Hey everyone! If you expand the description bar, I've put links to all the brands mentioned / shown in this video. :) ALSO, I forgot to mention it in the video, but please still choose corsets based on their measurements and what would fit your body best, don't automatically jump to the curviest style imaginable. :)
I cant tell you how helpful this is. The only reason I got a corset that I enjoyed and fit correctly was because I ended up emailing you. You were so helpful and and even gave me extra laces since the one that came with the corset were too short. Its hard to get information about corsets and bigger bodies.
This is such a thorough and cool breakdown of one of the ways corset fit can be deceptive! I love that you broke down the math and geometrical reasons behind size and perception; technical explanations of stuff that often gets hand-waved as "that's how it looks/feels right" is so cool, and I really appreciate seeing stuff I learned more or less intuitively broken down like this.
As usual so helpful and concise! I'm directing my friends to this video for them to take into consideration when buying larger corset sizes, because often they base their decisions on corsets they see on me, and not what it would be for them.
I remember buying one of Rebel Madness corsets few years ago, I think it was 26" or 28". I got so disappointed when it arrived, it was almost like a tube. Of course rib spring and hip spring in all sizes was the same, so it looked good in size 18. I think that when making plus size corsets the designers should more focus on the proportions and not the actual rib and hip spring.
This was a well explained and knowledgeable video. Makes sense and answered questions, and even brought to light some of how corsets are shown. Would point out that Rebel Madness modelled corsets tend to have their gaps pretty wide¦ 3-4 inches wide based on their etsy shop photos. I wonder if this had an effect on how curvy their corset looked in comparison to Mystic Cities.
Yes! Good point - I did notice that the gaps of the Rebel Madness corsets were pretty wide on the model. I guessed that she might have been wearing a size 18" or 20" corset, and the gap looked to be probably close to 4 inches, so the actual internal waist was likely 22" or 24". There was a fair amount of eyeballing in this video, but I tried. XD
Thank you Lucy for this wonderful and helpful video. As a corset newbie, this kind of information is invaluable. I used your database and have my first two corsets: an MCC 30 for bust management days, and the OC 426 w/ hip ties. My corsets are a 36, and I still feel like they are showing off enough curve. I started my journey with the help and advice of a doctor to deal with diastasis recti or DR. So far, the relief has been immediate. My abs actually prefer the corset to “real life” because the DR pulls so strongly, dispensing the muscles and pulling on my lower back. Also: I want to highly recommend Elomi bras for fuller busted women. They have actually supportive non-underwire bras. Thanks again for being awesome and sharing your extensive knowledge and experience with all of us. 💜💜💜💜💜
Thank you so much! And yaaaay, I'm glad my database worked for you. ^_^ It's amazing that your doctor approved of your corset use to help with the diastasis recti, every time I hear of another case of doctor-approved corsets for medical purposes, it feels like another tiny win. Thank you for the recommendation for Elomi bras! I will definitely check it out, and will let others know.
Woo! Math! Very nice explanation of why I looked less curvy in the one corset I've tried than I do without one. My natural 20+ inch hip spring, narrow ribs, and short torso make OTR impossible for me. Ideally, I'll be able to start saving for a custom corset in about 18 months.
Goodness, a 20+ inch hip spring! I know a lot of people who would be envious of your natural figure. Let me be the one to apologize on behalf of the OTR industry about not catering to enough different body types. But a custom commission is an exciting process, where you get to see the slow realization of the perfect corset of your dreams. I'd recommend a mockup fitting if you can afford it! It really helps with getting a glove-like fit.
I seem to have the opposite issue. I have a size 32 straight rib Gemini. When I put it on I was shocked to see that I looked curvier than the model. I could rest my measuring tape on this hip shelf that had been made. When I sit it only makes things worse in a good way. But when I sit I notice the side boning channels squeeze inward on me more than the other bones. This ends up giving my waist this wasp waist look. I've even measured the angle of my ribs to waist to hip and when standing it is a 90° angle. When I sit however it's is more along the lines of 75-80° of angle. I had to curve the busk at the waist to take some of the pressure off my sides. I still love my corset. But idk why what I've experienced seems to contradict what's being explained. I've even compared to a picture of you wearing your gemini and me and people think they are different corsets.
