Corsets

[oothoona]

A couple of months ago I brought a friend from one social group along to the party of a friend from another social group. She left a while later with an extremely bewildered expression... and a new-found interest in corsetry

Comments

[anidan]

If I were currently taking orders, I'd pimp my corsets (Cytheria Creations), but I'm up to my ears in 18th century suits at the moment :) I'm not taking new orders for corsets until January.

As for what to look for, you're highly unlikely to find a perfect fit off the rack, but here are some tips:

• Style: First decide on overbust or underbust. I prefer overbusts for purely aesthetic reasons, but some first time wearers feel they restrict the rib cage too much. There is a difference in posture and movement that is more noticeable in overbust designs. If you go for an underbust, make sure you can wear a bra with it, because boobs oozing over an underbust just isn't sexy despite what the porn sites would have us believe.
  
  Then think of the silhouette she wants to achieve. There are a number of different shapes available in overbust styles (underbust is a very modern style, pre 1910 it was unheard of). Does she want classic hourglass (Victorian), S-curve/straight front (Edwardian), conical with major boobs (Rococo and earlier)? Most people think Victorian hourglass, but there are a variety of cuts within that range too. Trying different styles is a good thing to do because sometimes a style that was de rigeur in 1860 just won't do on a 2006 lady.
  
  
• Sizing: Most corsets are designed to have a 2" (5cm) gap when laced to the desired reduction. So decide on the reduction (4"/10cm is 'standard' and achievable for new wearers, but some people prefer only 2") then do this bit of maths; natural waist measurement - reduction - gap = corset waist measurement. For me that is; 77cm-10cm-5cm=61cm. So I would buy a corset with a measurement of 61cm/24".
  
  Remember that vertical measurements are just as important as circumferance. If an overbust corset has a bust to waist length of 15cm, but the wearer has a bust to waist of 17cm she's either going to fall out the top or spend the whole time tugging at it and being uncomfortable. The same goes for waist to hip.
  
  
• Make sure you're getting what you pay for. You want steel bones, not plastic. Plastic softens with wear and can kink permanently. Gallery Serpentine uses plastic in some of their off the rack designs, so be aware and ask what bones were used if it feels a bit too light. Spiral steel is flexible in two planes but more resiliant than plastic, straight spring steel only flexes in one plane so it's pretty easy to tell.
  
  
• Don't let her lace it down too tight until she's broken it in and become accustomed to wearing a corset. This is the biggest mistake new wearers make. They want to look like Dita immediately. Well, it just ain't gonna happen lady. It must be done gradually, or yes it will hurt. On that note, if it hurts, take it off! Contrary to popular belief a well fitting corset is a delight to wear. It should feel like a strong hug not a torture device. Corsets are about feeling powerful, beautiful and aware of the right to choose to be a bold woman.
  

Most importantly, have fun! If she falls in love with corsets, send her my email address so next year she can get a custom one made and see what they really should be like :)