It’s a Cinch : Corsets Are in Fine Form, Squeezing Age-Old Benefits into Pretty Packages--Minus the Discomfort, of Course.

Corsets, which have been in and out of style since the second millennium BC, are back in vogue.

As far back as the Bronze Age, Minoan women on the Greek isle of Crete wore corsets as outer garments to cinch their waists and boost their bust lines. The look hasn’t changed much over the passing millennia.

Like their ancient predecessors, today’s corsets are designed to enhance the feminine form. They pull you in and push you out in the right places.

Many even have narrow rods stitched into their seams for extra support--an innovation that came along in the 1800s when whalebone was used for the purpose. Today’s corsets are politically correct, animal-wise--their built-in bones are purely synthetic.

While modern corsets fit tightly around the torso, they’re not as constricting as some of the earlier versions. Many have lace-up fronts that are just for show; they actually zip easily up the side--no pulling the strings so tight that the wearer turns purple.

“The way corsets are structured, they give you a really tiny waist and they push you up. They give you the illusion of being rather well-endowed,” says Jane Katcef, co-owner of Sloan & Katcef in Laguna Niguel, which carries a variety of corsets.

Lush fabrics have transformed the corset from an undergarment to a fashion statement. Designers are creating them out of rich brocades and tapestries, velvets, heavy floral cottons, shiny satin and lace.

“Some look like they’re made of old ‘40s upholstery,” Katcef says.

As summer approaches, Sloan & Katcef is carrying corsets in lightweight materials, such as a red and white gingham and cotton florals (about $80).

Corsets are an offshoot of the popular lingerie look, which includes bustiers, camisoles, bra tops and other underwear-turned-outerwear.

“There’s a return to femininity,” says Pat Waxman, owner of Apropos in Fashion Island, Newport Beach. “In the past few years, women have been wearing a lot of layers that detracted from the body. Now the body is back.”

The only prerequisite to wearing a corset is to have pretty arms and shoulders, Waxman says. Even if you fall well short of the voluptuous category, you can “fake it.” Like Wonder Bras, corsets can give even a small woman added curves.

“Women are interested in showing off their upper body. In Southern California, we like to sit outside at tables over lunch and look pretty,” Waxman says.

Apropos’ corsets come in all kinds of fabrics, including a white satin ($98), lace with a sheer back in white or black ($178), a peach-and-cream brocade ($186) and a vintage floral ($68).

Corsets are replacing their more modest and masculine cousin, the vest, says Wakim Kirvorkian, owner of the Michael Nusskern Boutique in Fullerton.

“It’s a young look,” he says.

Designer Celia Tejada of San Francisco has come up with some of the more fashion-forward corset styles, including a black and white checkered satin corset ($100) that can be worn with matching shorts ($70), or a dressy black velvet corset with a satin ribbon ($140) that can be paired with a full black and white striped silk skirt ($190). Tejada’s line is carried at Michael Nusskern.

“The corset is a great piece. We started doing velvet corsets for holiday, and now we’re doing them in 20 different fabrics,” Tejada says. “Corsets have spiced up my collection.”

Women are realizing they don’t need to be a size 4 or have a perfect body to wear them, she says. Some are wearing corsets like a vest over a blouse or a bodysuit with a pair of palazzos or a full skirt.

“Corsets can turn a boring outfit into something fun,” Tejada says. “A lot of contemporary clothes are plain Jane dressing. It’s nice to see a little bit of the coquette.”

Like the vest, corsets are versatile and mix easily with other pieces in the wardrobe.

“They can be worn dressy or they can be worn with jeans,” says Iris Tons, co-owner of Mi Place in Fullerton and Laguna Niguel.

Some women are wearing them with a flowing skirt for evening, or under the jackets of their suits. Mi Place’s corsets are made of brocades and tapestries, some in multihued floral prints and some in tone-on-tone Jacquard florals in white or black ($175-$225).

“They’re sexy. They push you up a little bit,” Tons says. “And they’re perfect for summer, when you want to be more exposed.”