Corset History

Corsets have been used as a fashion item by both sexes for the last several centuries. The shaping forms and construction techniques have been changing and so have the materials and types of items used. In order to develop the best shape for you, you might be better informed if you have an understanding of the materials available to you on today’s market.

Shaping the Body with Corsets

The oldest corsets are typically those with a minimal amount of curves. Your breast shape appears to be in compression and their appearance changed to look minimized. To develop this shape you have to constrain and work against the typical shape and inherent curves of woman's body.

Corsets: Lacing, Boning and Busks

Success depends on two things: a) strength of boning used, and b) tightness of lacing. For the sake of comfort you can only lace up and tighten so much, the remainder of the support is done by the boning.

One of the most popular types of boning is steel boning covered in nylon that is usually light in color and is made in an assortment of widths, lengths, and thicknesses. When you select the spring steel for the best looking corset for your shape the width is of minor concern while your primary focus should be on the thickness. The steel boning characteristic makes a perfect corset because it is pliable and flexible, but it is nearly impossible to bend them.

Busk fasteners are also used, they open and are used for the front of corsets to allow you to put your corset on and off without help. The busks first appeared in the 1860's and started with the simplest busk, the modern spoon busk was developed approximately ten years later. These corsets call all be found in our online corset superstore.