Corset Care,  Why buy a Corset, Corset Construction, How to Measure

Corset Care and Instructions

Lacing Up:

• Always loosen the laces so you can easily wrap the corset around your body and close the busk. The easiest way to do this is to hold half of the corset in each hand and move your hands forward & back in opposite directions while pulling on the corset. This will redistribute the corset laces evenly.

• Fasten the busk starting at the second hook from the bottom, work up and close the bottom last.

• Tighten the laces gradually. Start tightening the corset lace by pulling the excess at the bottom up toward the waist, the bow at the bottom should remain tied. Next, tighten the top down to the waist. All the excess should be brought to the waist and the final tightening should be done there, with a large bow in the back.

• Tie off the excess in a double knot at the wait. Wait about 20 minutes and then tighten the corset more if desired.  Time, patience and practice makes for good corseting.

• Never tie the laces around to the front of the corset, this can damage the fabric. You do not want to drastically reduce your ribs or your hips as this will cause discomfort.                                              

Undressing: Always loosen the lacing at the back of the corset before trying to open the busk. Failure to loosen enough before opening can cause undue stress on your body and the corset & most likely have you get stuck on a post half way through unfastening! Unfasten the busk gradually, if necessary loosen the back more if you have trouble with the final hook.

After wearing: To prepare your corset for it’s next wearing, take a damp (not wet) cloth to the lining, let the corset air out flat or inside out on a hanger. Blue Rose likes to hang their corsets by the laces over a sturdy plastic or wooden hanger.  A gentle spray of Fabreeze is handy if the corset has picked up smoke or other smells.

Cleaning: Blue Rose Corsetry corsets are constructed with metal boning, safe to be dry-cleaned. We do not recommend cleaning with water as it may cause the steel to rust, and certain fabrics can “water mark” and should be dry-cleaned to remain beautiful. Cleaning is always best left to the professionals.

For PVC corsets – gently wiping down with a damp cloth will remove dust & grime from the face of the corset.

For Leather corsets – clean with a leather cleaner or have professionally cleaned.

Corset linings cleanliness: Wearing a thin fitted garment between the corset and your skin will help protect the corset from perspiration and body oils, making dry-cleaning less frequently necessary. There was a reason woman always had a chemise under their corsets – it kept them clean! Corset covers were also used over the corset as a layer between the corset and the dress.

All Blue Rose Corsetry 3-layer corsets are designed and constructed to withstand the stresses associated with tightlacing.

A 2 layer corset if constructed with Coutil corseting fabric can also be used for tightlacing.

If you are buying a waist cinche, this cannot be used for tightlacing but can still trim your waist by 2 to 3 inches. 

Would you like an hourglass figure? Would you like to appear slimmer? Would you like to train your waist into shape? Do you need back or posture support? Would you like a beautiful, authentic lingerie item for the bed room?  Not only can a corset “strip away” a few inches from the waistline, but a properly fitted corset makes the wearer feel sexy!

Many people simply enjoy the confidence and sensuality they experience when their figure is enhanced by a beautiful lacing corset. Corsets have proven to be a very functional, intimate and erotic piece of lingerie. Corsets have always been a favorite with brides on their very special day on their honeymoon. Corsets have also been popular with the transgender community, as they can instantly acquire a curvier, more convincing feminine line under their clothes. Those in the bondage - fetish scene have long enjoyed the erotic uses of corsets, indulging in the sensation of constriction and domination.  

 Overbust corsets support the bustline and control the waist & hips to a smooth flowing line. Underbust corset can flatter a bustline while controlling the waist. Plus for some, corsets have the added benefit of posture improvement and aiding certain back problems.  And quite frankly, my corsetiere has found the Renaissance era corsets to be the best sport-bra ever devised!

Standard waist reduction for a corset is 4 inches. Waist reduction on a waist cinche is 2 inches.

 Why a quality, custom corset?

The old saying "You get what you pay for" applies here. Not only does a custom fit ensure a proper fit for your body, but a quality corset will out last costume varieties. . Low quality corsets, are equivalent to laced-back bustiers. They are not designed or equipped for true waist shaping, waist training, or tight lacing. A well-made corset fits comfortably at the ribs and hips and gently compresses only your waist. If a corset feels uncomfortable, it wasn’t sized for you! A well fitted corset is a joy to wear! Because a Blue Rose corset custom made for you, you can decide on the style, colors, fabrics, trims and garters.  This gives you exactly what you want and flexibility in price.

 Why don’t all corsets look alike?

Not only has the corset changed throughout time to suit the changing silhouettes of fashion, but different styles flatter and support the different figure type needs of the beautiful women and men who wear them.

 What’s a Corsetière?