Rachel Laylee I don’t have the hips to properly fill out the Gemini (I didn’t draft it to fit my body) so when I wear it, the hips of the corset are a bit deflated, if that makes sense. Same with the product model with short dark hair. The product model with the longer hair wears a larger size - I think the Gemini on the redhead product model (like in the purple satin listing) probably gives the most accurate silhouette of the three models. It’s been hard to find a model that properly shows the curves of the Gemini, since most models don’t waist train / they only wear corsets casually. But the Gemini on the right person makes for an astonishing silhouette!
@@LucysCorsetry yeah I thought I would squish down in the Gemini at least an inch. So I have about an inch to 2 inch gaping in the lower hip. I just wear jeans or something thick on top or underneath and it looks better. But for some reason the high hip creates a shelf on me, I don't mind it at all and actually like the look better. But even when I had an orchard corset cincher and long line I've always experienced a curvier shape. Which again I'm not complaining and I love it. I also should preface I wear all my corsets with a .5 to 1 inch parallel gap. But the Gemini has taught me alot and I see a lot of benefit in wearing it with my disabilities. I'm excited to show my doctor as she recommended I get one because I have a slipping rib issue. I never experience any rib hip or lower back pain when in my gemini. I do get a bit in my neck but that's because my posture is terrible and it's helping me correct it. I absolutely love it my only suggestion might be if you remodel the Gemini to have something like hip ties. Just because most corsets don't have enough curve and that's why I love the Gemini and others do as well. I have large hips and bum and I was surprised with even pulling in some of my lower stomach I still had gaping. I've been watch for almost two years and have learned so much. I really appreciate the quick response as well. I was expecting it to just sit.🙂
This is why I am drafting myself a pair of bodies for Renfair. All the off rack models are made for women who are 5'6" and I have a longer torso so they don't fit right.
Interesting math. It makes you wonder about the weirdness of bra cup sized being dependent on the band size, a 32E cup being equal to the cup in 34D, 36C, 38B, etc. maybe that evolved out of corsetry somehow?
In some places (I think in England this still counts) a corsetiere now refers to a bra maker as opposed to a literal corset maker. I think I remember reading about Queen Elizabeth's official corsetiere retiring from the position, but she just made bras. I know that sister sizes between different bras have a similar volume that the cups can hold (in cc or oz), but regarding how they determined which cup is called what size, I don't know enough about it... maybe the cup part is supposed to be a certain % of the whole circumference of the band? It's just a guess. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I do! Here is a very old video on how to measure for a custom corset: ua-cam.com/video/6kr6pfQIarg/v-deo.html If you are looking for a cheaper OTR corset, then there are only (usually) 4 measurements you need to know which I explain in a newer video here: ua-cam.com/video/QF14uZLnKA4/v-deo.html
Very interesting. I have a line of OTR underbusts in 3 sizes for my brand and I didn’t use a constant hip or ribspring. Bigger sizes have a proportionally bigger hipspring than smaller sizes and I thought it was more logic to do so. I didn’t tested this concept on sizes like 52 though, maybe there’s also larger people who aren’t so much squishy or don’t want so much curve. I have yet to study my concept for bigger sizes...
Thank you for your perspective as a corset maker! It would be interesting to see a line of corsets that kept its curvy proportions equal instead of the absolute rib spring and hip spring. I can see how that might make the sizing part tricky for clients, but it's definitely an interesting idea!
a lot of what also gets left behind in the conversation as someone who generally buys 36" and enjoys tight lacing; THE BOOBS! I'm a 38F/G cup QQ While I have found some fav. brands at this point it was a struggle!! "This would fit that waist" "But I have flexible joints idc about that part I need to know if this will make for uneven lacing and make my boobs go numb in 2 hours.." "yes but your WAISSST; oh you need a 9/8.5 in busk... yeah we don't make overbusts for petite proportions"... Yeah it's a whole thing and gets super old. haha
Since some OTR companies are leaving wide gaps in their backs to create a misleading impression, the honest ones should place a large mirror behind their models, set at a slight angle, so the back-gap would show up alongside her in a photo or video.
