pretty UGLY

Mr. Pearl a.k.a Mark Pullin is somewhat of an enigma. And rightly so. Devoid of internet and mobile phones, Mr. Pearl describes himself as;

“a designer who employs the corset and lacings into his designs. I am not a corsetier - I have not attained that specialized knowledge. There are only about five left in the whole world now, who possess that art. I hope one day to be amongst them”

Rather than work independently, Mr. Pearl operates on request. Those in the line for demand, include Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano. He has also made corsets for the likes of Dita Von Teese and controversially Kylie Minogue

The pint size singer supposedly claimed that her corset reduced her waist size to 16” but considering that the smallest waist on record is that of 13” this was later proven to be untrue.

As Mr Pearl reveals in an interview with Mistress Angel Stern;

“the waist-size magic-number is eighteen. Any number below eighteen becomes extremely potent - yes I would say magical. The smallest I have known is thirteen, so the numbers between 13 and 18 are very potent, each denoting some ultimate point.”

Mister Pearl corsets himself. This was a practice previously undertaken in the 18th century by men. Mister Pearl firmly ties his fascination with corsetry to discipline. The corsetier has slept in corsets for the last 11 years and insists

‘It's essential. Essential. In order to achieve any significant waist reduction.’

Before botox, tummy tucks and boob jobs, there was corsetry. Body modification is hardly a new phenomena. However it remains to be seen whether this is a continued art form or the latest attempt of simulacra.