RetroXotique

One morning she found her mother intently reading a newspaper by the fire.  Her mother looked up.

" Here is something that will interest you, Elaine."

" What, mother"

"The paper says curves are coming back."

Elaine felt her heart thump.  This was too good to be true.

Mrs. Warren smiled at Elaine, who felt herself becoming very pink in the face. Elaine was extremely sensitive about her figure. Could her mother be trying to ridicule her?

No, she decided not, for her mother was looking at her now with a benign expression. " See," said her mother, holding out the paper," read this article on the fashion page.  It says that styles move in cycles.  Every style return’s' in one form or another. Curves are back in Paris.  look at the illustrations of the new girdles, nipped in a little at the waist.  The article says it is the beginning of the return to the corset.  Rather pretty, the new figure, don't you think ? "

Elaine read the column trembling inwardly. Her interest  made her  read  rapidly.  At length Elaine murmured, " I can hardly believe it."

" Nevertheless it is true.  A friend of mine who has been in Paris for six months. says there is no doubt about the change   I suppose we shall all be laced in tight stay's before long.  Picture me in them at my age. But one must dress in the style."

Elaine's mother said this with such finality that Elaine was conscious of a heeling of happiness and elation. The way was open for her to follow her heart’s desire. perhaps she had a future ahead, the future that every girl wishes a husband.

   "Oh, mother," cried Elaine, "this may mean a new life for me"

   "A new life?" asked her mother.

   " Yes, forgive me, mother, if I seem too moved by my feelings, if I speak of something I am ready to burst with. I have been thinking of this for a long time. I must speak. Do you know I believe most ardently, that I can make myself more attractive if I use a real corset?  Darling, I have been terribly disappointed in having no beaux like other girls; I have been terribly hurt by my poor luck. But I think I can make something better of my appearance by-by-by tight lacing !" Elaine's hesitation in her last words turned into a little sob.

    Her mother put an arm around Elaine's shoulder immediately. "My dear," she said, " I had no idea the matter meant so much to you."

    " I assure you it does mean everything."

    "Well, then, perhaps you should follow your desire put you’re theory into practice. Apparently every other woman will be acting on the same theory soon."

    Elaine threw her arms around her mother's neck and kissed her. "Oh, thank you," she said: " I feel so much better."

    Her mother observed the change and asked, "What are you thinking of now, my dear?"

    "I am wondering where I am going to get a corset." "Ah I I’m sure I don’t know, The only thing made with lacing at the back is the kind you have with the low bust.  It was a concession to stoutish women rather than to stylish girls".

    " Exactly," said Elaine. " It is not the thing I want." ,' But where can you get what you want?"

    Elaine fixed her mother with a gaze suddenly certain and steady. "Ask Lady Ellings," said Elaine.

    Her mother stiffened, "Certainly not !" she said.

    " I don't know her well enough."

    Elaine's feelings dropped, Something always happened to prevent her from realising happiness.

    She decided to be brave. "Won't you let me ask Lady Ellings?" Elaine said.

    "But how? You don't know her at all"

    "Can't you write to her about me ?"

    "Most assuredly I can't !"

    “Can’t you get somebody else to write then?"

    Her mother was about to refuse but saw that Elaine was very disappointed. Elaine's face looked desolate. " I'm sure I don't know what I can do about it," said her mother, "but I will ask whether I can think of a method." She kissed her daughter, "Brush away your tears, poor thing ! "said Mrs. Warren.

*  *  *

So it happened that Elaine was taken to London a fortnight later to see Lady Ellings. The difficulties in arranging a meeting had vanished when Elaine's mother had decided to lay the matter in simple truth before a friend who knew Lady Ellings well.

The latter had written that she would be only too glad to help Elaine find a corset suitable for her figure,

Elaine was thrilled. As the train sped towards London she could feel her heart beating excitedly. Therefore when her mother suddenly said, " Oh, Elaine, this is the tenth of the month, and I am supposed to see your Aunt Laura on business," Elaine was terribly disappointed.

