Kim Kardashian arrives for the 2024 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2024, in New York. Her outfit by Maison Margiela Artisanal for the Met Gala 2024 was no exception. At this event, though, the corsetry was so extreme that viewers seemed more concerned by Kardashian’s seeming inability to breathe, rather than stunned by her fashion statement.
But a tiny waist can come at a terrible price - what happens to the internal anatomy when subjected to such extreme compression? The heart and blood vessels are also impacted by corset wearing. Tight-lacing increases pressure inside the abdomen, which can compress the inferior vena cava - the large vein that carries blood back to the heart.
Tight-lacing has many effects on the digestive tract. The compression of the abdomen can displace the stomach, intestines and liver. This leads to slowed or disrupted digestion. The prolonged use of corsets can also lead to musculoskeletal changes. The corset can act like an external skeleton, restricting the natural movement of the torso and hips, which could explain Kardashian’s difficulty walking during her time on the Met Gala red carpet.
Beyond the physical health risks, wearing a corset like Kardashian can be detrimental to mental health. The desire to attain an exaggerated hourglass figure can perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards and lead to issues with body image.