I need a corset. or a foundation garment. Or whatever 1950's terminology will do.

[ReshapeWhileDashingThroTheSnow]

I'm losing some baby weight, hooray, but nothing short of drastic cosmetic surgery is ever going to shift the kangaroo pouch of stretch marks that two babies have left me with. (I'm a shortarse, my bumps are HUGE and they have nowhere to go but out. Will draw veil over everything I ate while pregnant.)

It is horrible. Even on thin (ha) days it looks like I'm carrying a small bag in there. It does squish in quite well if compressed though, so I'm wondering if a good waist-area corset will do the job? Please don't suggest Spanx, btw. I have a pair and I love them, but I can't wear something like that all sweaty and horrible round my fanjo all day, every day. They are Special Occasion pants of steel only.

I do actually like corsets when I've tried them on. I was married in one, and I'm not talking about some half-arsed thing with bendy plastic boning, but a proper one made by a proper corsettier (is that a word?) with spiral steel boning. Twas The Shit. I like the feeling of being 'held in'. So where can I find a proper underweary corset that squishes my middle in and (crucially) doesn't merely push the flab up and down and give me unsightly tyres in places nobody should have any?

I know Nigella wears them. She must do, surely? Yes, basically I want to look like Nigella. The hair and sultry eyes can wait but please help my squishy tummy go in in the middle.

www.corsets-uk.com/

The corsets of the day are good value - top bar, under sale "COTD"

Thanks, Psocid. They're gorgeous! Some very good bargains in the sales section but mostly not my size.

I was hoping to be able to go somewhere to try on though - and though I love those beautiful corsets, I thought I'd probably have to end up with something more ... grandmotherly. Not that I want granny underwear, but I thought that girdles and so on were what was available for practical purposes. Does anyone know of anywhere high-streety that's likely to have girldes, waist corsets etc to try on?

the secret is to come back often - they do change and things do come in different sizes eventually iykwim.

Shops where you can try on is tricky, most are on line. And lots of the high street ones are plastic bones not the steel ones on my link.

I love corsets......

I had been thinking about these all through Dec and spent many an hour googling.
If you look on amazon they have some types that are described as post maternity corsets. They wrap around and fix with Velcro so you can do them as tight as you want.
Also google waspies and waist control.
I crapped out spending the money since I couldn't decide on which one to get.

Thanks so much for asking this Reshape! I've been thinking of the very same thing I'm very skinny and used to having a flat/concave stomach, but currently my midline boasts an empty kangaroo pouch. I look permanently 3-5 months pregnant. My top half is fine, I just need to control the tum flab. (My ObGyn says it's permanent, my direct abdominal muscles have been torn apart by two consecutive pregnancies - she suggested plastic surgery to fix it but I'm not ready for that yet).

Also won't want to wear Spanx on a daily basis - am thinking of a boned cotton half corset, my grandma used to have them.

How comfortable are those things to wear? Would you be able to sit an entire day at the office wearing them?

Google the tupler method DonaAna

DonaAna, I honestly don't know how comfortable for daily wear proper corsets are, but I think if you got one that fitted perfectly, it would feel 'right' after a while. I think one of the important points is not to get one that's too long, or it'll dig into your thighs and armpits when you sit down. My wedding corset was probably an inch or two too long...

Thanks for all the tips here! I've decided not to get one from the first link yet, because there isn't one the right length and size - yet. I'll look again, and frequently - Psocid, thanks again for that link - their sale bargains are amazing value! (And if you were naturally slender and toned, their 'fashion' corsets and outfits are fantastic good value too, but obviously don't hold you in.)

vollers have pretty serious corsets in lots of designs. Not sure if you can try them on anywhere.

Try What Katie Did. Ignore the bullet bras etc and have a look at the shapewear and the various corsets. If you are in London you can go and see them in the shop (lovely people) or you can speak to them over the phone.

Thanks for help and ideas! TracyK, thanks for the Tupler idea. I've been vaguely aware of that - do you know whether it really works? My diasthasis was 3 fingerwidths at its worst, now it is 2, but I have had to focus on my perineum to stop leaking been too distracted to train.

I spent some time online last night and what really appeals to me most is a traditional girdle. Couldn't quickly find one anywhere (and not interested in museum pieces), just a lot of fetish sites I don't want to get the goth/burlesque look (scratchy PVC and vinyl for me, the matron? :D) , just look for something I could wear under everyday clothes and look more poised.

I ordered a waist cincher and some shapewear to get started. Need to look into the traditional corsetry shops, I think I want something made-to-measure as everyones chief complaint seems to be corsets that dig in / are too tight / roll down / slide up / are impossible to do up.

Have your items arrived yet DonaAna? Am interested in what you thought of the things your ordered.

Not yet Tracy, but will give you an update when I get them (they have been shipped).

The idea of wearing torture garments for the rest of my life is freaking me out though so I've been looking at the Tupler method and am tempted to give it a try (my perineals are getting in good shape with intensive daily training, so I really do believe in exercise reversing pregnancy-induced gamage). Would love to get a DVD as I'm no good with following exercise instructions from books. I've taken an critical look at myself and if I could lose my pot belly, I would really look very good. Still, while getting there, some kind of girdle or cincher or control slip would help enormously.

I would second the recommendation to go to What Katie Did. They are very helpful and have a range of very pretty foundation garments. If you are not able to get down there I think they have a live chat facility on their website and also a forum where you can ask questions.

I keep looking at ebay for the tupler stuff - nothing so far.
The tupler splint looks quite narrow and they are punting the idea of buying 2 to cover more area. Too £££ that way - I don't know why they don't just make bigger ones!
I think there are similar exercises on youtube for you to follow - if you didn't want to shell out for the tupler dvd.

Thanks gor the Youtube idea! I'm going to try and - I'd do almost anything to avoid a tummy tuck.

Vollers are indeed good, if you can get to Portsmouth to the factory shop they will fit you and custom make the one you want.

I am having physio for separated tummy muscles, I have been given tubie grip which although rather odd is actually quite effective (and cheap), no good for a night out obviously, but not bad for everyday until my tummy is fixed.

If you google Fairy Gothmother they do amazing corsets and have a shop in London so you can try them on.

Where do you get the tubigrip that size from Phyllis?

I would love to wear a corset but how do you tie yourself into it: no one available to help me.

I got the tubie grip from the physio, I've looked on line for it before but it seems to only come in huge great rolls, it might be possible to get it somewhere.

teahouse...you can put a corset on by yourself. Hook the long strings over a door handle (make sure its strong enough) then walk away from the door and pull the thing tight and adjust. To do it up you bring the loops around the front and tie in a bow.