I've been thinking of getting one of these but dont know how to buy the right fit and I want a full one with a bra and my measurements are 42-50-50 and I'm 5'5. Can you help me?? I want to wear it underneath my clothes.
Did you ever find something? Ideally you need to measure your underbust, waist , torso length , lower hip and higher hip for a good fit. You might actually fit a restyle wide hip corset in size 42 but I recommend trying a corset calculator (mystic city's one is good)
I have a question, if I have a 33" waist right now and I'm planning on over a period of time trying to get my waist down to 18" should I buy a 18" corset? I know some company's recommend only going a few sizes down from your original waist size but I'd rather not have to get 2 or 3 of the same corsets gradually sizing down. would going straight for the 18" corset be ok? or would it damage the corset
Nope - a 15 inch reduction is far too much to start with. I would normally recommend a size 28 for you, or maybe 26 if you were very compressible and took quickly to the corset. Corsets need to be sized down gradually. A size 18" corset right away will not fit you - it would actually be less effective for waist training compared to a corset that fits your body better right now because it won't wrap around your body properly - and it may not only damage the corset, but it may actually hurt your body. Using several corsets to size down gradually over many years is not a scam from corset companies just to get you to buy more products, it's the safest and most effective way to train. And by the time you really are ready for a size 18" corset, it's a very high chance that your preferences / needs / standards for a corset are a lot different from your preferences today. lucycorsetry.com/2014/04/09/how-much-to-size-down-and-why-too-wide-corset-gaps-are-bad/
Lucy's Corsetry orchardcorset reccomends going down 7 inches maximum if your waist is smaller then 38 inches, do you think it'd be OK to get two corsets in size 26 and then size 18
Lucy's Corsetry I do plan on getting a mysticcitycorset in the style mcc20 which is a very curvy wapsie corset but I'm using the orchardcorset sizing down advice
Honestly I'd just start with the 26" for now and wait before getting any smaller corsets. There are definitely going to be things about your first corset that you like or don't like, and you will want to refine your search before you get your next smaller corset. Realistically, most people would have to go 26" --> 22" --> (maybe size 20" depending on how resistant your waist is) and then finally 18". And if you take care of your old bigger corsets and keep them in good condition, you might even be able to sell them on Ebay or Facebook and use those funds to help you afford the smaller ones.
interesting :) wouldn't it be more practical for everybody il the corset makers were calculating the sizes not in spings but in proportion? (for ex. hip spring for size 22 : 10, and for size 30 : 15) ? would it be very complicated?
It might be tricky to find your size in that situation - imagine if you had the proportions to fit the size 22" but you had the waist measurement to fit the size 26", but the size 26" might be too curvy for you. Right now most brands get around that by offering corset lines by springs, but they release several different styles of corsets, some curvier than others. :)
Lucy, now you sound like a mechanic instead of a scientist. This is too complex for my pea brain. Phenomenal how much knowledge you possess about corsets.
I’ve always had a dislike towards the idea of a “squish” factor, just because you can cinch down doesn’t mean you should. As someone on the “squishier” side Ive always known the health risks. Too much body fat already squeeze the organs, so there’s less room for the corset to do so without health consequences. In fact this squeezing is the very reason why sleep apnea is prevalent amongst the overweight. And although corsets are amazing aesthetically and do seem to provide health benefits for the back, it is a concern when it comes to sleep apnea
kin2naruto in the corsetry community I’ve heard of those who wear it as sleepwear. Even as daywear it’s not ideal for those with much “squish” to cinch down a lot. Since said “squish” already puts pressure on the organs
I don't have any data to back this, but I would say the vast majority of corset wearers, even those who waist train, don't wear them in their sleep. That's not to say nobody does, but... I don't think you need to worry too much about it.
As someone who has sleep apnea, the issue isn't excess weight around the waist, which is where corsets are tightened. Not sure where you're getting that idea. As for "pressure on the organs", what do you think happens when women are pregnant? Organs move around, they aren't stitched in place. It's not as big of a deal as you're making it out to be.
