Corsets were invented in France in the 16th century and were originally quilted waistcoats, worn by French women as an alternative to stiff corsets or stays.

They were only quilted linen, laced in the front, and un-boned. This garment was worn on informal occasions, while stays were worn for court dress. By the end of the century stays fell out of fashion and were fully replaced by corsets.

Later corsets became hugely popular with men but they claimed they weren’t wearing them for aesthetic purposes but rather to soothe back pain.

Even now, corsets can be worn by both men and women for fashion and medical purposes.

As some sources claim, in recent years the term “corset” has also been borrowed by the fashion industry to refer to tops which mimic the look of traditional corsets without actually slimming or shaping the body.

Check out our gallery of celebrities who love wearing corsets both as lingerie and glam chic wear.

Ultimo face Melanie Brown, aka Mel B from Spice Girls, wore a sequined bright pink corset for Ultimo’s 10th birthday celebration on September 1, 2009. She paired the lingerie piece with black leggings and black boots looking pretty glam in the ensemble.

Jennifer Love Hewitt looks super corset sexy during the photoshoot for FHM Germany September 2009 issue. The black corset looks like a stay while the satin black and blue corset top is definitely more flirty and modern.

Burlesque Queen Dita Von Teese is known for her love of 40s style. Dita loves corsets as they help her create the trademark retro look. She wears corsets to slim down her body and get the famous sand clock body shape.

Victoria’s Secret model Marisa Miller looks gorgeous in corsets, too, doesn’t matter if it’s a VS’s fashion show or some other kind of glam event.

Hollywood starlet Megan Fox, 23, donned a super body slimming corset for her new role in Western action Johan Hex. In this case, the corset is a historical fashion must-have to take us back to the 19th century US.

Queen of Pop Madonna donned this corset during shows of her Sticky & Sweet world tour. Madge isn’t the one to wear corsets on stage.

Britney Spears wears a black embellished corset as one of her revealing costumes for Circus world tour she’s currently about to finish.

Britney also showed her love of this garment during her Circus promo shoot last year.

Singer-turned-fashion designer Jessica Simpson wore this scarlet corset for one of the shows last year. Being voluptuous as she is, the corset stressed her curves and made her looks very alluring.

Pussycat Dolls’ Nicole Scherzinger definitely loves corsets. She can be often snapped in PVC corsets of most seductive colors of red and black. She looks great, doesn’t she?

Beyonce Knowles channeled her inner Sascha Fierce in this corset-styled bodysuit during her world tour, I Am …Sascha Fierce, this year. Padded hips and shaping corset create a beautiful combo, indeed.

Female celebrities love wearing corsets to all possible parties and events. Like Beverly Hills 90210 star AnnaLynne McCord, for instance.

She donned this black and white corset for the show’s second season launch party this week. She looks fab.

And finally, corsets can become a statement fashion item if well decorated. Sarah Jessica Parker looked DDG in the black feathered corset paired with the matching color jacket and pants.

TELL US, do you consider corsets your fave lingerie item?

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