Warner's "Merry Widow" Corset

"Merry Widow" Corset, Warner's, 1952

This striking white corset catered and ultimately contributed to the standards of feminine beauty in 1952 by creating a cinched waist and emphasized bust. Warner’s released the “Merry Widow” in conjunction with a film by the same name starring popular Hollywood star, Lana Turner. The star was pictured wearing the corset in the film which started a decades long trend of these fiercely structured undergarments. The slogan for the “Merry Widow” advertised by Warner’s was “naughty but nice,” creating an idealized image of female sexuality.