Corset Background

Corsets have been worn by both sexes for the last several hundred years. The construction methods and shapes they produce have changed due to new technology similar to the changes in materials used. If you are trying to create the figure you covet, you should have an education of the assortment of materials and items you can choose from.

Shaping the Body with Corsets

The first corsets have usually produces figures the a minimal amount of reshaping. Your breast shape appears to be in compression and the subsequent reshaping of the breast mass gives a minimized appearance. To attain this profile you have to contain the general shape and curves of a female's body.

Boning and Busks

Success depends on two things: a) strength of boning used, and b) how much you can tighten the lacing. To feel comfortable in your corset you should only tighten and lace up so much, you can rely on the boning material to deliver the remainder of the support.

A good boning material is spring steel coated in nylon that provides a light color base and is made in an assortment of widths, lengths, and thicknesses. When selecting the spring steel boning for the best corset for you the thickness, and not the width, should be of primary importance. You can tell when you have selected the proper spring steel boning because it is flexible and pliable, but it is very hard to bend it.

You are able to also find busks that open and are mainly used on the front of corsets to enable you to get into and out of your corset without help. These did not appear until around 1860 and began with the straight busk, the spoon busk appeared shortly afterward in about 1870. All of these items can be found in our online corset store.