I was helping one of my friends study for their Step 3 USMLE, and current medical literature correlates the risk of sleep apnea to just neck thickness, not necessarily weight. If someone is classified as "overweight" from their BMI, if they carry all their weight in the lower half of their body and they have relatively small neck measurement, they shouldn't be at risk for sleep apnea. And if they have a naturally small waist-to-hip ratio, they don't have a high risk of cardiovascular issues. One of the other viewers who commented on this video shared that she has a natural 20-inch hip spring, which means that even the very curvy MCC corset in this video would not be curvy enough to fit her body - it would be 3 inches too big on her waist while it fits her hips properly. Some people are genuinely curvy and it's not about their squish factor at all.
I can't help but think that the actual photos of the models wearing the corsets have been edited to give the appearance of a more curvy model. Editing the photo to make the waist a little smaller is fairly normal editing for all photos of models. So if you are just using the photos to compare, you might be still getting a false result.
ClissaT I know the person who took all the photos for the TT corset listings (have met them in person), and they don’t photoshop the curve of the waistline. The photos are only color-corrected. Most casual photographers or Instagrammers don’t know how to edit a corset more narrow in a believable way because there are so many boning channels at the waistline or the busk loops that would immediately give away any indication of a liquefy tool. Also since those hourglass corset patterns are my design as well, I always know when the silhouette looks “off” and it irks me whenever I see someone on Instagram trying to edit their waist smaller in my corsets. The corset community knows that there was editing even on Victorian and Edwardian photography, and we’re pretty finely attuned to detect this sort of thing, so it would actually work against a corset brand’s reputation if they were to edit their products and try to sell a garment that is not as pictured - they would only ever bamboozle a total beginner. Typically those brands get put on the banned list in corset groups, and overwhelmingly the response of a sincere corset brand is to actually start carrying curvier corsets to meet demand, or get left in the dust. It doesn’t have anything to do with why all corsets look curvier on smaller sizes than bigger ones - this is just science.
@@LucysCorsetry Thanks for that information re the photography Lucy. I'll be able to feel more confident in future when looking at the brands that you recommend. It's 40 years since I made and wore silk lined real leather or suede corsets in Australia. I had a great figure in those days and already made leather clothes for the trade. I only had one decent old corset pattern and a few from the BDSM community. I made to order only. Parts were very hard to find. Early this year I found a company in Britain who handmade corsets and ordered a couple of their cheaper ones made in China just to be sure my now ample body could still tolerate one. The cost was way up there for the handmade corsets which for me would be a huge wasted outlay if it didn't turn out well, so the cheaper ones would give me a taste. The British firm is doing their best to deliver, but due to all this virus in China things are very slow. The ones I ordered I felt could be cinched in or left a bit wider at the waist for amply sized beginners like me. Honestly, I thought all photos were shopped these days. Now that I know they probably weren't, it doesn't bode well for me because I figured there would be a little extra room in there for sure, due to the photos having been edited! Oh well, just have to wait and see! Thanks Lucy
Women of any size can wear corsets! OTR corsets are available for people with natural waists up to ~54 inches (137cm) or thereabouts, and some specialist makers can create something custom with a corseted waist of well above 60 inches (152cm). Brands just seldom actually hire models of this size. But on Corset Database, there is a filter to find OTR brands that sell plus size corsets here: corsetdatabase.com/explore/?corsets=1&pa_ext-size=sz48,sz46,sz44,sz42,sz40
Hey everyone! If you expand the description bar, I've put links to all the brands mentioned / shown in this video. :)
ALSO, I forgot to mention it in the video, but please still choose corsets based on their measurements and what would fit your body best, don't automatically jump to the curviest style imaginable. :)
I cant tell you how helpful this is. The only reason I got a corset that I enjoyed and fit correctly was because I ended up emailing you. You were so helpful and and even gave me extra laces since the one that came with the corset were too short. Its hard to get information about corsets and bigger bodies.
