While nowadays many women alter their shape with the help of Spanx, wonder bras, waist trainers, and even padded panties, one could argue that hundreds of years ago women were more intense with their alterations. Whether pressures to conform were more vigorous back then, or not as much information was available as to what those kind of constrictions can do to your health, it appeared that women would suffer in some surprising underwear in order to look correct in their dresses.