Corset Story

Corsets have been used as a fashion item by both men and women for quite some time going back several centuries. The shapes formed by the various construction methods have been able to be modernized and so have the basic types of items used. If you are trying to reproduce the shape you covet, you need to have knowledge of the items available to you today.

Body Shaping and Corsets - The Perfect Match

The corsets from earlier times are typically the ones with a moderate amount of curves or reshaping. The breast flesh tends to be greatly flattened and their shape diminished. To attain this straight silhouette you are having to "fight" the general shape and curves of a female's body.

Busks, Boning and Other Corset Facts

A great corset design depends on two main factors: a) the properties and type of boning material used. and b) the tightening level allowed by the lacing. If you want the corset to feel comfortable when you are wearing it you are only able to tighten the laces to a point, the rest of the support is delivered by the function of the boning.

Steel boning is typically coated in nylon that is typically a light color and is found in different length, thickness, and widths. When you select a spring steel for your corset the "thickness" is more important than the width. Spring steel, when it is of the proper thickness it is pliable but it is really hard to bend.

You can sometimes find busk fasteners that open and are often used on the front of corsets to enable you to slip into and out of your corset unassisted. The busks made their debut around 1860 and initiated with a very simple busk, the more complicated spoon busk was developed in the 1870's. Any of these corsets can be found in our corset superstore.