Feeling the Squeeze.(Brief Article)

The corset, that icon of over-the-top femininity, is squeezing its way back into the wardrobes of women seeking a quick fix for a less than perfect figure. And not just as underwear. Body-conscious women are lacing up for formal occasions, to go out clubbing--even pairing up corsets with jeans for an expedition to the mall. Designers like Versace, Ungaro, Dolce & Gabbana and Ralph Lauren have seized on the trend, turning out corset dresses and tops in rich brocades, satin and lace. "Once a customer gets inside one," says Steven Ho, an executive at Barneys, "she instantly has a very defined, very regal and very flattering shape."

Achieving the new silhouette, though, comes at a price. Corsets, which can take up to 18 hours to make, range from $200 to $1,400. Lined with carbon- steel bones, they combine deft engineering with the unyielding pressure of a boa constrictor to haul in the ...