HOW TO WEAR YOUR CORSET,
EVERY PINUPS GUIDE TO BEING WELL LACED - Pt 1

I love being laced is like being held in strong arms that will not let you down. They make you feel powerful and stunning, they force you to stand up straight and this makes you seem more confident. They are worth the trouble, and I don't want anyone to have a bad experience with them. But if you choose properly and treat them right you will be just fine and you will never go back.

DECISIONS DECISIONS...Part 1- choosing

When choosing a corset to complete your pinup look the first thing you need to decide is what style you want to wear. You can wear it as lingerie under your clothes, with garter clips to hold up your seamed stockings . In which case you would be best to choose a smooth style without obvious lace, bows or other decoration. Or do you want to wear it as show stopping outerwear on top of any outfit, this means the sky is the limit and there are so many gorgeous finishes for you to choose from.

Another popular shape is the Victorian overbust. As the name suggests, this is full length with a shaped area at the top that covers the breasts. Because of this, they tend not to give as dramatic a waist reduction and can be uncomfortable for women like myself who are a bit top heavy compared to their waists. So if you do have a larger bosom and want to wear an overbust full corset, try to look for one that is specially cut to better accommodate the girls without crushing them, like the Tempest design pictured. Named after the great burlesque superstar Tempest Storm because it is specially cut for the happily endowed!

The third common style available today to the discerning burlesque pinup star is the hourglass under bust. This is the one I would most recommend as a first time buy. It was my first real one at the age of 16. And is by far the most comfortable. It is shorter than the other styles which gives you more freedom to move than the longer designs and it pulls you into a more natural curve than the wasp waist. Under busts do come in longer lengths too though, with curved top-lines that support the breasts without covering them "cupless". This is good if you want uplift, or if you are wearing it to 'showcase' your breasts. The design pictured is called Gina. I own one of these myself in red satin and it is the most comfortable of all my corsets.

And ofcourse any of these shapes can be bought in a variety of different materials. The most popular is satin, but there is also leather, rubber, cotton, PVC and silk. You will certainly get more wear out of satin or cotton than silk, and PVC tends not to be very durable. Rubber and leather stays usually are not steel boned but use the strength of the material and a skilled construction to pull you in.

Just one more detail and we are done here. There is an optional part of a corset called a "modesty panel". It is an extra piece of fabric attached to the inner edge at the back, which covers the space between the two sides when laced. This prevents the fat crease that we all get regardless of weight, from being visible. It will also help keep your clothes from poking out between the laces if you are wearing it on top. The only down side of the modest panel (except that it puts the price up slightly) is it can be a bitch to keep lined up, so it is allot easier if you have someone to help you hold it in place while you get laced. So should you opt-in for one?. Well if you are going to wear it under your clothes, or as a top, then a corset liner would be better. But if you want to wear it over clothes then the panel can be useful for keeping your dress out from between the laces and giving a more 'finished' look. If you are wearing a size that you can fully close easily though the modest panel will just get in the way.

But don't just take my word for it, if you possibly can you should get fitted for your corset somewhere like 'what Katie did', if you are lucky enough to live near them. This is a big financial investment in your wardrobe and you don't want to end up with the wrong style for you.

WARNING* The old saying "you get what you pay for" could not be more true here.The high quality fabrics,steel bones and above all the workmanship of authentic corsetry is worth the higher price tag. Cheap ones are generally made with inferior fabrics and standard stitching methods as well as plastic boning in the sides which is flexible. These are for looks only and will not hold their shape. You have been warned.
The best makers that I know are What Katie Did, Fairy Goth Mother A site you can spend the day and your whole years budget on so be warned kittens! and Romantasy corsets Romantasy are the experts in waist training for the really serious.

Now you know the type of corset you need what size is right for you and where to buy? get the right size for you

Already got your corset or know what size you need? Go to the lacing and wearing part of this guide .

And find out all you need to know in the lacing and wearing section.

Is being confined in satin and steel not really for you?, but you still want to get that hourglass figure? why not try out the pinups no laces waist traning workout

Or you can return to CORSET main info page

Looking for something else? Try the RETRO GLAMOUR main page to find info and links for all kinds of beauty related goodies. From pinup hairstyles to perfect red lipstick and more.

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