From Issue 3.1 - September/October 1996
On September 7th and 8th, C.U.R.V.E.S. -- the Corseting Union of
Romantic Vivacious ElegantS, an association of businesses and
individuals -- presented the second annual Grand Corset
Celebration. "A Stroll Down Corset Lane" was a weekend of seminars and
activities at the Clarion Bedford Hotel, with proceeds graciously
benefiting the Women's AIDS Network. At the big Saturday evening
event, the well-heeled (and well-lubricated, thanks to the generosity
of Absolut vodka) crowd was mostly heterosexual, although there was a
sprinkling of other sexualities, and most of the various genders were
represented. The party was festive, with the undercurrent of sexual
tension clearly anticipating the main event, a corset fashion
show. The modern corset was presented as glamorous evening wear; some
were beautiful, some were unexpected. Men were on the runway as well
as women, proving that there are no gender lines in extreme
fashion. Compared to the vibrant bawdiness the leather community is
more familiar with, this event was more elegantly restrained. There
was not an indiscreet flash of skin during the entire evening --even
the opening act belly dancer was primly veiled. It was -- dare we say
it -- strait-laced.