Thank you for your kind words! It was my pleasure to help. ^_^
*dies of math*
I know the answer but I’m going to watch anyway because I just like to listen to you 😂
I'm so glad there were pictures... my mind was blown by the math LOL. You are so smart! xx
This is such a thorough and cool breakdown of one of the ways corset fit can be deceptive! I love that you broke down the math and geometrical reasons behind size and perception; technical explanations of stuff that often gets hand-waved as "that's how it looks/feels right" is so cool, and I really appreciate seeing stuff I learned more or less intuitively broken down like this.
As usual so helpful and concise! I'm directing my friends to this video for them to take into consideration when buying larger corset sizes, because often they base their decisions on corsets they see on me, and not what it would be for them.
It's so logical, but seeing it visually was very helpful! Great video
I remember buying one of Rebel Madness corsets few years ago, I think it was 26" or 28". I got so disappointed when it arrived, it was almost like a tube. Of course rib spring and hip spring in all sizes was the same, so it looked good in size 18. I think that when making plus size corsets the designers should more focus on the proportions and not the actual rib and hip spring.
That was helpful af! Great way to break it down
This was a well explained and knowledgeable video. Makes sense and answered questions, and even brought to light some of how corsets are shown.
Would point out that Rebel Madness modelled corsets tend to have their gaps pretty wide¦ 3-4 inches wide based on their etsy shop photos. I wonder if this had an effect on how curvy their corset looked in comparison to Mystic Cities.
Yes! Good point - I did notice that the gaps of the Rebel Madness corsets were pretty wide on the model. I guessed that she might have been wearing a size 18" or 20" corset, and the gap looked to be probably close to 4 inches, so the actual internal waist was likely 22" or 24". There was a fair amount of eyeballing in this video, but I tried. XD
Lucy's Corsetry You succeeded, as always!
Thank you Lucy for this wonderful and helpful video. As a corset newbie, this kind of information is invaluable.
I used your database and have my first two corsets: an MCC 30 for bust management days, and the OC 426 w/ hip ties. My corsets are a 36, and I still feel like they are showing off enough curve.
I started my journey with the help and advice of a doctor to deal with diastasis recti or DR. So far, the relief has been immediate. My abs actually prefer the corset to “real life” because the DR pulls so strongly, dispensing the muscles and pulling on my lower back.
Also: I want to highly recommend Elomi bras for fuller busted women. They have actually supportive non-underwire bras.
Thanks again for being awesome and sharing your extensive knowledge and experience with all of us. 💜💜💜💜💜
Thank you so much! And yaaaay, I'm glad my database worked for you. ^_^
It's amazing that your doctor approved of your corset use to help with the diastasis recti, every time I hear of another case of doctor-approved corsets for medical purposes, it feels like another tiny win.
Thank you for the recommendation for Elomi bras! I will definitely check it out, and will let others know.
Woo! Math! Very nice explanation of why I looked less curvy in the one corset I've tried than I do without one.
My natural 20+ inch hip spring, narrow ribs, and short torso make OTR impossible for me. Ideally, I'll be able to start saving for a custom corset in about 18 months.
Goodness, a 20+ inch hip spring! I know a lot of people who would be envious of your natural figure.
Let me be the one to apologize on behalf of the OTR industry about not catering to enough different body types. But a custom commission is an exciting process, where you get to see the slow realization of the perfect corset of your dreams. I'd recommend a mockup fitting if you can afford it! It really helps with getting a glove-like fit.
This is absolutely genius
Corset Deal, where I got my corsets, has a very beautiful and very frequent plus-size model and we love her 🥺
I wish they said what size corset you're looking at. I know what size I ordered, but I won't know how curvy it is until it arrives!
Very informative video, they should really note what size is in the photo as better guide!
I seem to have the opposite issue. I have a size 32 straight rib Gemini. When I put it on I was shocked to see that I looked curvier than the model. I could rest my measuring tape on this hip shelf that had been made. When I sit it only makes things worse in a good way. But when I sit I notice the side boning channels squeeze inward on me more than the other bones. This ends up giving my waist this wasp waist look. I've even measured the angle of my ribs to waist to hip and when standing it is a 90° angle. When I sit however it's is more along the lines of 75-80° of angle. I had to curve the busk at the waist to take some of the pressure off my sides. I still love my corset. But idk why what I've experienced seems to contradict what's being explained. I've even compared to a picture of you wearing your gemini and me and people think they are different corsets.
