Corset Chronicle

Corsets have been attractive to both men and women for hundreds of years. Shapes and construction techniques have been upgraded with newer technology similar to the modernization in the materials and items used. For you to develop the shape you covet, you need to have an education of the materials and items you can choose from.

Corsets for Shaping the Body

The ancient corsets have usually been those with minimal amounts of reshaping. The breast flesh appears to be contained and give the look of a minimized profile. To develop this profile you have to contain and fight the usual shape and typical curves of a woman's body.

Busks and Boning

A successful corset design is related to two components: a) the type and strength of boning used, and b) the level of lacing tightening. 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 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 choosing a spring steel for your corset the "thickness" is more important than the width. The steel boning characteristic makes a perfect corset because it is pliable and flexible, but it is nearly impossible to bend them.

You can also use busk fasteners that open and are typically used with the front of corsets to enable you to put on and take off your corset without calling someone in for help. 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. These items can be found in either our online superstore or our online auctions.