Corsets

[VenusClapTrap]

Anybody wear corsets?

I’ve always been thick of waist; in my youth I was skinny - straight up and down, no boobs, no hips, no waist. Now I am in my mid forties and having had children, I am no longer thin but not huge (size 10/12) and my shape is best described as sausage. My middle is my widest point.

An advert popped up on my FB for corsets. They were rather beautiful. I’m wondering about giving one a try, not for every day but for when I want to put on a nice dress/skirt, to reduce the sausage effect.

Any thoughts/experience?

Actual proper corsets you have to be really skilled to lace sufficiently well in order for them to be in anyway comfortable. Basque are much easier to wear and if you get the right one will do a good enough job for what you want.

You sound a lot like me. Skinny but never had a waist. At the beginning of the perimenopause I acquired bigger breasts and for a few years had the figure I'd always wanted (except the lack of waist).

Now, menopausal, I have thin arms and legs, still have the bosom but also have a sticky-out stomach. Classic apple. To the point where, on two occasions, I've been asked if I'm pregnant.
Tried to take comfort by thinking "At least I look young enough to be pregnant" but it wasn't really any consolation.

I wish I was a tube of toothpaste and could redistribute my filling

Ha ha yes that’s exactly how I feel! I need a good squeeze around the middle!

What’s the difference between a basque and a corset then? Please excuse my ignorance!

I love corsets. Much more comfortable than bras to my mind but you do have to make sure they fit right. (Corset story have some good tips on this). Length is really important.They usually come pre laced but you need to get the laces as wide as possible before you fasten the bask (front) then tighten when in. Not nearly as hard as it sounds. You should wear it for short periods a few times before a night out as it will learn your shape.

A Basque you can't usually adjust because it is faceless.

Another option you could try is an undercuts corset-you wear your own bra and it just covers your waist.

Corsets are laced. Most corsets are designed to reduce your waist size which gives you that hourglass appearance. They may have other fastening, but the adjustment to your body is done through the lacing. A proper corset is designed to reduce you waist size by about or at least an inch. Laced properly that extra skin gives you a distinctive fold down your back. I think some people might wear them without the waist reducing but the one I had really wasnt shaped for that, didnt offer any boob that way and wouldn't have been comfortable. Laced right it was incredible, laced wrong it was agony

In a Basque any lacing is generally for show but some of the nicest wont have any just nice smooth patterned satin. The main fastener will be some form of hook and eye. Fitted right and decent quality they are very comfortable. The hour glass wont be as ridiculously pronounced but it will be there.

Personally I wouldn't touch a corset these days but I would love a decent basque

Some Basque are advertised as corsets which can be confusing.

Hazelnutlatteplease

Corsets are laced.

So does this mean you need something to cling on to and a friendly accomplice who's willing to jab their knee in your back?

🤣🤣🤣 umm.. yes kinda. Putting it on had remarkable similarities to that stereotype!!!

I know there are tutorials of people who lace them solo but I couldn't. And mine definitely wouldn't even close if you set up the laces then tried to close it using the fasteners. You needed that lacing.

I'll add that when the shop professional laced it she made it look easy and a remarkably elegant process. It was also the most comfortable time I wore it. I kinda wish she came with the corset.

That corset was a real thing of beauty and gave me a fantastic figure, but it was a complete bugger and definitely had a temperament all of it's own!!

OP, it sounds as if a basque would meet your needs better than a full corset. I have 2 corsets for those very special occasions, (remember those???) but they are not practical for eating a meal in. Although they have a laced back they have discreet hook an eye fastening on the left at the front hidden by the seam.

If you’ve never worn a basque, l would not suggest a corset. Quality corsets are also far more expensive.

Basques on the other hand do up like a bra and you can wear them all day. You need to break them in like a pair of shoes and it feels like someone giving you a cuddle. I would recommend you look at the Fantasie range. Sizing is true to size. Pour Moi basques are also nice but l found their cup sizing to be very hit and miss, or more miss than hit.

A really interesting discussion/advocate of corsets can be found if you're interested. Shes a historical dressmaker who wore a corset instead medical back brace.

I also agree you really have to pay for a decent corset. A decent basque is easier on the pocket

You can absolutely get yourself into a corset - it just needs practice. Have a look at Prior Attire on youtube - see one of her dressing videos. Very rarely does she have help, only for certain eras.