"Oh, mother, how could you forget ! "   she said.

Her mother replied," I thought it was the eleventh I was to see your aunt, but her letter, which I have just been reading, again, says it is the tenth. I am so sorry. I'm afraid we must postpone seeing Lady Ellings."

Elaine's heart sank even lower. She had enough courage left to beg, "Couldn't I go to see her alone ?"

"Well, yes, that is possible," said her mother thought-fully, " I can drop you there and drive on. We can have the taxi stop there first."

Elaine gave a real sigh of relief, "Thanks awfully," she said,

So Elaine was left at Lady Ellings's door alone. When she crossed the threshold she was trembling.

As the servant was showing her in she nearly ran into a young woman who was leaving. "Can I believe my eyes ?" said this lady; " It is Elaine! "

Elaine perceived that the other was Phyllis Throck­morton, who was of the tall blonde type that young men considered attractive. Elaine's plain looks were a sad contrast to the beauty that brought the world to the feet of this other young woman.

Phyllis suspected that Elaine was interested in Lady Ellings's style of corsetry, " Elaine," said Phyllis with the suggestion of a sneer, "you are not thinking of emulating my Aunt Hortense, are you ?"

" Is Lady Ellings your aunt ? " asked Elaine, amazed.

"Of course."

Elaine managed to say, "She is exceedingly attractive"

" I believe she is, especially in the eyes of an older generation, You will be able to admire her today at her best. She looks as if she had laced in to seventeen inches. My word !"

"She has much aristocratic charm ! " Elaine murmured.

" But a Victorian corset !"

"The small waist is coming into style again"

" Not to the extreme she practices," declared Phyllis. And Phyllis made a movement to show the graceful line’s of her own figure, which was only slightly drawn in at the waist, as though to prove what the right fashion was, " Really," continued Phyllis, "your are not going in for Aunt Hortense's kind of corset, are you?"

" I think the style is coming back. The cycle of fashion indicates it"

Elaine's sudden warmth of voice amused Phyllis. " You will make yourself look absurd, my dear," she laughed. She remembered how Elaine's attempt to be well dressed at the tea had made her friends titter.

Elaine was almost in tears, but managed to keep them back. She wished heartily she had the gift of making Phyllis seem ridiculous.

Then a tear dropped down Elaine's homely cheek and fell upon her coat. Fortunately she was able to straighten her countenance before Lady Ellings appeared. Lady Ellings came forward with a cheering smile. Elaine wanted to believe that she had overheard Phyllis's remarks and wished to display her sympathy.  In any event Lady Hortense received her very kindly.

" I'm so glad you have come," Elaine heard her say, " and I hope I can help you."

"Oh, I know you' can," exclaimed Elaine impulsively. " I can't think of anybody else who could help me more."

"Come here and sit down," said the older woman " Tell me about yourself. You want to find a good corsetierre, am I right ?".

Elaine followed her to some chairs on the opposite side of time room.  She was overwhelmed at the sight of Lady Ellings's remarkable waist.  Beyond question

it was smaller than when she had seen it before.  Its contour was in perfect harmony with the dignity of its possessor whose perfectly fitting black dress of a rich

silken material gave her the majesty of a queen.  Elaine felt that if she herself could attain those lovely proportions she would be in heaven.

She felt that she had to pour out her soul to this divinity.  Ordinarily, Elaine was tongue-tied but now, with the first person she had met who could understand her desire for a little waist, she wanted to throw herself on her knees and beg for enlightenment.  She leaned forward towards Lady Hortense's chair, clasping her hands together, imploringly  while she poured forth her words.

