jane Austen era), corsets fell out of fashion for a while. So historically, yes, she would have worn a corset. Yes, it would have been stiff, but it wouldn’t have been unhealthy tight – though the high-cut stays at the armpit would have forced her to stand up straight, with her shoulders back. Yes, it would have helped keep her warm in the winter (which is when much of the movie takes place). Yes, it would have allowed her to have “abuncance” in her dress.

Emma Watson Refused A Corset On The Set Of 'beauty And The Beast'

Meanwhile, in England, clothing was becoming more inexpensive and durable, in response to an increasingly leisurely and outdoorsy lifestyle.) Honestly, though, this doesn’t just bother me because the dress is so meh, and so many people with strong, positive memories will be disappointed by its poor construction. And I’m willing to forgive historical blunders, because it’s a fairy tale. What bothers me is that this is yet another example of the “helping culture” that Christina Hoff Sommers, PhD, and Sally Satel, MD, described in their book, One Nation Under Therapy: How the Helping Culture is Eroding Self-Reliance. Undoubtedly, Watson has good intentions, here. (Or, maybe, she was afraid of being crucified by the body police if she looked too beautiful in the film.) But sometimes, good intentions have very negative consequences. As per Dear Well-Meaning Parents and Educators: Stop Giving Girls Self-Esteem Problems, most eight-year-olds don’t look at Disney princesses and start feeling inadequate. Children are experts at imaginary play — and they only learn that they “should” feel self-conscious around pretty and/or skinny women when adults teach them to.Update January, 31st: Beauty and the Beast just dropped their final trailer here that shows Emma Waston being even more of a badass without a corset.

You may have heard that Beauty and the Beast (yes, the Disney princess movie from your childhood) is heading back to the box office in a live-action version starring Emma Watson as Belle. And if you're really paying attention, the trailer that was released on November, 14th just passed 50 Shades of Grey as the most viewed trailer in 24 hours. 

On March 17, 2017, movie-goers will be enchanted by a re-imagined version of the Disney classic. Emma, who has expressed her adoration of the classic film, has also helped shape the role of the female character Belle.

Billie Eilish Wore The Tightest Corset To The Met Gala 2022 — See Photos

Watson, a self-proclaimed feminist and UN Women Global Ambassador, had her own ideas for her role. In addition to making Belle an inventor (you slay, queen), Emma stated in an interview with EW that she would not wear a corset in the remake. 

Watson worked closely with the designer to ensure it wouldn't impede her backstory of being a princess who actually does more than sit around while still keeping the magical and whimsical Disney Princess feel of a ball-gown.

This is a stark contrast to other live-action versions of Disney princess remakes, including the 2015 re-make of Cinderella, in which Lily James's corset and tiny waistline sparked controversy, especially when James admitted to adhering to a liquid diet onset to fit into it. 

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But as Emma made clear, Belle ain't got time for that. She's got stuff to invent and a voice to be heard. 

And although it's debated how much the media has a role in actual diagnosis of eating disorders, societal structures that distort views of how or what women should be or look like can trigger susceptible people to question their bodies, and/or empower mistreatment of those who do not fit ideals. 

While some may view this as diverting from an iconic ball gown and classic princess ideals, now, more than ever, I applaud Emma for her bold actions and influence.

Burning Question: What's Wrong With Belle's Gown?

A metaphor of recent events, the 2017 release could not be more perfectly timed to remind the world that women are more than objects of objectification and sexual grabbing; they're here to change the world and contribute to society. 

It's vital to continue to remind young girls that women can and should have ambitions and goals and should be seen as equally as capable, smart, and powerful as men. 

Even the fact that Emma took an active role in reshaping Belle's character is worthy of applause, and an empowering message of the influence one can have when they stand up for what they believe in. 

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Emma's re-imagination of the role is a good place to start in sending this message to kids (and sadly, should also be seen by many adults) of all genders. 

Women: we're here. We're more than waistlines. And we will continue to trail blaze into 2017 and beyond. Thanks Emma, for taking that message to the big screen.