Question and answer session.

Trawling back through one of my favourite blogs the other day, I came across an interesting entry.

Someone had asked the question:
"What is a man's perspective on corsets? Do you wear one? What do you get from it (back support, trans-gender, sexually gratifying, etc.)? What do you love about a woman (or man) in a corset? Is a corset something you occasionally wear or train with? Was it difficult to explain to a partner or people in public what the corset is for?"

I'm not a member of fetlife, which is where the question had originally come from, but since I think it's an interesting sort of 'how others see us' type of thing, I'll answer it here.

What is a man's perspective on corsets?
I can't speak for 'men' generally, but in a word, they're sexy.  With the possible exception of old photos of Victorian corsetry, I don't recollect seeing a photo of anyone wearing one who didn't look hot in it.

Do you wear one?
I certainly do.  Not as often or regularly as some (most?) people,  and I do go through quite long spells of not lacing up, but like the proverbial moth to its flame, I always find myself going back to it.  

What do you get from it (back support, trans-gender, sexually gratifying, etc.)?
Well, historically, the 'raison d'être' for corsetting was to improve the posture and deportment of the wearer, so I guess back support is part and parcel of that.  At any rate, I will say from experience that when you wear a corset, the one thing you cannot do is slouch in it!
I love wearing mine from time to time with girls' underwear and heels: the gender-bending aspect really appeals to me.  But while for me it's all a bit of good fun, I don't personally want to go down the actual trans-gender road: I'm happy as I am and don't want to look outwardly like a female, still less, be one.
Yes, sexual gratification enters into it.  That, coupled with a fairly strong element of bondage: a corset is tight!  I think I look hot in a corset, and people tell me I do.  One of the photos I posted a while back attracted the comment: "Makes me want to buy a corset, you look stunning and very fuckable". I was immensely flattered, and the fact that it was - I think - posted by another guy doesn't bother me in the slightest.  It's a definite turn-on to wear a corset, especially a womens' one (I have no desire whatever to wear a specifically male one).

What do you love about a woman (or man) in a corset?
Oh - the hourglass look: the slim waist and flat stomach.  On purely aesthetic grounds I'm not a great fan of extreme corsetting, although I can appreciate what drives some people to do it.

Is a corset something you occasionally wear or train with?
I've never personally gone in for proper training in a corset.  I wear a corset for fun and enjoyment and while I certainly like the results I don't do it with any particular goal in view.

Was it difficult to explain to a partner or people in public what the corset is for?"
To my partner - no.  I don't want to go into details, but it just fell into the category of being supportive and understanding over a taste or preference that they don't share with you, and that's something which also works in reverse of course.
In public, no-one has ever found out.  My corset is virtually undetectable under normal clothes so I've never wanted or needed to explain it to anyone.