And do remember that everyone wore corsets and worked in them.

I have a nice corset but don’t wear it all the time. It was custom made for me (pricey) but will last years. There is a skill in lacing but it’s easy to do once you get the hang of it - you have to tighten a bit at the top, then the bottom then the top etc.
The thing about a proper corset is they are difficult to sit down in. I couldn’t dive when wearing mine and you have to restrict how much food and drink you have as there’s not much room left once it’s on.
I wear mine for special events or nights out (when they were still a thing).

Putting on a corset from about 1 minute in.

I have driven in a corset but it's not ideal as it alters how you sit. Also I had to keep checking I had my seatbelt on as I couldn't feel it at all!

Wow, so much fab info. Thank you so much. I will sit down and go through it all once the dc are in bed tonight!

I had one in my goth phase. It cost about £80, and could reduce my waist beautifully. It was seriously uncomfortable to sit down in, but perhaps it was too long for me (I’m short) as others have noted length is important. It gave me very hoicked bosoms too and was barely decent though I wore it anyway! They do make you bulge below it, too, so my teenage desire to wear it with jeans was a no-go, but with a dress that flares out from the waist should be okay. There’s a reason skirts were so full back when people wore them. Have you tried shapewear such as Spanx? I’ve had success with those too and they’re a lot less intense!

If you have a slow dance with someone and you have a corset or a basque on, the dance partner appears spellbound. Funny that!

I agree that particularly with a corset, driving can be difficult and as l mentioned previously avoid a big meal.

Basques on the other hand are fine and easily washable at 40 degrees on a delicates wash. They take a few wearings and a couple of washes to “mould” into your body though.

I found the link Hazelnutlatte posted back at the beginning of first lockdown and lots days weeks in a costume wormhole

This one form Morgan Donor is also very interesting and really made me want to give it a go but too lazy

Thank you @Oldraver, most interesting. I loved her outfits too.

I’ve worn a basque (or different basques, l have 3, 2 Fantasie and 1 Pour Moi ) all day for 2 or 3 consequitive days, comfortably, even to work, but l don’t think l could manage an actual corset for longer than a particular event. Also, neither are warm weather items.

Her comparison with the bra was interesting. I have one overbust and one underbust corset and prefer the former. Of course, through history the bra and the then girdle evolved from cut down corsets.

Finally, can l say how refreshing this has all been taking this away from items for the bedroom! I suspect in real life it was quite the opposite, girls were first laced into their corsets to keep other individuals out!

So, OP, where has all this left you?

I had a friend who is similar size

[sorry, I hitcsend by accident..I startes so I’ll finish!]. I had a friend who is similar size to me who stayed with me for her shielding reasons during the first lockdown. One day she stumbled across my corsets when l was having a sort out. I helped her into one and she went on to order one of her own.

Where's the best place to buy a first corset? Never worn one before so don't want to spend too much on a starter. But I know spending too little won't get a decent one. I've looked at corsetdeals.co.uk for a couple of years but can't bring myself to actually order one!

www.agentprovocateur.com/sale#filters.prod_type_desc=Corset

Agent provocateur has a gorgeous black one in the sale. But my word the prices. Oh to be young rich and foolish again!

Well I’ve had a very diverting morning looking at these videos and mulling this over. Lots to think about!

I LOVE the Agent Provocateur corset, but it’s sold out so that will stop me impulse splurging. Probably a good thing.

I looked up Fantasie but couldn’t see any basques on their website.

Corset Story was the company that initially popped up on my Facebook, so I’ve spent ages looking through their corsets, but there’s too much choice! I don’t really know where to begin.

I am very tempted to give this a go though.

OP, with apologies for so many earlier typos. It’s Sunday and it was early.

l think you will have to do some digging on line. From recollection, my Fantasie basques came from Figleaves. One is a Fantasie Isabella and the other a Fantasie Sussanna. The Pour Moi one is nice, once l sorted the size changes, but l wouldn’t put it in the same league as the other two.

PS: My Pour Moi one is a Amour and on their website.

Thank you for all the help. I’m tempted by the plain black satin ones on Corset Story. I might just blow caution to the wind and give it a whirl.

Make sure it is the right length for you and remember to wear it in - short periods at not too tight to start. Also you should always wear something underneath so it isn't touching skin; I use cheap vest tops or chamois.