If you’ve never worn a corset or don’t know much about them, it’s likely all you know is that they’re tight, sexy, laced-up undergarments you have to suck yourself into. But there’s a bit more to wearing a corset than doing a boudoir shoot or prepping for Valentine’s Day. The Function of a Corset Lately we’ve been seeing a lot of corset-inspired fashion for dresses and tops, but originally (and still for many women) they’re meant to draw you in. Corsets are specially fitted for women to contour to their exact dimensions, shaping and maintaining a more ideal figure for a slimmer, more shapely look. The idea is to bring the waste in, contrasting the width of the hips while lifting the bust.