In the humdrum of today's extremely busy times, the need for corporal support has increased. This is mainly due to the extremely busy lives we lead in a world where competitiveness is at the order of the day and the time for relaxation as well as exercise is simply not there. To aid in this human dilemma, the cincher was developed to provide support and, more recently, enhance the physical appearance of the wearer. Nowadays Cincher's also offer the additional benefit of aiding in weight loss.



The history of the Cincher can of course be derived from that which we know as corsets. Although the two may resemble each other in appearance, the Cincher is usually shorter than the corset and can be made from other materials. The Cincher was made popular by Christian Dior's New Look in 1947 when he designed this body shaper to enhance the natural appearance of the female anatomy. In his autobiography, Dior wrote "I designed clothes for flower-like women, with rounded shoulders, full feminine busts, and hand-span waists above enormous spreading skirts". These cinchers were of course worn as foundation garments and had a massive and immediate appeal under women of all ages. These waist cinchers were also known as Waspies or Guêpière.

Looking at the application, and therefore the function, of the cincher, we can see that it serves the purpose of taking inches off the waist while providing maximum comfort to the wearer. This is done with the aid of silicone padding which is spread evenly over the abdomen. Additional features of the cincher include the provision of support for the upper half of the body due to its firm yet gentle fit. Modern cinchers also include the benefit of acting as an adjunct to weight loss through micro-massage, encouraging perspiration and maximum compression of those unwanted inches.

Cinchers are available to both men and women and, as opposed to earlier models, have a more widespread application. To illustrate this we need only look at the different types available that offer support to the waist as well as the chest. The latter obviously has the added benefit of improved back support which can be contrasted to traditional models that only focused on the abdominal area. This supplies the wearer with a more streamlined, either masculine or feminine, appearance and encourages an improved posture.

Like the other variants of shapewear available on the market today, cinchers are being manufactured according to criteria, which are constantly being updated, meaning that the wearer will instantly look better and received improved and less visible support. It is for this reason that a wide variety of people within society and the entertainment business make use of cinchers and other body shaping garments to aid in their appearance which will ultimately supply them with the figure they desire.

One of the biggest passive influences of the cincher, aside from the aforementioned weight loss application, is of course its psychological benefits. Those who look better automatically feel better about themselves and can function at a more self-assured level than. This encourages success in life and ultimately proves the importance of body shaping garments, like the cincher.