Corset Lowdown

Corsets have been used as a fashion item by both men and women for centuries. The form and construction techniques have been on a continual pattern of change and so have the components that are used. If you are trying to reproduce the shape you covet, you need to have an education of the types of items available in today's marketplace.

Body Shaping Corsets

The corsets from earlier times have usually been those with a minimal amount of curves or shapes. The breasts appear to be pressed down and their shape diminished. To attain this straight silhouette you are having to "fight" the natural curves of most women’s bodies.

Boning, Busks and Other Corset Techniques

Any top quality corset design relys on two fundatmental factors: a) the type of material used in the boning, and b) the tightening level allowed by the lacing. To ensure you are comfortable while wearing your corset you can only tighten and lace up to a point, the remainder of the functionality is provided by the support delivered by the boning.

A good choice in boning material is steel covered with nylon that comes in lighter colors and is built in a wide variety of lengths, widths, and thicknesses. When you are deciding on the type of steel boning for the corset you choose the width is secondary to the thickness. When the correct thickness of spring steel is used it is flexible but it is very hard to bend.

You can construct a corset with busks that open and are usually located on the front of corsets to enable you to put on your corset without assistance. The earliest busks were invented around 1860 and began with straight busks, the elaborate and intricate spoon busk was invented a decade later. The entire collection of thse corsets can be found in our online auctions or superstore.