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How many times have you seen an actress looking so phenomenal in a corset and thought, “I wish I could wear that.” I’m here to tell you; you can wear that. In this post, we will reminisce about the 10 most iconic, corset-wearing characters of film and how you can achieve the same look in your everyday life. Ready? Let’s dive in!

Marilyn Monroe

We are starting our list of with arguably the most beautiful woman of all time, the one and only, Ms. Marilyn Monroe. Her style has been influencing women decade after decade. Her famous outfits have lasted the test of time; like the white dress in the wind, and the pink evening gown with diamonds. But nothing showed off that hourglass figure of hers, quite like a corset. In 1954, Ms. Monroe wore a classic overbust corset in her film, The River of No Return.

The film was a classic western and starred Monroe and Robert Mitchum. The New York Times had this to say about it: "It is a toss-up whether the scenery or the adornment of Marilyn Monroe is the feature of greater attraction in River of No Return . . . The mountainous scenery is spectacular, but so, in her own way, is Miss Monroe.“

Get the Look

Here Marilyn is wearing a classic strapless floral piece with lace accents. You can achieve the same one with this purple top:

Paired with a skirt and fishnets like Marilyn, will give you a more risqué feel. It can be easily paired down for the everyday demure style by adding jeans or keeping the skirt a little longer and nixing the fishnets.

Lily James

If you aren’t familiar with Lily James, I’ll give you a hint: glass slipper. If your guess was “Cinderella," you were correct! Lily starred in the Cinderella reboot this year and the world could not stop talking about her teeny-tiny waist You don’t have to be getting ready for the ball or have a fairy godmother to get your own cinched look. A waist training corset made with steel bones and heavy cords will get the job done.

Get the Look

To start, try a well-made piece like this black and grey, laced beauty. 

The underbust can be worn on top of or under your clothes. The romantic overlay will keep you looking sweet enough to get noticed by your own Prince Charming.

Kate Winslet

I'll go ahead and admit something here; I have never been on a ship. But you can bet your bottom dollar the day I step foot on one, I'm totally going to try and climb up on the front for a Rose selfie.   
James Cameron's Titanic is the second highest grossing film of all time not only because of dreamy Jack Dawson played by the one and only Leonardo Dicaprio but also because Kate Winslet killed it as the darling Rose. That hair! Those jewels! And of course, those dresses. Underneath every one of her fabulous getups? I think you know where I'm going with this. 

 

Get the Look 

You don't need to go back in time to experience a little Victorian fashion. Take a peek at these two examples. 

Both of these Victorian pieces can be paired with pants and a cardigan for a daytime look. Don't be afraid to dress them up either. The lace embellishments are perfect for soft jewelry with an evening look. 

Kim Kardashian

Love her or hate her, Kim K. knows how to command attention. When she isn’t busy taking close of up photos of her face or entertaining us by fighting with her sisters, she’s usually turning heads with her fashion.Technically, she's a reality star but I think we can all agree she's quite the character. Kim loves a good corset and it was almost impossible to choose just one to talk about for this article. Instead, I want to highlight her love of: the bustier. 

Get the Look

The bustier is an overbust corset that offers defined cups and bust support. If you want to cinch in your waist while making sure everything upstairs is staying put- this might be the corset for you.

 

In either example above, you can see the corset top mixed with a few accessories makes for a great night-out look. Below, is an example how wearing a bustier can complete a relaxed-casual outfit. These are versatile pieces and only your imagination limits the choice in combinations. 

Nicole Kidman

In Baz Lurhman's magical interpretation of Moulin Rouge, Nicole Kidman played the part of Satine. When Nicole played the coutesan who falls in love with the lowly writer, no one could take their eyes off her. In a pivotal scene Satine tried to blame her corset for passing out on stage but we as the viewer know better. It wasn’t that “silly costume,“  it was actually that “silly consumption” which in case you didn’t know, was a fancy way of saying tuberculosis. 

In Moulin Rouge, Nicole wore corset, after corset, after fabulous corset. 

Get the Look

All of Satine's looks can be worn in your everyday wardrobe. No stage required. The three examples below will get you started. 

Jessica Rabbit

Is she a cartoon? Yes.Yet here we are, almost 30 years later and Jessica Rabbit is still a highly sought after fashion icon and sex symbol. She wasn't fooling anyone. That tiny waist? She wasn't just, drawn that way, she definitely had some waist cinching help under that red dress. 

 

Get the Look

If sultry temptress is the look you are going for, choose any of these three pieces and you won't regret it. 

Don't forget, no one ever said Jessica had to wear a dress. The middle overbust can be worn with red leather pants and you will still look every bit as hot. 

Kate Beckinsale

Kate played the ultimate butt-kicking femme fatale in both Van Helsing and as a super vampire who was seriously going to kill herself some werewolf’s in the Underworld series. When not busy being totally amazed by all of her death-defying stunts, you probably found yourself admiring her fierce steampunk fashion.

Kate’s Underworld character, Selene, wouldn’t be caught dead in any outfit other than one of her beloved black leather corsets.This costume screamed, steampunk corset – all the way.

Get the Look

This very sleek, sexy all-black outfit is super easy to incorporate into your wardrobe. Start with a piece like this one here.

Pair this black leather corset with leather leggings and, watch out world! You will look like a total bad-ass. If you don’t feel like wearing a long-sleeve top underneath, change it up a bit with a jacket and don’t be afraid to accessorize it with a strong piece of jewelry. Try a cuff bracelet or a few chains if you are keeping it steampunk.

We put together this outfit idea for you, for those days when you are more in the mood for high fashion than monster hunting. 

Wonder Woman

Gal Gadot may be the newest star to take over the role, but Lynda Carter will always have my heart as the OG woman of wonder. Lynda’s portrayal of one of America’s favorite superheroes broke stereotypes week after week on her 1975 TV series. When she wasn’t fighting crime and saving the day, she was inspiring women everywhere with her patriotic fashion.

 

Get the Look

You can recreate Wonder Woman's awesomeness by trying out a top that offers both cinching and embellishment. This piece here has both. Throw on a pair of jeans and a gold headband and go save the world. 

...and...

If you are ever having one of those days when pants seem optional and you actually want to be Wonder Woman, there's a corset for that too. 

Helena Bonham Carter

Helena Bonham Carter has captivated us all with her haunting, quirky and often corset-wearing characters. The list of movies including her tight-laced looks is exhaustive.  Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland…pretty much any of her period piece movies; all corsets. She loves them so much, most of her red carpet appearances and press photos are corset dresses. Dark, bold, mysterious and deliciously weird – her style has steampunk written all over it.

Get the Look

Above we see Helena in her Mrs. Lovett costume. Amazing. To inspire your own steampunk couture, check these outfits out. 

Scarlett O'Hara

Vivien Leigh forever cemented her place in history playing Scarlett O'Hara in the screen version of Margaret Mitchell's beloved novel. When she wasn't swearing at turnips, she was causing trouble and basically inspiring every woman who ever saw the film to run out and buy her clothes.But there is one scene everyone remembers. Her corset scene.

Get the Look

Forget the flat-iron for a day; rock some curls, and get a soft flowy white skirt to pair with this Scarlett O'Hara approved brocade overbust.

Was your favorite character included in our list? You can contact us here at Atomic Jane Clothing anytime and we will gladly help you recreate your favorite look from the big screen or give you ideas on how to add a corset into your daily fashion looks. Contact us at support@atomicjaneclothing.com

 

 

 

 

 

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