Craving the teeny-tiny waist of Dita von Teese but born with the midsection of a linebacker? Don't despair - help can be found at the nearest luxury department store.
Dolce & Gabbana's corset-like waist-cinching metal belt is the hot new secret weapon for socialites and starlets wanting to get their Scarlett O'Hara on. Featuring a sleek metallic design that's accented with rivets and a chastity belt-like lock and key, the belt laces up in the back to squeeze the wearer's midsection to a slim 23 inches. Comfort, however, isn't part of the equation.

"The belt certainly gives me a waist," writes Daily Mail reporter Kate Faithfull, who gave the belt a test-drive, "but I'm not so sure it's flattering. I've lost six inches, but simply by displacing my flesh to my hips and chest either side of the belt. If it was any wider, I'd have fat up to my forehead."

So is a slender waist worth the pain - not to mention the nearly $3,000 price tag? And do women really want to return to the days of the suffocating corset?

Tell us what you think...would you rather wear a corset or spend the money on liposuction?