Rachel Laylee I don’t have the hips to properly fill out the Gemini (I didn’t draft it to fit my body) so when I wear it, the hips of the corset are a bit deflated, if that makes sense. Same with the product model with short dark hair. The product model with the longer hair wears a larger size - I think the Gemini on the redhead product model (like in the purple satin listing) probably gives the most accurate silhouette of the three models. It’s been hard to find a model that properly shows the curves of the Gemini, since most models don’t waist train / they only wear corsets casually. But the Gemini on the right person makes for an astonishing silhouette!
@@LucysCorsetry yeah I thought I would squish down in the Gemini at least an inch. So I have about an inch to 2 inch gaping in the lower hip. I just wear jeans or something thick on top or underneath and it looks better. But for some reason the high hip creates a shelf on me, I don't mind it at all and actually like the look better. But even when I had an orchard corset cincher and long line I've always experienced a curvier shape. Which again I'm not complaining and I love it. I also should preface I wear all my corsets with a .5 to 1 inch parallel gap. But the Gemini has taught me alot and I see a lot of benefit in wearing it with my disabilities. I'm excited to show my doctor as she recommended I get one because I have a slipping rib issue. I never experience any rib hip or lower back pain when in my gemini. I do get a bit in my neck but that's because my posture is terrible and it's helping me correct it. I absolutely love it my only suggestion might be if you remodel the Gemini to have something like hip ties. Just because most corsets don't have enough curve and that's why I love the Gemini and others do as well. I have large hips and bum and I was surprised with even pulling in some of my lower stomach I still had gaping. I've been watch for almost two years and have learned so much. I really appreciate the quick response as well. I was expecting it to just sit.🙂
This is why I am drafting myself a pair of bodies for Renfair. All the off rack models are made for women who are 5'6" and I have a longer torso so they don't fit right.
Interesting math. It makes you wonder about the weirdness of bra cup sized being dependent on the band size, a 32E cup being equal to the cup in 34D, 36C, 38B, etc. maybe that evolved out of corsetry somehow?
In some places (I think in England this still counts) a corsetiere now refers to a bra maker as opposed to a literal corset maker. I think I remember reading about Queen Elizabeth's official corsetiere retiring from the position, but she just made bras.
I know that sister sizes between different bras have a similar volume that the cups can hold (in cc or oz), but regarding how they determined which cup is called what size, I don't know enough about it... maybe the cup part is supposed to be a certain % of the whole circumference of the band? It's just a guess. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Do you have a video for how to properly measure your body for a corset?
I do! Here is a very old video on how to measure for a custom corset: ua-cam.com/video/6kr6pfQIarg/v-deo.html
If you are looking for a cheaper OTR corset, then there are only (usually) 4 measurements you need to know which I explain in a newer video here: ua-cam.com/video/QF14uZLnKA4/v-deo.html
Very interesting. I have a line of OTR underbusts in 3 sizes for my brand and I didn’t use a constant hip or ribspring. Bigger sizes have a proportionally bigger hipspring than smaller sizes and I thought it was more logic to do so. I didn’t tested this concept on sizes like 52 though, maybe there’s also larger people who aren’t so much squishy or don’t want so much curve. I have yet to study my concept for bigger sizes...
Thank you for your perspective as a corset maker! It would be interesting to see a line of corsets that kept its curvy proportions equal instead of the absolute rib spring and hip spring. I can see how that might make the sizing part tricky for clients, but it's definitely an interesting idea!
a lot of what also gets left behind in the conversation as someone who generally buys 36" and enjoys tight lacing; THE BOOBS! I'm a 38F/G cup QQ While I have found some fav. brands at this point it was a struggle!! "This would fit that waist" "But I have flexible joints idc about that part I need to know if this will make for uneven lacing and make my boobs go numb in 2 hours.." "yes but your WAISSST; oh you need a 9/8.5 in busk... yeah we don't make overbusts for petite proportions"... Yeah it's a whole thing and gets super old. haha
Carry all my weight in the middle and am a rectangle when thin. Bs. No hips wide shoulders. I need corsets.
