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?

@Binglebong - I posted about the “posh frock walk” elsewhere on MN previously, but negated to mention the corset because it wasn’t relevant to the thread. But as l am currently working here, eating here, drinking here and sleeping here with no trips planned (l usually travel a lot for work) it adds a touch of a feel good factor to these crazy times.

I like the posh frock walk idea too. I bought a ball gown in the sales last week just for the hell of it. Gave me a thrill just flouncing round the house in it. Actually, that’s what started me off thinking about corsets - pining for a waist.

@VenusClapTrap - here is a pic of my “main” wedding dress which is in production - all for the love of a waist and a corset!! I know the pining feeling!

PS I got married in December with our back up plan B but this WILL get worn for the party!

Oh that’s gorgeous. Absolutely stunning! Very Vivienne Westwood.

I would look like a sausage in a bandage in it

PS congratulations!

@Phwooooar - Frilly bits are fun in these crazy times. We’ve had enough dullness in the past 12 months.

I get called a skirt wearing feminist by friends, what ever one of those is.

Get lacing!

Bloody hell that dress is gorgeous! Congratulations

Well, my basque arrived. It’s awful. Instead of a just a plain sausage, I look like a sausage tied up with string. Bulges at the top, at the bottom, in the middle, all over the place. Like a bloody ribbed condom.

I don’t think any item of underwear is going to solve my issues; I think I’m in denial here about my size and basically need to cut back on the wine and do some actual exercise.

Oh I'm so sorry. I think basques aren't great for shaping but that is just my opinion. I tend to wear a big skirt if I have a corset on but that's just my style- no suggestions for top bulges as I have the same problem a bit. Middle bulges are probably because the boning is wrong or the fabric isn't strong enough - it needs to be firm.

Please don't be put off by this! It takes time to find the right ones for you. Give a full corset a try - corset story often have offers on so you could try a few different sizes in one go (and since it is often 3 for 1 follow up by getting the other two in the right size and love it!)

I have a couple of proper boned corsets and they do give you a fabulous shape. I did re-lace mine so I could put them on solo. One was a better length than the other and being black taffeta looked fabulous worn as a top with jeans for a night out. I've never found a basque that looked good unless I was already slim enough not to need it to give me shape.

@VenusClapTrap - Sorry to hear this but I would look upon it as getting it wrong on the first attempt rather than failed. It sounds as if you need to go up at least one band size, l can’t comment on the cup size from what you’ve said.

You may recall l originally suggested the Fantasie basque (l have 2; excellent fit) but availability looked limited. However, they can be found on Google searches and Ebay at some quite attractive prices.

Then maybe you could look at corsets from there? Both of my corsets were bought in France, but my sister has bought several from Burleska in London’s Camden Town.

www.burleska.co.uk

They also have a shop with assistants who can help you lace, which is open 7 days a week in “normal” times. The changing rooms are small, so is the shop, but it’s well stocked. Might be worth a look?

I’m not going to give up. I will have a go at a corset. Just need to decide whether to go under bust or over bust now!

Thanks for the Burleska link, Starlight. So much choice!

I don’t think any item of underwear is going to solve my issues; I think I’m in denial here about my size and basically need to cut back on the wine and do some actual exercise.

Don't give up!!

I can't believe I'm posting this but whatever 😂 this is a steel boned underbust from corset story. Basques / waist trimmers etc don't work for me either.

(Usually I'd wear it with a vest under but I just threw it on for the purposes of taking this picture. Also excuse the baby belly and the line where my PJ bottoms are clearly digging in 🙈).... but hopefully it gives you a good idea of what is achievable.

Gossard aren't great for proper basques

Wow, @DebatableHmm, that’s really encouraging. Thank you for sharing!

I have one underbust and one overbust. The former is the better fit.

I think I might order one of each to see how they fit on me.

