Q. The art and engineering expertise of the modern corsetière
has brought great happiness to men of a more traditional, and red-blooded, disposition. To what extent should one be permitted to address admiring glances at a well-presented embonpoint: in other words, at what stage does healthily lustful and artistic appreciation become a leer? And does the rule change according to the age of the owner of the chest concerned?
R.A.P., St Saviour, Guernsey A. It is incorrect to leer directly at an embonpoint of any vintage — even when blatantly display-mounted on the chest of its owner. You should admire it silently from a distance or in a mirror. If you must compliment someone on their looks, you should always compliment on their general appearance. It is risky to highlight specific features — hair, face, slimness etc. — as the insecure then wonder what you think about the areas you failed to mention. Moreover it is always dehumanising to single out any one section of the body for praise. By so doing you reduce that section to the status of a butcher’s cut.
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