Corset Story

Corsets have been worn by both men and women for the last several centuries. The form and construction techniques have been on a continual pattern of change and so have the basic types of items used. If you are trying to reproduce the shape you covet, you should have an education of the types of items available in today's marketplace.

Body Shaping and Corsets - The Perfect Match

The corsets from earlier times have usually been those with a minimal amount of curves or shapes. The breasts appear to be pressed down and their shape diminished. To attain this straight silhouette you are having to "fight" the natural curves of most women’s bodies.

Corsets: Lacing, Boning and Busks

Any top quality corset design relys on two fundatmental factors: a) the type of material used in the boning, and b) the tightening level allowed by the lacing. To ensure you are comfortable while wearing your corset you can only tighten and lace up to a point, the remainder of the functionality is provided by the support delivered 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 delivered in a variety of thicknesses, widths and lengths. When looking for a particular type of spring steel for the corset you choose the width is secondary to the thickness. When the correct thickness of spring steel is used it is really flexible but it is almost impossible to bend.

You can construct a corset with busks that open and are usually located on the front of corsets to enable you to put on your corset without assistance. The busks were created in the 1860's and began with straight busks, the elaborate and intricate spoon busk was invented a decade later. The entire collection of thse corsets can be found in our online auctions or superstore.