Alexis_ wrote:
I bought a Meschantes corset and it was great. I would definitely buy from them again. Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents.

Oh i was so disappointed by Meschantes. I bought a corset from them expecting the real thing, and i get this little two-layered flimsy plastic boned thing from them. its really pretty, but rather useless when it comes to a corsets basic purpose. I even tried to get am immediate refund, but they never replied back to me!!

now, brute force leather makes some damn good corsets. I love my purple satin 18 incher.

AiTenshiMisha wrote:
I got a corset online for $50 and it was soooo crappy! I was soo angry. It doesnt have any steel in it at all. It was 100% fabric...when the pic made it look amazing... lame..

Sadly, it is not uncommon for sweat shops to steal pictures from places like Puimond and sell them on places like ebay for ridiculously cheap and are worse than Fredricks

Miss Anna Evans wrote:

I've been incredibly happy with my underbust from Isabella Corsetry, her off the rack is $100-200.

Hellz to the yes, that is where I got my favorite corset ever.
Their off the rack fits me better than my customs!

Dagon Treads Water wrote:
I'm wanting to get one of these: http://www.puimond.com/py03.htm#
I don't know anyone who actually has one of his corsets though.

(Oh man... if I win the lotto, I'd love a corset dress or top

Pathogenic Confessions wrote:

I love these guys and there are in a good price range:
http://www.corsetmaker.com/

Those look really good.  I'll definitely consider them next time I buy a corset (which will probably be a while. I barely get much use out of the 6 I already have!)

Pathogenic Confessions wrote:

I love these guys and there are in a good price range:
http://www.corsetmaker.com/

I just odered something from them! XD I can't wait to get it!

Cuteyhoney wrote:

I just odered something from them! XD I can't wait to get it!

I can pretty much guarantee you'll love it

Jellokittie wrote:
Question:
Must a corset have a busk in order to work? Or is lacing in the front and back acceptable?

I believe so.

It keeps the center front stable.

Jellokittie wrote:
Question:
Must a corset have a busk in order to work? Or is lacing in the front and back acceptable?

Ooh! Good question!

A busk is an important feature on a regularly worn tightlacing corset, as it makes the corset way easier to get on and off, and if you're gonna be donning it every morning you don't want to spend much time just getting it over your head. If your corset is just for special occasion wear, you can get away with having a boned, closed front, or a front with lacing instead, or a wooden non-opening busk (I've been wanting to try sewing a corset with one of those for a while now). The corset will take a few minutes to get on, since you have to unlace it somewhat to pull it over your head, and then relace it before tightening and tying it, but it will still be structurally sound. What you *don't* want is a front with hooks and eyes, or a zipper (though I've heard that there are one or two reputable corsetmakers who use heavy-duty zippers reinforced with boning, and this could work, I suppose, if the zippers are strong enough).

If a corset does lace in both the front and back, it will be more difficult to get on than a corset with an opening front busk, and the lacing must be structurally sound -- that is, there should be flat steel boning on both sides of the grommets, and the lacing must use grommets -- one-sided eyelets are not acceptable.

Kamarose wrote:

Ooh! Good question!

A busk is an important feature on a regularly worn tightlacing corset, as it makes the corset way easier to get on and off, and if you're gonna be donning it every morning you don't want to spend much time just getting it over your head. If your corset is just for special occasion wear, you can get away with having a boned, closed front, or a front with lacing instead, or a wooden non-opening busk (I've been wanting to try sewing a corset with one of those for a while now). The corset will take a few minutes to get on, since you have to unlace it somewhat to pull it over your head, and then relace it before tightening and tying it, but it will still be structurally sound. What you *don't* want is a front with hooks and eyes, or a zipper (though I've heard that there are one or two reputable corsetmakers who use heavy-duty zippers reinforced with boning, and this could work, I suppose, if the zippers are strong enough).

If a corset does lace in both the front and back, it will be more difficult to get on than a corset with an opening front busk, and the lacing must be structurally sound -- that is, there should be flat steel boning on both sides of the grommets, and the lacing must use grommets -- one-sided eyelets are not acceptable.

Good to hear. That's exactly the kind of corset I've been making!
Still perfecting the designs. I have yet to try putting in a busk.

Dave the design student wrote:

I believe so.

It keeps the center front stable.

Thank you!

Jellokittie wrote:
Question:
Must a corset have a busk in order to work? Or is lacing in the front and back acceptable?

I believe lacing in front and back will hold up, but it will take forever to get in and out of
I think that is why people avoid that.

Pathogenic Confessions wrote:

I believe lacing in front and back will hold up, but it will take forever to get in and out of
I think that is why people avoid that.

I've gotten damn quick at it! Still, would certainly be faster with a busk.

Jellokittie wrote:

I've gotten damn quick at it! Still, would certainly be faster with a busk.

It would also be easier to lace tight for most people.

I have no problem lacing a back-lacing corset though

Jellokittie wrote:

Thank you!

Pathogenic Confessions wrote:
That is NOT a corset, NOT a corset, NOT a corset
0.0

Sorry, it has nothing to do with this thread, but something (obviously) is driving me nuts

Ha! There is a certain forum section I try very hard to avoid for just that reason.

SINched wrote:

Ha! There is a certain forum section I try very hard to avoid for just that reason.

exactly!

Vivica Hallow wrote:

Oh i was so disappointed by Meschantes. I bought a corset from them expecting the real thing, and i get this little two-layered flimsy plastic boned thing from them. its really pretty, but rather useless when it comes to a corsets basic purpose. I even tried to get am immediate refund, but they never replied back to me!!

now, brute force leather makes some damn good corsets. I love my purple satin 18 incher.

I was in a show once that featured Brute Force, their corsets were amazing.

Bethany-Lynn wrote:
I really really really want a real corset but I cant afford one.
Do you know anyone willing to sell an old one?

I'm selling one!!!! Its at a 26 inch waist

theda wrote:

Are you saying that whale bone was used until the 1980s? Because I'm pretty sure sanctions against hunting whales had been passed before then.  edit for googling: Whaling became pretty strictly regulated in the 1930s and 40s, but was not banned outright by the International Whaling Commission until 1982.

Also worth noting, whalebone is not bone. It's baleen. Real bone boning has never been used in corsetry.

whale boning was becomeing obsolete during the industrial age when they started to produce steel boning, which was around the turn of the century. I recommend a great booking for the history and construction is from author Norah Waugh "Corsets and Crinolines"

Sabrina Maree Stuart  wrote:
I think I want to get one made for me... if you get it custom, it will fit my boobs without squeezing them too much right? I've never worn a "real" one.

You can choose how much reduction you want in the breast area, if you get it custom made and talk to the corset maker about this concern.

Just make sure you get a good corset maker

Pathogenic Confessions wrote:
I haven't tried this person's work, but they look sturdy as hell and cute!

http://de.dawanda.com/shop/FrouFrou

If I were to buy from another maker, I would give one of those a try. They are finished extremely nicely.

TheStitchWitch wrote:
Bump and a tip: if the corset you're thinking about buying is sold in sizes such as small, medium, large or 6,10 etc... don't buy it.

They are sold by waist size if its the real thing.

That's what I've always believed, but then I stumbled upon http://www.bibianblue.net/. Does anyone have any experience with them? Their corsets are gorgeous.

Miss BeeHavin wrote:
I swear the tip that I found most useful is to put your shoes on first. After you're laced in, you're going barefoot or recruiting the photographer to help

The old goth mantra goes "Boots, then corset."