One of One: Memoir of a Corset
By Torren Thomas
Lights are shining heavily all around. Cameras are all focused on me. Why? Well, it’s because I’m starring in a music video, darling! When you’re a legend like me, music videos become just another day in the life.
I’m one of one. I’m the superior one. And most importantly, darling, I’m the first one. As the oldest of hundreds of siblings, I know I can rightfully claim credibility for helping shape them into the stars that they are (although they’ll never be as big of a star as I am). I sat around in a showroom, so they could have the opportunity to walk down various runways. As I stated before, I’m one of one. I’m the superior one. I’m the first one. And I’m certainly the most groundbreaking one.
I was conceived and born in a New York City studio in the year of 2006. My parents created me to help debut their brand to the world, and that’s exactly what I did. Essentially, darling, I was born to shine. At my core I have a skin of light gold metallic fabric, bones made from whale boning, organs comprised of grommets and laces, and veins of thread. My true essence is expressed through the numerous crystals, micro and massive, that embellish my skin, courtesy of Preciosa (Swarovski wishes they were as prestigious). As a needle threaded each stitch to sew me together, I was endowed with the purpose of celebrating, enhancing, and exaggerating the female figure. As each crystal was applied to my skin, I became aware that I was destined to achieve legendary status.
Darling, I carry the iconic title of being the first corset ever birthed by David and Phillipe Blond. However, it took a bit of time before that title was considered iconic. I spent much of my early days sitting in my parents’ showroom, waiting for the opportunity to finally be worn by someone. The more I waited, the more I began to question my self-worth (something you’ll never see me do ever again). I pondered if I was as glamorous and opulent as I believed myself to be. I wondered if the heavy weight of my Preciosa crystals deterred people from me. I thought that surely someone would have already worn me if I was worthy of being worn. These consistent thoughts of self-pity and doubt pushed me to rapidly spiral downward into a deep depression. My world turned dark, and I wondered when life would finally be kind to me. The light eventually shone on me at the conclusion of 2006. A stylist visited my parents’ showroom in hope of finding a garment suitable for a music video. He caught a glimpse of my beauty, and immediately realized that I would be a perfect fit for the video, as its concept surrounded around money, glamour, and excess. At that moment, I felt all my self-confidence start rushing back into my veins of thread. Perhaps my parents were happier than I was, as that was the first time one of their children would be worn by a celebrity.
The celebrity’s name was Beyonce’, a legendary (but not as legendary as I am) singer known by most. The title of the song in the music video was “Upgrade U.” Needless to say, I “upgraded” the music video, darling. I was by far the most luxurious garment worn by Beyonce’ in the video. I could even say that I carried the whole concept of “money, glamour, and excess” while the other clothes fell flat in comparison. Although shooting the video left my insides stained with makeup, it was an opportunity I wouldn’t trade for the world. It turned me into a star and propelled my parents’ career.
After my appearance in the music video, many celebrities desired to have pieces as beautiful as me. This led to my parents dubbing corsets as their signature creations and eventually becoming regular designers for celebrities such as Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Jennifer Lopez. Ultimately, darling, I set the bar and the standard for all my younger siblings to live up to.
Since my stint as a music video superstar, I’ve mostly lived a life of leisure in the closet of my parents’ studio. Although I haven’t been worn again, I know the massive impact that my one appearance had, and I can honestly say that I’m content with life. I was graced with the opportunity to briefly live on display with some of my siblings in a 2015 exhibit. I was initially a little nervous about how I would look in comparison to them, but I realized I was thinking foolishly when the renowned news website, The Daily Beast, deemed me as “the most notable piece in the room.” I returned to my life of leisure until this past August, when I temporarily relocated to live on display once again with my siblings in some college fashion museum, which is where I will reside until February. This time around, I went in with no traces of self-doubt. I know for a fact that I am one of one. I’m the superior one. I’m the first one. And darling, I’m the most groundbreaking one.
