Body shapers are nothing new. In fact, corsets and other waist formers date back centuries, as women hoped to achieve dramatic curves and waists that are barely there. And one celebrity who has long been dedicated to that outdated body image is Kim Kardashian.
When she stepped on the Met Gala red carpet, people were shocked and concerned by how small her waist was, and some folks began to question if she had even undergone surgery to achieve the appearance. Well, she didn't. Instead she relied on a next-level corset, and Vogue was there to document it.
Achieving Kim Kardashian's alarmingly tiny waist for the Met Gala required some serious work.
The barely-there waist was a sight to behold on the Met Gala pink carpet. People were floored by the overexaggerated body, and her curves seemed to be the topic of social media feeds everywhere. But let's be real, the body wasn't all hers alone.
She was sucked in with an extreme corset.
We're talking Marie Antoinette level. With the help of several hands, Kardashian was squeezed and cinched into a nude full-body corset. She put the traditional girdles to shame with every single pull of the lace-up until suddenly we couldn't find her midsection at all.
She could barely move.
And who could? The slow stroll Kardashian walked on the carpet made perfect sense once we saw just how tight the corset was. However, before the video aired many people speculated that Kardashian had actually undergone rib removal in preparation for the ball, a procedure that would have been outrageous considering it would've only been for one evening.
She couldn't even sit.
"Anna, if I don’t sit down for dinner, now you know why,” she said slowly, unsuccessfully trying to lower herself down into the seat. Let us also note that sources have said that Kardashian stayed true to her promise and didn't sit all night long.
Getting her in the dress took a team of fully grown men.
Three full-grown, strong men were required to properly fit Kardashian into her dress. Made of silicone, it took gentle hands and the utmost care to ensure the dress didn't tear or break. "I've never seen a team like this before," said Kardashian of the Mugler squad.
They even referred back to the look's inspiration.
The inspiration was none other than Sophia Loren's damp and seductive maritime look from the 1957 film Boy on a Dolphin. However, as Loren's waist was not even close to being as exaggerated, we're not quite sure where the body inspiration comes from. But hey, "camp" allows for imaginations to soar.
After some serious tugging and pulling, they finally got her in the dress.
It was no easy feat, but after what felt like hours of anticipation, the iconic dress was finally completely on. And while the wet look with the small waist was surely a sight to see, we couldn't help but think about whether Kardashian's insides were under any danger being so sucked in all night.
She became the real-life definition of "what waist?"
As waist trainers have already proven to pose danger to the rib cage and surrounding areas, we can only imagine what corsets as intense as these can do. And though Kardashian is allegedly no stranger to a nip and tuck here and there, something tells us that this under-carriage is a little bit more extreme.
Naturally, Kardashian's cinched waist also enhanced her, uh, backside.
And if we know anything about Kardashian, that is exactly the effect that she had in mind. Her already shapely derrière appeared to balloon once her waist was decreased to the size of almost nothing — we're just wondering if it was worth putting her internal organs in actual danger to do so.
Now we'll never look at this Met Gala appearance the same way ever again.
The final look was a painful yet entrancing waistline that people probably won't stop talking about anytime soon.
And while millions like to follow trends from Kardashian, this is one that we urge people to be wary off. Waists that small just aren't natural — nor are they healthy or safe to achieve.
