Corset History

There has been an attraction to corsets by both women and men for quite some time going back several centuries. The shapes formed by the various construction methods have changed due to new technology similar to the changes in materials used. In order to reproduce the correct shapes, you need to have an understanding of the assortment of materials and items you can choose from.

Shaping the Body with Corsets

The oldest corsets are usually ones the a minimal amount of reshaping. Your breast shape appears to be significantly pressed down and deliver the appearance of a minimal breast silhouhette. To develop this shape you have to work against the curves and shape of of a woman's body.

Boning and Busks

A fabulous corset depends on two primary factors: a) the strength and other factors of the boning material, and b) the ability to tighten the lacing. In order for the corset to fit you comfortably you are only able to tighten the laces so much, the boning provides the remainder of the support.

A good boning material is spring steel coated in nylon that provides a light color base and comes in a group of thicknesses, widths, and lengths. When you are making a selection for the type of steel boning for a corset that will look like it was designed for you the thickness gives way to the width in importance. You are sure when you purchase a corset with the best steel boning because it is flexible and pliable, but it is very hard to bend it.

You can use busks that open and are sometimes used on the front of corsets to allow you to slide into and out of your corset without another person's help. The earliest busks were invented around 1860 and began with the inclusion of a simple busk, the more detailed spoon busk was created ten years later. All of these items can be found in our online corset store.