Corset History

There has always been a following for corsets 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. For you to reproduce the shape you desire, you need to have knowledge of the materials and items you can choose from.

Using Corsets to Shape the Body

The really old corsets are usually ones with minimal amounts of reshaping. The breast flesh appears to be significantly pressed down and their shape diminished. To attain this straight silhouette you are having to "fight" the general shape and curves of a female's body.

All About Busks, Lacing, and Boning

The design of a corset is dependent on two underlying factors to be successful: a) the properties of the boning material, and b) the ability to pull together the lacing. In order for you to have a comfortable feeling while wearing your corset you are capable of lacing up only so much, the remainder of the support is done by the boning.

A useful boning material is nylon cased spring steel that delivers a pale color base and is constructed in a wide variety of thicknesses, lengths, and widths. When you select the spring steel for the best looking corset for your shape the width gives way to the thickness in what is most important. You are able to judge when the correct spring steel boning is selected because it is pliable and flexible, but it is nearly impossible to bend them.

You can use busks that open and are sometimes used on the front of corsets to allow you to dress yourself in the corset without assistance. The first appearance of a busk on a corset was near 1860 and initiated with the straight busk, the more intricate spoon busk followed. All of these corsets can be found in either our corset superstore or our corset auctions.