Corset Condundrum

So you've been eyeing that lovely corset you saw while surfing on the internet, or perhaps it was on a woman in a club. Perhaps even a movie. Whatever the reason is that you're considering that corset, be warned. It's costly. Like most clothing considered gothic, Corsets are expensive. Or, at least, they are if you want to get a proper, fitted one. The cheapest you can get a wholesale 34 boned corset is about $99 at Timeless Trends. I said whole sale, however, they are not custom fitted, which means there are only select sizes and the hips and underbust are pre-determined, and may not fit you right.

Properly fitted corsets run upwards of $299. The more customized your corset you want is, the more expensive it will be. After all, it costs about $100 to make a corset, more if you want an expensive fabric such as silk or velvet. Corsets are a costly investment, and if you want them for waist-training, then be prepared to buy up to three corsets in so many years and be prepared to wear them constantly.

I happen to love corsets, and find the snug pressure on my midsection quite comfortable and find that I love sitting up straight. However, wearing a corset is not comfortable for everyone. I wear my corset on days when my lower back pain is nearly intolerable, and it works for me, but I've known people who put on a corset and regret it in an hour. Perhaps they were wearing it wrong, but be aware that if you are buying a properly boned corset that some of the olden "corsets are bad" myths have some truth.

It does squish all of your organs and can make it hard to breathe. The squishing of organs, however, is reversible and, if you're a woman, not too big of a deal. After all, that's what a baby does when it grows inside of the uterus. Squish all of your organs. That's why you have to pee all of the time. The problem with breathing is more common with over the bust corsets, where the corset actually constricts where the lungs are. This usually happens when either a) you laced the corset too tightly; despite what many may believe, even when you tightlace, you do not usually find a corset sized to your desired waist and lace it closed. A corset is designed to shrink your waist about 4". It can be comfortably done, I'm told, up to 6", though I've never tried. Breathing problems may also be a result of b) you're wearing the wrong size or style corset. If you are trying to wear a waspie or a stove pipe for your first corset, there may be issues. Or c) Your chest is too large. This is why I do not wear overbust corsets. I have a large chest and while The corset may fit my waist, squeezing my ample bust into a corset may cause issues. If you are buying an over-bust corset, I would advice making sure that you give the corsettier an accurate and recent measurement of your bust at the fullest part, not just bra size.

The rest of the myths I've heard are just rubbish. Wearing a corset will not get you sick. It might give you a rash if you're allergic to the fabric, didn't use powder or lotion before putting it on bare skin or if you got it and never washed it and were allergic to something that was on there before you got it. The last one is the reason why you always wash clothes before you wear them for this first time. There is another myth that they were made for discipline or are another method for men to control women, etc., etc. Truly? They can be used for discipline, I'm sure, but they were designed for women to achieve a ceratin figure (commonly hour-glass, though some were made to give women the appearance of a flat torso), just like bras were meant to hold up the breasts. They are not some anti-feminist device that wearing one will make you less of an independant woman. As a woman with an ample chest, I find the whole bra-burning to be a little silly.

Now, finally to the good part. How to wear a corset well. I say 'well' because anyone can wear a corset, but if you wish to wear it and look good, there are some things that you should know.

1. Make sure the Corset is properly fitted to your, or at least your waist. Wearing a corset that is meant for a 24" waist while you have a 34" waist will either cut off circulation or you will end up with a wide gap in the back, which makes it obvious that you are wearing an ill-fitting corset. Most corset sizes ask you to measure your waist and subtract 4" for your corset size. So if you had a 34" waist, you would buy a corset with a 30" waist. Keep in mind, however, that that measurement is for wearing the corset under your clothes, not over. If you commonly wear thicker fabrics (or want the corsert to be closed without too much restriction), buy a corset a size bigger. This means that you will not get as much restriction, which is more useful for clubs or during the summer (less restriction means less heat).
2. Make sure the clothes you are wearing match, at least somewhat.While I've seen people wear tank tops, a mini-skirt and a corset and look wonderful, this may not work for everyone. Victorian clothing and medieval clothing is by far the easiest to wear with a corset, as that was when corsets were popular and most women's clothes were designed with the idea that there will be a corset involved. T-shirts and jeans do not usually look good with a corset over top. However, an overbust corset and pants can. Corsets are now considered a dressy item and if worn on the outside of your clothing, will look a bit odd if your clothing is very casual. Wearing a corset under your clothing is easier if you have a more casual style and are concerned if it won't match. Also easier if you only have one corset and it's not black. (Note: Shorts, especially cargo shorts, rarely look good with a corset, so be especially careful.)
3. If you're trying to create a certain figure, realize the corset pushing what was where you stomach was outwards.The corset does constrict and push body fat, and if you enjoy the corset for what it does to your figure, you're probably not interested in showing off the sudden roll it creates underneath your arms or the slight bulge suddenly at your pelvis. If you're still comfortable with your new bulges, wonderful. I happen to hate them, especially the pelvis-bulge. Skirts are the easiest solution to the 'pelvis bulge', and loose shirts (if worn under the corset) are the best solution for the under-arm bulge. Tailored shirts or jackets work best if the corset is worn under your clothes. Again, lovelies, if you do not mind the bulges that your corset makes, that is fine, feel free to ignore them as you wish, as I'm sure most people will as well anyways.
4. When in doubt, go for elegance.As I stated before, corsets were designed when women were meant to look elegant and sex was a hidden taboo. If you're at a lose for colour? Chose either black (best choice, especially if it's for outerwear) or nude/white (for constrast, the summer or under your clothes. Helps alleiviate some of the heat caused by wearing a corset.) Don't buy a patterned or unusual coloured one if it is your only one and you hope to wear it often.
5. If tightlacing, choose the simpler corsets for daily use.Tightlacing is wearing your corset daily for at least 12 hours in hopes of reducing your waist more than 6". This is achieved over time, and requires a lot of dedication. If you do not have $6,000 to spend on corsets, buy a simply corset to wear, and opt for the cheaper one, if not a corset specially designed for tighlacing. Constant use is tough on a corset, as they must be either hand wahsed or dry cleaned, anything spilled on them will be an issue. I suggest choosing a simple cotton corset for your daily use, and a fancier (velvet, satin, even patterned!) for parties, clubbing, special occasions, or just in general just looking nice.
6. Make sure to have good laces!Unless you are a skinny little thing and can close your corset easily already, ribbons are a horrible idea. Cotton, shoe-lace like corset lacings are also not the best idea either, as they are easily broken. If you intend to lace your corset tight or wear it often, opt for lacing that looks like boot laces. They're made of nylon and are round, rather than flat. They are the most durable lacing available. Choose lacings in 6 yards or longer. Yes, that's right. 6 yards. 18 feet. Longer if you're a plus size girl. 6 yards and 8 yards are the most common available lengths, so be aware that if you wish for longer laces, you might have to just go to your local fabric store and buy the length there, fixing the ends yourself.

That is all I have for you about corsets for you today. Feel free to add your own advice in the comments. :)