Inspired by outfits of the bourgeoisie and nobility of the Renaissance period, corsets were usually worn by maidens and young married women. Their shape highlighted the waistline, and the part from the waist down was shaped by lavishly arranged folds or protrusions of various shapes. Whalebones and wires used in this stylish accessory were often sewn into the corsets. Corset decorations, just like decorations in other parts of the outfit, evolved and became more varied in the 20th century. The oldest type of decoration consists of embellishments along the seams and edges that were probably meant as reinforcements of the parts of the outfit that were most prone to damage. Embroideries, extensions and trimmings were made with cords and ribbons. With time, the availability of factory-made haberdashery made it possible to become more imaginative. Embroideries were also becoming more and more elaborate.