Imagine Cleopatra, Coco Chanel, Marie Antoinette and Joan of Arc all in one room.
Until the science of time travel is mastered, that scenario won't play out. However, a collection of historical corsets inspired by these and other women can be seen on display on East Campus.
This week, Sabrina Jones Stapp, a graduate student of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's textiles, clothing and design department, introduced a collection featuring seven corsets inspired by influential females from throughout history.
The collection is on display now through Feb. 8 in the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery in the Home Economics Building on East Campus on 35th and Holdrege streets.
On Friday, Stapp hosted an opening reception at the gallery, where she wore a black corset she made herself. The corsets featured in the gallery are part of Stapp's graduate thesis.
Stapp had plenty of professors who were more than willing to offer her help and advice. Among them was Barbara Trout, professor of costume design and costume history at UNL.
"I gave her guidance by … really encouraging her to get a lot of visual research so that she had a lot of interesting visuals to pull from to influence her work," Trout said.
Stapp made sure the corsets were consistent with historical patterns but also made modifications to some in order to make them more modern and comfortable.
"(With) most historic corsets women can't sit down," Stapp said. "They have to be very proper and sit on the edge of their seats. So some of them (the corsets) I shortened the fronts so you could actually sit down."
She also lowered the backs of some for more comfort and removed the straps from two others for aesthetic purposes. Trout explained that because Stapp's purpose for the corsets wasn't to make them into period replicas, she was able to make very wearable pieces out of them.
It seems fitting (forgive the pun) that this set of ultra-feminine pieces was inspired by such strong historical female figures.
"Originally I didn't have women in mind, I had different ideas," Stapp said. "I thought dominance, seduction. (But) one of my professors said that's very broad. From dominance I thought, warrior Joan of Arc. From intelligence and a businesswoman, I just immediately went Coco Chanel. I thought seduction, temptress, Cleopatra."
Other women Stapp used for inspiration were Veronica Franco, an Italian poet from the 16th century, Stapp herself, a mother, an army wife and "The Little Dancer" from the painting by Degas.
The Degas-inspired piece seemed to be a crowd favorite with its soft shell pink color and distinct origami-folded skirt.
Although Trout said the Coco Chanel-inspired piece was her favorite, the Degas-inspired piece was a very close second.
"I think it's very interesting the way Sabrina integrated a traditional ballet basque or bodice and ... tulle skirt and then incorporated an Asian element of the origami."
The entire process from inspiration to production of all seven corsets took more than nine months.
Stapp pointed out that many people don't realize what makes a corset a corset and thus confuse corsets with bustiers.
She explained that with bustiers, the outer fabric and lining are sewn separately and then the two are sewn together. With corsets, each panel, containing boning and often several layers of different fabrics, are sewn separately and then each panel is sewn together to form the corset.
"Mine is lined, which I won't ever do again because it's too much of a pain," she said.
Because of the intricate craft and technique required to make corsets, Stapp said she would sell the most basic corset for about $250, while the more involved corsets would sell for no less than $500.
But don't expect to see any of these seven corsets for sale on eBay anytime soon.
"They will go in my closet," Stapp said. "If anybody makes me an offer, I'll take it. Well, it has to be a high enough offer."
Now that Stapp is done with her graduate program, she said she would like to continue doing freelance design and working as a fitness instructor. She would like to eventually teach sometime in the future.
More of Stapp's work will be featured at "Art for Aida," an event that benefits Opera Omaha, which is set for Feb. 28 at the Paxton Grand Ballroom in Omaha.
"Artists and designers are invited to showcase and sell their work," she said. "We will get half of the profit and then the other half goes to benefit Opera Omaha. I'm hoping to make probably a couple purses and then maybe some jackets."
johnnahjersman@dailynebraskan.com