This one:
corsets-uk.com/products/champagne-undertone-mesh-corset?_pos=19&_sid=d2af72357&_ss=r

And this one:
corsets-uk.com/products/black-mesh-waist-taming-underbust-with-lace-trim-and-suspender-clips?_pos=2&_sid=844ca18c4&_ss=r

Any pitfalls or rookie errors I’m making?

Actually they’re on three for two, so I probably should pick another too. Although I don’t intend to keep three, even if they’re great!

Certainly order 3 if only for the try on opportunity. I would suggest you go for at least one with a 2” waist reduction to try. 4” is quite a lot for starters.

On the second one, sorry if l’m telling you what you know here, don’t follow the model’s (bad) example, if you are going to wear it with the suspenders, wear them under your knix or you’ll be in trouble when you go for a wee! Because of the way it is cut, you’ll probably find even though it’s an underbust, it does offer quite a lot of boob support too.

Ha ha yes I learnt that lesson about suspenders years ago! I haven’t worn them for a long time though; not sure I’ll be starting again but you never know.

Ok I’ll pick a 2 inch one for number three. I’ve a short torso so when I filter out all the long ones it doesn’t leave a great deal of choice.

@VenusClapTrap I have a pretty short torso too (I'm 5'3) and this was the one I "modelled" (😂) earlier.

https://corsets-uk.com/collections/underbust-corsets/products/black-mesh-fronted-underbust

Underbusts are definitely better for short torsos imo. I have an overbust that sits in the closet because it either it makes my boobs look funny if I push it up, or it juts waaay out below my stomach and I can't wear it under even pyjamas without having a weird triangle shaped crotch.

Ah, GREAT. I’m 5’3” too, so that’s really useful! Thanks. I’m going to measure myself properly after tea and get my order in.

Right, three corsets have been ordered! The champagne one I linked above, one like Debateable’s, and one 2” reducing ‘Parisian’ style, whatever that means.

I feel quite excited! I hope I won’t be as disappointed as I was with the basque. But if I am, maybe it will be the kick up the bum I need to get fit. Win win? Hmm well we’ll see.

Corsets arrived! I’ve just spent hours trying them on. It’s quite tricky but I got the hang of it eventually. You wouldn’t want to be getting dressed in a hurry! Although I suppose it would get faster and easier with practice.

I got my waist down two inches with all of them, and I loved the shape they all gave me round the middle. Goodbye sausage! Hello waist! I put on a favourite skirt that’s been tight and looked rubbish for ages, and found it slithered down below my waistline and hung beautifully. Result!

However. The Parisian overbust one did not do my boobs any favours. I ended up a weird shape at the top. So that one will definitely be going back.

The mesh under bust one had the most dramatic waist trimming effect and fitted well, but it has a fault on the side seam so needs to be exchanged. Also, it’s a bit functional compared to the pretty satin and ribbon ones...

The champagne one is a thing of great beauty! I want to love it. But as I was lacing it, the ribbon came undone at the bottom, so I had to stop tightening it at that point. I need to have another go with that one. I’m not sure about the boob line of that one either, to be honest, but I will give it another go.

Right now though I’m a bit knackered (who would have thought trying on underwear could be such a workout! ) so I’m going for a cuppa and a sit down, while I browse the website - I think I want to try more because I can see there is huge potential here, I just need to find the right one for me, and I’m not convinced these three are it.

I'm afraid I ordered the one I thought pretty (I'm a sucker). Showed my friend and she has ordered three.

And yes the pictures of the knickers under suspenders annoy me. When I was younger I always wore stockings (and when doing the fetish clubs) and you simply cannot have knickers under.

Last year I did the dressing up to go for a walk. I felt fab but I have to say I got a few looks from the .....lycra clad trainer crowd

I suppose it didnt help I carry a parasol

@VenusClapTrap - Given that they take a while to break in, can you afford to keep the best one here, while you continue your search for the holy grail? Then you have a yardstick to judge by and something you can wear in the meantime.