Could YOU pull off a corset? FEMAIL puts the A-list trend to the test - pitting vintage lacing against unboned basques - with eye-popping results

With curves officially in, the corset is having a comeback both as a way of creating the ideal hourglass figure - and of showcasing the current trend for lingerie worn as outerwear.

Katy Perry, Cate Blanchett, Carey Mulligan and Charli XCX are among the A-list stars who have been rocking the undergarment, while the Kardashian sisters have placed waist-trainers squarely on the style radar.

But while it's being touted by fashion designers, can this body-cinching style - which is restrictive and uncomfortable - really be worn off the red carpet? FEMAIL put it to the test.

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Deni wears the Vollers Nicole underbust corset, £215 from Coco de Mer, with a red wiggle dress, £99 from Diva Catwalk. She says: 'I love the cinched-in feeling when wearing a corset. I feel ultra-feminine, powerful and graceful. I hold myself with poise'

Now even Victoria Beckham has jumped on the corset bandwagon, although her versions are unboned. After the waist-cinching styles took centre stage in her AW16 collection, the fashion designer said: 'I used to wear a lot and it felt very sexy and feminine. I wanted to find a way to bring that back and feel new and fresh.'

The corset has had many guises over the years, from the whalebone stays of the 16th century to the elasticated girdles of the Fifties and Spanx of today. 

The modern take comes in a variety of forms. Some don't feature uncomfortable boning, some basques are made out of knitwear and others are incorporated into a dress's design. Gossard is touting its Superboost lace slip as a suitable dress for a night out.

But for diehard corset-lovers, the rigid structure is part of the appeal. Burlesque superstar Dita Von Tesse said: 'I love the way [corsets] really emphasise curves and create an hourglass shape, and I like the discipline of wearing it.'

Deni Kirkova, 25, from London, combed department store lingerie departments, Ann Summers, erotic boutique Coco de Mer in London's Covent Garden, and vintage lingerie specialists What Katie Did for the hottest corsetry on the high street to put celebrities' favourites styles to the test.  

BASQUE WITH TROUSERS

Deni wears the Ann Summers Orchid basque, £60, which comes with nude, sheer panels and lightly padded cups for extra support

Katy Perry (left) teamed a gold and black basque with skinny trousers at a Spotify event at Cicada in Los Angeles; Deni teamed her basque with tight trousers but added a jacket over the top to create a look that's less red carpet and more sophisticated girls night out

I tried on the Orchid basque, £60, from Ann Summers, and teamed it with a pair of grey H&M chinos, £30.

It took just a couple of minutes to put on as the stretchy material - which meant I could just slip it on over my head. While the boning is plastic and therefore doesn't exaggerate the body shape, the silk panels create the illusion instead.

This was comfortable and bright and looked really great styled as outerwear. I love this look for a sophisticated evening out - perhaps as the hostess of an event with a sultry edge or for a night of cocktails in the city.

I'd have to be feeling fairly brave, though, as it felt like I was wearing a sexy piece of underwear out and boldly so. However, the suit trousers gave the outfit a masculine edge which gave it a look of Madonna, while also being risqué.

It's a good look but not 100 per cent 'me'. 

UNDERBUST WASPIE

Deni wears the Vollers Nicole underbust corset, £215 from Coco de Mer, with a red wiggle dress, £99 from Diva Catwalk

Cate Blanchett wears a dress with waspie panels at the Carol New York premiere at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City

I paired the Vollers Nicole underbust corset, £215 from Coco de Mer, with a red wiggle dress, £99 from Diva Catwalk.

I love the look and comfort of this outfit - a nod to Cate Blanchett's look at the premiere of Carol, where her clinging chartreuse gown had nude-coloured waspie panels around the waist. 

It takes a few minutes to put on and allows for easy movement and minimal restriction.

This is a classic look for a lady with a penchant for theatrical dressing, cabaret and burlesque. I would wear it to a vintage-themed event such a speakeasy or sideshow involving showgirls. 

CORSET DRESS   

Deni wears the GossardSuperboost Lace Strapless Slip, £54 (left); the same dress was modelled by Olympia Valance (right), the Neighbours star and model for the underwear brand, showcasing the 'underwear as outerwear' trend

Dita Von Teese has long worn corset dresses to events, here seen at the launch for her lingerie collection at Bloomingdales

The Superboost Lace Strapless Slip, £54, from Gossard is a new take on the trend. It's a strappy minidress with a firm elastic skirt and a sheer panelled top with opaque lace cups, sheer areas on the torso and thin straps.

This is a way to enjoy the freedom of an unboned corset and could be worn for a night out. It is sexy and comfortable but the cups do look a little too much like bra cups and it was a little too short for my taste.

Deni wears the Vollers Mayfair corset dress, £295 from Coco de Mer, which was quite tricky to put on

She says: 'I couldn't sit in the black Vollers corset dress and I had to totter around as it held my legs together tightly!'

Next I tried Vollers Mayfair corset dress, £295 from Coco de Mer.

This took an age to put on and was very fiddly and complicated - but the final silhouette was incredible. The company, which was founded in 1899, describes the dress as having discreet hook and eye fastening beneath the front busk, and adds that its lined with cotton twill and supported with steel bones. 

It did feel more rigid and I felt encased in the black satin number. In fact it was so restrictive that it just held my legs together tightly leaving me unable to walk.

Standing still I looked like a vintage pin-up, but the minute I tried to move I could only manage a waddle instead of walk and all grace fell out the window. I couldn't sit down either.

It was perfect for pictures but utterly impractical.to wear in real life 

CORSET AND SUIT

Deni wears the What Katie Did Laurie Extreme Corset, £205.50, with £30 H&M chinos and a £60 blazer from Ann Summers

Deni thinks the corset and suit combo looks chic for a smart occasion - Carey Mulligan at the ELLE Women in Hollywood Awards in LAV

To try this look out I paired the What Katie Did Laurie Extreme Corset, £205.50, with £30 H&M chinos and a £60 blazer from Ann Summers.

It was easy to put on in five minutes, following the step-by-step video, and I felt as though I could last all night in it. I put it to the test on an evening out and I even tightened it as the evening went on and was surprised to find that my body did adapt to it.

This look - showcased elegantly by Carey Mulligan - was my favourite of the lot. 

It did what a corset is supposed to do - create an eye-popping figure - while the trousers and silky-lapel jacket add a luxe and masculine edge to make it modern and chic.

VERDICT

I loved the cinched-in feeling when wearing a corset. I feel womanly and ultra-feminine, powerful and graceful. A corset makes me sit up straight and hold myself with poise at all times. However the more rigid, steel-boned types can be very restrictive.

I couldn't sit in the black Vollers corset dress and I could only totter around. However I loved the purple Ann Summers Orchid basque - it was comfortable, bright and looked really good styled as outerwear.

I also loved the look and comfort of the What Katie Did black overbust corset and the red Diva Catwalk wiggle dress with the Vollers underbust corset - a nod to Cate Blanchett's recent outfit.

A new take on the trend, as outlined by Victoria Beckham, is the unboned corset. The Gossard slip dress could be worn out in this sense, though I did feel a little exposed. 

Styling - Deni Kirkova

Hair and makeup - Prettly

Location - Proud Cabaret City