Since some OTR companies are leaving wide gaps in their backs to create a misleading impression, the honest ones should place a large mirror behind their models, set at a slight angle, so the back-gap would show up alongside her in a photo or video.
I've been thinking of getting one of these but dont know how to buy the right fit and I want a full one with a bra and my measurements are 42-50-50 and I'm 5'5. Can you help me?? I want to wear it underneath my clothes.
Did you ever find something? Ideally you need to measure your underbust, waist , torso length , lower hip and higher hip for a good fit. You might actually fit a restyle wide hip corset in size 42 but I recommend trying a corset calculator (mystic city's one is good)
I have a question, if I have a 33" waist right now and I'm planning on over a period of time trying to get my waist down to 18" should I buy a 18" corset? I know some company's recommend only going a few sizes down from your original waist size but I'd rather not have to get 2 or 3 of the same corsets gradually sizing down. would going straight for the 18" corset be ok? or would it damage the corset
Nope - a 15 inch reduction is far too much to start with. I would normally recommend a size 28 for you, or maybe 26 if you were very compressible and took quickly to the corset. Corsets need to be sized down gradually. A size 18" corset right away will not fit you - it would actually be less effective for waist training compared to a corset that fits your body better right now because it won't wrap around your body properly - and it may not only damage the corset, but it may actually hurt your body. Using several corsets to size down gradually over many years is not a scam from corset companies just to get you to buy more products, it's the safest and most effective way to train. And by the time you really are ready for a size 18" corset, it's a very high chance that your preferences / needs / standards for a corset are a lot different from your preferences today. lucycorsetry.com/2014/04/09/how-much-to-size-down-and-why-too-wide-corset-gaps-are-bad/
Lucy's Corsetry thank you for explaining that to me, I always thought it was just a scam, I'll have to buy a few corsets sizing down then thank you 😊
Lucy's Corsetry orchardcorset reccomends going down 7 inches maximum if your waist is smaller then 38 inches, do you think it'd be OK to get two corsets in size 26 and then size 18
Lucy's Corsetry I do plan on getting a mysticcitycorset in the style mcc20 which is a very curvy wapsie corset but I'm using the orchardcorset sizing down advice
Honestly I'd just start with the 26" for now and wait before getting any smaller corsets. There are definitely going to be things about your first corset that you like or don't like, and you will want to refine your search before you get your next smaller corset. Realistically, most people would have to go 26" --> 22" --> (maybe size 20" depending on how resistant your waist is) and then finally 18". And if you take care of your old bigger corsets and keep them in good condition, you might even be able to sell them on Ebay or Facebook and use those funds to help you afford the smaller ones.
interesting :) wouldn't it be more practical for everybody il the corset makers were calculating the sizes not in spings but in proportion? (for ex. hip spring for size 22 : 10, and for size 30 : 15) ? would it be very complicated?
It might be tricky to find your size in that situation - imagine if you had the proportions to fit the size 22" but you had the waist measurement to fit the size 26", but the size 26" might be too curvy for you. Right now most brands get around that by offering corset lines by springs, but they release several different styles of corsets, some curvier than others. :)
Lucy, now you sound like a mechanic instead of a scientist. This is too complex for my pea brain. Phenomenal how much knowledge you possess about corsets.
Now im afraid that my 36 inch corset Will not look great on me :/
I’m sure it will still look lovely 😊
I’ve always had a dislike towards the idea of a “squish” factor, just because you can cinch down doesn’t mean you should. As someone on the “squishier” side Ive always known the health risks. Too much body fat already squeeze the organs, so there’s less room for the corset to do so without health consequences. In fact this squeezing is the very reason why sleep apnea is prevalent amongst the overweight. And although corsets are amazing aesthetically and do seem to provide health benefits for the back, it is a concern when it comes to sleep apnea
Then... don't wear corsets as sleepwear! (I've never seen a plus-sized person doing the 23/7 corset challenge anyway)
kin2naruto in the corsetry community I’ve heard of those who wear it as sleepwear. Even as daywear it’s not ideal for those with much “squish” to cinch down a lot. Since said “squish” already puts pressure on the organs
I don't have any data to back this, but I would say the vast majority of corset wearers, even those who waist train, don't wear them in their sleep. That's not to say nobody does, but... I don't think you need to worry too much about it.