A corsetière is a female corset maker. Mair, your corsetière has a degree in Fashion Design from Kent State University. She loves pattern work & has and a background in engineering. Corsets are her architecture for the body!

What is "Waist Training" vs. "Tight Lacing"?

 "Waist training", when done properly, is a practice whereas one can gradually achieve realistic, non-harmful waist reduction or waist shaping by moderately lacing and wearing a corset on a regular basis. This is achieved by going slowly with the appropriate instruction from a corset training expert. It is very important that one not try to lace the corset closed, or even very tightly on the first several wearings, as corsets need "breaking in time". After a short period of wearing a corset comfortably, it molds itself  to your body shape and the material takes the strain of waist reduction evenly. Placing too much pressure on the corset at the outset may damage the fabric and stitching. In addition, it may cause you discomfort and a negative feeling toward your beautiful new garment.

 "Tightlacing"  is the practice of applying corsetry to its extreme to achieve the smallest possible waist.  A tight-lacer typically wears their corset night and day, and consistently pulls the laces tighter. When a tight-lacer achieves a 2-4 inch reduction, they graduate to a smaller corset to continue their figure training until they've reach their "ultimate waist". Tightlacing has been controversial whereas many believe it to be potentially harmful to the body. However, it can be practiced safely and effectively if done responsibly. To prevent any damage to one's body and corset, the novice corsetee should first research and consult with a tightlacing expert before engaging in any tightlacing or waist training program.

 Body: Blue Rose corsets are constructed of 2 or 3 layers depending on the requirements of the design. A fashion fabric & a lining as a minimum and an added interlining if the fashion fabric is not a corset coutil or is not strong enough to support the requirements of the corset.. The fashion fabric, the outside of the corset which everyone sees, is made from your choice of some of the finest and most beautiful fabrics anywhere! It is joined to the interlining to provide sturdiness and durability. A strip of twill tape is then inserted to guarantee that the waistline keeps it accurate size and acts as helpful "waist marker" when putting on your corset. The lining is just as important to the overall design and is constructed of cotton or linen fabric appropriate to the use and design of your corset. No scratchy cheap polyester poplin linings – unless that’s what you want!

 Boning: Blue Rose Corsetry uses a variety of boning to achieve the desired support and effect in our corsets. Many manufacturers will use only ½” flat steel bones as they are simple & save on labor. Blue Rose uses ½” and ¼” spiral steel boning for curvature & whalebone like support and comfort. These are custom cut & tipped to meet the requirements of your corset. We also use flat steel in ½” and ¼” sizes for waist cinches and other applications where curvature is not needed and support can be stiffer. And if a design in a corset or custom piece of clothing could be sufficiently supported, we also use plastic Rigiline boning which has the added benefit of making the garment washable.

Busks (that thing down the middle): If we can find it, we’ll use it! Busks of all sizes from 7" to 18" to insure that your busk properly fits your corset. Some 1880’s designs require a steel spoon or tapered busk, other designs work well with a straight busk in normal or heavy weight steel. Our Renaissance corset uses a wooden busk as is historically accurate.

Grommets / Lacing: Grommets are available in both 0 and 00 sizes in brass, antique brass, silver, black, and some decorative colors as well. The grommets are an integral part of your garment design! The grommets are surrounded by 1/4" bone to prevent any stretching or loss of shape at the back of the corset. A lacing protector or modesty flap is sewn into the lining which folds over to cover the gap at the center back is available if required.. All corsets come pre-laced and ready to wear!

How Do I Select a Corset size?

MISSES, MEN & TRANSGENDER

Corsets are sold in Waist sizes, in 2 inch increments from 18 inches - 40 inches depending on the style. Corsets are designed to be ordered 4 inches under your natural waist measurement.  For example, if the measurement around the narrowest part of your relaxed waist is 30", you would typically order your corset in size 26". If one trains down to the point that the corset no longer fits snug, a new corset should be ordered with a reduction of 2 inches from the current laced waist. 

 PLUS SIZE, MEN & TRANSGENDER  

For those customers with waists of 34 inches or more, it is recommended to order 6 inches under the natural waist measurement. Therefore, a plus size women who has a natural relaxed waist size of 40 inches would typically need a corset in size 34". If a plus size corsetee trains down to the point that the corset no longer fits snug, a new corset should be ordered with a reduction of 4 inches from the current laced waist. 

Innovation & Tradition: Blue Rose Corsetry specializes in custom design! Do you want your corset to be modern? Artistic? Fetish? Or a period designs for Victorian, Baroque and Edwardian periods? Special needs designs are also available.

Fabrics: include cotton corset coutils, silk brocades, silk doupionis , silk satins, leather, vinyls, upholstery / tapestry, and lace over a base fabric.