" I hope you will forgive me Lady Ellings, for being so impetuous but I have longed to have you as a friend. I feel that you are the only person I have met that can understand me.  I have had a terrible struggle finding happiness.  You can see how unattractive I am.  I am wretched when I am with young people of my own age  Nothing I do to make myself liked, appeals to them.  My face is  too  ugly.  My clothes have no appeal.  My head is  too stupid to know how to amuse I am the butt of witticisms and sarcasms.  Forgive me if I speak ridiculously   I want to make you understand.”

Elaine had put so much feeling into her effusion that Lady Ellings was  moved to real pity.   " My poor child," she said.

" I only ask you too help me a little," Elaine said.

"Then I will go away and will not bother you again."

" Bother me?  My dear, you are not bothering me, Lady Ellings assured her.  " Now tell me more.  But compose yourself a little."

" I have been training my waist.  I have reduced it a little, as much as my corset permits, which is not very much because the corset has only a twenty-four inch waist.  It has not the cut of a real wasp-waisted corset."

" Won't you take off your coat, my dear, and let me see your figure?"

Elaine stood up and took off her coat,  She remained standing.

" Turn around so that I can see the back," said Lady Ellings.

She examined Elaine in silence until Elaine asked," Do you  think I have the figure for the tiny waist?"

" It depends whether your waist is soft and pliant," answered the older woman.  '' Is it difficult for you to lace in to the present dimension? "

" No," said Elaine,  " I find it rather easy and feel that I could pull my waist in more without much trouble."

" Then perhaps you have the right figure.  We can soon make certain if you wish."

" Oh, how?" asked Elaine, much interested.

" I have a corset, a beautiful one, that you may try on if you will come upstairs."

"  Oh, I'd love to! " Elaine exclaimed.

" I really think you can make a success out tight lacing." said Lady Ellings, as she led the way upstairs.  In her dressing-room she opened a drawer.  From it she took a long black satin corset, edged yellow silk and black lace.

" This has a twenty-inch waist," said Lady Ellings. " I've 'worn it only once."

" Do let me try it on!" Elaine took it in her hands and examined it with excited eyes.  her fingers caressed the smooth satin. "Oh, I am dying to wear it,” she exclaimed.

Elaine thrilled with delight as she saw her figure spring to new beauty under the 'expert  manipulations of the corsetiere.

Lady Ellings helped her with the fitting. As the strings were pulled Elaine experienced a tremendous elation. The bust, which came up to her breast, enclosed her much more comfortably than that of her own corset. It seemed to surround her upper body completely and lift her upward. The old corset, with a bust-line only two inches above the waist, had cut in a bit under her ribs. The present one was much better constructed for comfort.

" It is marvellous," said Elaine.

" Let me measure your waist ?" suggested Lady Ellings.

She bought a tape-measure from her dressing table and passed it around Elaine's satin corset. Twenty two," announced Lady Ellings.

" how wonderful !" cried Elaine, " Do you know, I think I could be laced tighter, really . Wont you pull me in again?" Lady Ellings untied the strings and, exerting herself strenuously, drew them in again, After a moment she said, " I think that is enough for the first time that you have laced under twenty-four. let me measure you again.'

    "What is the measure now?" asked Elaine, eagerly, although she felt a little breathless from the tightness of the corset.

    " Twenty-one."

    “Where is the mirror? I want to see myself !"

    " Here."

    Elaine hurried to the long glass.  In the mirror she saw a dignified lady in a shimmering black corset moving with a gentle swaying motion that was exceedingly graceful.  "Can it be me?" said Elaine, She pressed her hands to her waist. " I can't believe it I What a difference !"

    "You are truly different," said Lady Ellings. " I am amazed at the result  You assuredly have the right figure for the corset."

   "I’m so  glad !'' cried Elaine, "Do you really think I am attractive?"

    are, to my mind. And that is the best type of corset for you at the present moment. The long hips, of fourteen inches, take in your hip measure just a little.”

     “Yes,  I need  a little off my hips, don't I?"

    " What do they measure without a corset?"

    “About forty."