As someone who has sleep apnea, the issue isn't excess weight around the waist, which is where corsets are tightened. Not sure where you're getting that idea. As for "pressure on the organs", what do you think happens when women are pregnant? Organs move around, they aren't stitched in place. It's not as big of a deal as you're making it out to be.
I was helping one of my friends study for their Step 3 USMLE, and current medical literature correlates the risk of sleep apnea to just neck thickness, not necessarily weight. If someone is classified as "overweight" from their BMI, if they carry all their weight in the lower half of their body and they have relatively small neck measurement, they shouldn't be at risk for sleep apnea.
And if they have a naturally small waist-to-hip ratio, they don't have a high risk of cardiovascular issues. One of the other viewers who commented on this video shared that she has a natural 20-inch hip spring, which means that even the very curvy MCC corset in this video would not be curvy enough to fit her body - it would be 3 inches too big on her waist while it fits her hips properly. Some people are genuinely curvy and it's not about their squish factor at all.
Corsets, math AND a photoshop wizard? You blow my mind.
I can't help but think that the actual photos of the models wearing the corsets have been edited to give the appearance of a more curvy model. Editing the photo to make the waist a little smaller is fairly normal editing for all photos of models. So if you are just using the photos to compare, you might be still getting a false result.
ClissaT I know the person who took all the photos for the TT corset listings (have met them in person), and they don’t photoshop the curve of the waistline. The photos are only color-corrected. Most casual photographers or Instagrammers don’t know how to edit a corset more narrow in a believable way because there are so many boning channels at the waistline or the busk loops that would immediately give away any indication of a liquefy tool. Also since those hourglass corset patterns are my design as well, I always know when the silhouette looks “off” and it irks me whenever I see someone on Instagram trying to edit their waist smaller in my corsets. The corset community knows that there was editing even on Victorian and Edwardian photography, and we’re pretty finely attuned to detect this sort of thing, so it would actually work against a corset brand’s reputation if they were to edit their products and try to sell a garment that is not as pictured - they would only ever bamboozle a total beginner. Typically those brands get put on the banned list in corset groups, and overwhelmingly the response of a sincere corset brand is to actually start carrying curvier corsets to meet demand, or get left in the dust. It doesn’t have anything to do with why all corsets look curvier on smaller sizes than bigger ones - this is just science.
@@LucysCorsetry Thanks for that information re the photography Lucy. I'll be able to feel more confident in future when looking at the brands that you recommend.
It's 40 years since I made and wore silk lined real leather or suede corsets in Australia. I had a great figure in those days and already made leather clothes for the trade. I only had one decent old corset pattern and a few from the BDSM community. I made to order only. Parts were very hard to find.
Early this year I found a company in Britain who handmade corsets and ordered a couple of their cheaper ones made in China just to be sure my now ample body could still tolerate one. The cost was way up there for the handmade corsets which for me would be a huge wasted outlay if it didn't turn out well, so the cheaper ones would give me a taste. The British firm is doing their best to deliver, but due to all this virus in China things are very slow.
The ones I ordered I felt could be cinched in or left a bit wider at the waist for amply sized beginners like me. Honestly, I thought all photos were shopped these days. Now that I know they probably weren't, it doesn't bode well for me because I figured there would be a little extra room in there for sure, due to the photos having been edited!
Oh well, just have to wait and see!
Thanks Lucy
Because they aren't for big women.
Women of any size can wear corsets! OTR corsets are available for people with natural waists up to ~54 inches (137cm) or thereabouts, and some specialist makers can create something custom with a corseted waist of well above 60 inches (152cm). Brands just seldom actually hire models of this size.
But on Corset Database, there is a filter to find OTR brands that sell plus size corsets here: corsetdatabase.com/explore/?corsets=1&pa_ext-size=sz48,sz46,sz44,sz42,sz40
Really??? With a icon like that?? C'mon fam
begone basement dweller
Oh gway will ya