In the Edwardian era, cooler corsets were worn in the summer. These Edwardian summer corsets were made of thin cotton fabrics – such as batiste and eyelet lace fabric – silk and linen blend fabrics and cotton net – called summer netting in the 1900s.
1900s Summer Corsets
Edwardian Mesh Corsets
‘Four-Hook Short Summer Corset. A very form-fitting corset; made of fine strong netting, sateen girdle […] reinforced clasps and corded bust, finished with fine quality lace top’.
There were also corsets made with ‘extra heavy quality of net to prevent it from breaking out at the waist line’: ‘Five-Hook Medium Form Summer Corset. […] an exclusive pattern of fine netting that is decidedly strong. Six side strips and three belts in the zone, which retains the shape of the garment.’ (Sears catalogue, fall 1900)
Here’s a late 19th mesh corset, and another 1890s cotton mesh summer corset.
Related: Edwardian Athletic Corsets For The Edwardian Sportswoman
Edwardian Eyelet Lace Corsets
According to 1900s sources, the broderie anglaise corset is superior to the mesh corset: ‘Broderie anglaise, “punched” all over and embroidered, and the open-work mesh corset are recommended for the tropics. The broderie anglaise looks pretty, and is amply ventilated by the punching, whereas the mesh stay is apt to drag out of shape quickly; therefore the former vogue is the preferable one.’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2)
‘Even the popular broderie anglaise finds its way into the making of corsets. This model, of course, is designed for summer wear. It is of openwork batiste, trimmed with the embroidery, and is the smartest little summer corset that has appeared.
Yet another novelty which is a boon to women of slender figures is a very light corset short on the hips and shorter still at the back. The great point, however, is the arrangement of the batiste embroidery at the top, which does away with the necessity of a bust bodice to wear under the blouse and rounds the figure in a becoming and comfortable manner.’ (Evening Star, 1906)
Here’s an 1914 cotton eyelet corset with red ribbon behind the eyelet embroidery, and the prettiest 1900s broderie anglaise lace corset. The last one is the only Edwardian broderie anglaise corset I could find. Have you seen other broderie anglaise corsets?
I think it’d be difficult to reproduce Edwardian broderie anglaise corsets because modern cotton eyelet fabric is probably not sturdy enough as corset fabric. What do you think? Or have you already sewn an eyelet corset? 🙂