    " The corset can pull them in to thirty-seven if you wish, but the new style will insist on rounded hips. That means that thirty-eight will be appreciated as a good contrast to a little waist."

    "My hips look so smooth, in this corset that I don't mind their large size," said Elaine, running her fingers up and down her sides below the waist.

    " That is what a good corset does for one."

    Elaine gazed at herself in the mirror in almost a stupor of incredulous pleasure. She took several steps. " I love to walk in these corsets," she said.

    " The long corset. from bust to thigh, is very bracing for walking, do you enjoy  high heeled shoes too ? "

    Yes I do, but I haven’t any higher t than three inches."

    "Let me show you a pair of mine," said Lady Ellings. From a closet she took a pair of black shining court shoes. The height of the heels astounded Elaine. “How high are they ?" she asked.

    "Five and a half inches.  Try these, on if you like." Elaine was so stiffly corseted she could not bend over to reach her feet.  With a pleasant little laugh Lady Ellings asked her to sit down so that she could change her shoes for her, So that Lady Ellings would not be compelled to kneel on the floor Elaine lifted her feet up, one at a time. The trying-on was like a scene in a fairy tale to Elaine,  Unhappily, Lady Ellings's shoes were too small,  " Oh, dear I " said Elaine, disappointed,

    " Never mind.  You will have the pleasure of walking on very high heels while you are tightly corsetted when you get shoes of your own.  I will give you the address of a shop, not too far from the corsetierre I am sending you to."

    " I don't know how I can thank you'," Elaine' replied, I am going to have a corset like this made immediately and also order some shoes."

When Elaine was leaving she met Phyllis Throckmorton coming in with a young man, one that Elaine thought conceited. He was Herbert Ainsworth, a handsome, straight-nosed, aristocratic type, erect and military of figure.  He had never said more than a polite word to Elaine. Phyllis brushed by Elaine with her escort, apparently too full of her own affairs for more than, " Hello, still here?" said in an indifferent tone. They vanished.

Lady Ellings, who had observed this, said to Elaine, "My dear, I am going to ask you sometime to meet a few people here.  I think you will enjoy meeting them. Keep your courage up."

Elaine was overwhelmed. So much kindness was unexpected. After thanking Lady Ellings warmly, she ran down the steps, She beckoned quickly to a cab,

As the cab sped towards the shop Elaine sat stiffly erect in her solitude behind the driver, imagining how it would feel to be riding thus when she wore high corsets that would hold her immovable. The pleasure of the thought made her see the contrast with her previous mode of existence in Astolat, her mother's cottage, where life for her had been anything but that of " Elaine the Fair." Being named Elaine, after Tennyson's immortal fair one, and living in a house named Astolat, after a place denoting immortal romance, had been the height of irony. Now that she was feeling the thrill of beauty for the first time, could she make her Astolat really the abode of Elaine the Fair, Elaine the loveable? If only the Corset could transform her completely, bringing her admirers, adoration and happiness.

The cab stopped before a shop that had the appearance of good taste, a shop that discriminating women would prefer. The windows were arranged with, only one or two white satin girdles displayed in each, lying folded artistically against black velvet. When Elaine said she had a note from Lady Ellings, Madame Selles, the owner, took charge of her. Madame Selles read the note and lifted an eyebrow knowingly. There was a suggestion of tight-lacing in her well-made figure.

" Lady Ellings has been,  coming to  me for years I understand her needs completely.  I might boast of being responsible for her remarkable figure.  Isn't it beautiful ! "

" Perfect," answered Elaine, " and I would like the same figure.'

" I will be very glad to do my best for you," said the corsetierre  She led Elaine into a fitting-room. First she showed her some drawings and photographs of corsets, but when Elaine pressed her for examples of the real thing she brought out several models.  " These arc all boned wasp-waisted corsets." she said, " the long ones are specially good for support and for comfortable figure training.  I advise one of these corsets at the beginning and perhaps for general wear."

