Roxey Ann Caplin

“ The temperature of the body partakes of the extremes; there is generally a chilliness of the whole surface; the viscera of the pelvis are liable to derange­ment, and in married women especially. The lateral curvature of the spine is a consequence, not uncommon, of this pernicious practice."—Medical Times. ["It is in reference to such subjects as these that a visit to Madame Caplin's establishment, in Berners Street, becomes so instructive; for it is there proved that elegance of form is in no degree dependent on tight lacing."] ”

“ For instance, where the weight of the body is carried forward, the chest is contracted, the ribs are lowered, and the abdomen is thrown out of its natural position; the muscles of the back likewise become weak and elongated to accommodate the stooping. In a case like this, let us see the effect of a Corset anatomically constructed; it will support the back, keep the body in an erect position, restore the centre of gravity by raising the ribs, expanding the chest, thereby allowing the free inflation of the lungs, and thus restore the figure to its normal state. ”

“ Madame Caplin's Corsets.—"It is rarely that anatomical principles are applied to the fashioning of any article of ladies' attire, and still more rarely that they are applied, as we are assured on competent female authority, with such complete success as in the ingenious and very elegant articles named at the head of this paragraph. ”

“ Caplin, who exhibited a Corset of a novel and ingenious construction, invented by Madame Caplin, of Berners Street, London. This Corset (ap­propriately designated Hygienic) , differs from all others in many important points: it affords a greater degree of support than can be acquired by any other means, expands the chest, favours the symmetrical development of the female form, and contri­butes, in a remarkable degree, to the general health. ”

“ Tight Lacing.—"The waist of well-formed women, of the average height, varies in circumference from twenty-seven to twenty-nine inches; and there is scarcely any difference in its proportional size between male and female. But such is the power of fashion, that the waist is seldom permitted to expand to the dimensions of twenty-five inches; the majority are within twenty-four; thousands are compressed to twenty-two ”

“ Philanthropists are not met with every day, and they deserve the encouragement of all good men and women—alas, how few!"—Kidd's Own Journal, April, 1854.
"I have often given comfort by advising a light abdominal supporter, such as are made by Madame Caplin, of Berners Street."—Dr. Tilt on the "Change of Life," p. 124. See also his work on the "Health of Women."
"The 'Hygienic' Corset embraces every attainable advantage, and were the principle more generally adopted a great evil would be obviated. ”

“ But before entering into the details of its construction, we must say, that, like many others, the principal object of the inventor was to find a point of sup­port for the superincumbent weight of the head, the superior limbs, and the organs of lactation and respiration, on that part of the body which, in consequence of the elements of strength that nature has accumulated around it, in delineating so for­cibly the pelvis for the functions it is destined to perform, cannot suffer any irksome influence from certain pressure. ”

“ The second part or middle one, extends from the hip to the thorax, and is destined to confine the region of the abdomen, which contains those moveable organs that, from their nature, may be compressed without much inconvenience, for the pur­pose of producing the slender waist so much sought for fashion's sake, and which so many ladies will obtain at any price. ”

“ Corsets no longer Injurious.—"'Died of tight stays' would have been the verdict of many coroner's juries, had they adopted the simplest form of expression to indicate their judgment; and there are few who have not known instances within their own sphere of life in which good figures of females have been spoiled, and imperfect ones left to grow worse, for want of proper scien­tific management. ”

“ The third or superior part, is intended to envelope and sup­port the thoracic region, and must produce but a very slight pressure, or else it would cause disastrous consequences, by im­peding the respiration, and preventing the development of the organs to which nature has confided the care of preparing the aliments intended for supplying the first food of man. ”

“ Madame Caplin's Corsets.—"Among the first-rate establish­ments in the metropolis for the manufacture of Ladies' Corsets, is the magazine of Madame Caplin, 58, Berners Street. An inspection of the various models, and different species of Corsets, will satisfy every one of the correctness of the prospectus the artiste has issued to the public."—Court Magazine, June, 1843.
"It has often been thought strange that so little improvement, that is, real improvement, should have taken place in one of the most essential articles of Ladies' dress—Stays ”

“ The modifications we have related in the construction of an article so generally worn, and which has been much abused, have appeared important enough to the members of the Com­mission you have named, to submit them to your notice as im­provements deserving your approbation ”