" Yes, I want one of these corsets made for me, I think in black satin. The texture is adorable."

Madame Selles was opening a box now, saying, '" l want you to see this."  From the box she took a small corset with short hips, made in a dark lustrous red of astonishing richness.

" Oh ! " gasped Elaine, " how exquisite!"

This type is best for a very small waist. There is no height at the sides to restrict the figure as it is pressed in at the waist. And there are almost no hips, so that the wearer's hips may spread out In full curves as the corset Is laced. This corset permits the bust and hips to enlarge so that they provide an attractive contrast. In this corset the waist Is smaller, and looks 50."

Elaine touched the beautiful garment. Her finger-tips tingled with delight.  " I must have a red one too," stir declared.

" You could wait until you had trained your waist down a hit with the long corset."

" Oh, I must have both immediately.  I can't wait," Elaine exclaimed.  " Won't you measure me at once?"

Madame Selles smiled delightedly at the girlish enthusiasm and went for her tape. '" What is the smallest waist measurement you have ever achieved?" asked the corsetierre.

" Twenty-one today in a twenty-inch corset that Lady Ellings tried on me. Do you think I could use a smaller corset than that.,?"

" I'd stick to twenty for the present."

" Well, if you think I should," sighed Elaine. But as the measuring went on Elaine became more and more enthralled with the anticipation of tight lacing in real wasp-waisted corsets that would be her own. Suddenly she burst out, "" You must make my little red corset with the short hips only eighteen inches.  If I cannot wear it immediately I will keep it until I can."

" Very well," smiled Madame Selles.

A little later, when Elaine was leaving, she said, " l am glad, very glad, to see a young lady who is interested in proper lacing."

With a light-hearted step Elaine ran to the bootshop, which  was nearby.  This was a small!, but attractive shop, where she was received with delight when she mentioned Lady Ellings.  In the back of the shop was a little room with a glass case containing a display thiat made Elaine catch her breath.  Lady Elling's five-inch  heels were nothing compared with some in this exhibition.  Two  pairs  of  shining  black  shoes  had heels of ten inches.  Elaine wondered whether one could really walk in them.  Then there were tight boots in brilliant leathers. Black and red that laced hit the knee. Beside these stood some buttoned boots that tapered halfway way up two artificial legs in an exquisite curve from a very small  tight ankle.  They were made oh shining varnished red leather, fastened up the trim ankles with

large black buttons with a gold setting In the centre of each. The arches curved gracefully over six-inch heels of marvellous contour. Their loveliness was such that Elaine found herself wanting them immediately.

These boots, however, were too small for her foot. For the time being she contented herself with a pair of high-heeled black slippers until what she wanted could be made. She wanted the highest heels that she could walk in. The shoes she bought had five-inch heels, which thrilled her as she walked up and down the carpet of the shop.

A few days later at home she was able to don her new shoes it the same time with her new, black satin corset, which she had requested made as soon as possible. She had had the corset made as high as the armpits, and very low at her thighs, to give her a completely enclosed figure.  laced in it she enjoyed a new sensation of a more complete tightness. As she had hardly eaten an entire meal from excitement while she was waiting for the corset, she was able to lace herself down to twenty inches the first time she put it

on.     She drew In her bust and hips also to a new extreme. Laced in thus, with her five-inch heels on her feet, she paced up and down her room in enthralled delight. She had never known before a more enchanting feeling.

As she walked the corset controlled the direction of her shoulders and hips, which moved gracefully from side to side in the rhythm and dignity of aristocratic ladies of previous periods of history. The beauty of it all was so wonderful to her, that she walked up and down the room until she began to feel the shoes hurt. She sat down then to rest, sitting upright because the new high corsets held her as rigid as a bar of steel.

At this moment, happening to took out of the window she noticed the postman approaching. Would he have a note from Lady Ellings at last? She pulled off her high heels and threw a dressing-gown around her to rush to the door.