Perhaps the sexiest piece of lingerie imaginable, the corset gives you an enviable shape and boosts your confidence - a winning combination in the bedroom. However, the world of corsets can be bemusing, but there's nothing to fear. This guide will tell you everything you need to know, from how to measure yourself to how to put a corset on and everything in between.
Remember, with our FREE UK delivery and Extended 1 Year Returns you can try as many corsets as you need to in order to find the perfect fit.
How Are Corsets Measured?
Corsets are measured in inches. The measurement given is how many inches the corset measures around the waist when it is closed. If a corset is a size 26, the waist of the corset will measure 26 inches when the back is fully closed and no skin or modesty panel can be seen below.
Because corsets are designed to reduce the waist, you will want to purchase a corset that is smaller in the waist than you are.
How Do I Find My Corset Size?
The best place to start is by taking your own measurements. For an overbust corset, measure around the fullest part of your bust, around your actual waist (the smallest section of your torso, directly under the ribs where you are naturally your thinnest) and around your low rise hip (across the hip bones).
To watch videos, you need Version 9 or greater of the Flash Player. Click here to see which Flash Version you have. If you have Version 8 or less, get the latest Flash Player here.
You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
You will need the bust and hip measurements if you are curvier than the average measurements for your clothes size as you may find that the bust or hip of the corset you have chosen are smaller than your own measurements causing an overspill or an inability to lace the corset tightly and this may mean you need a larger size. If you are tall, you may also like to measure your body from the central cleavage to the hip bone to ensure your chosen corset will be long enough for you. If you are not sure if the corset you are interested in will fit, you can email these measurements to customer services who will able to advise you further.
If you are measuring for an underbust corset, you will want to measure the underbust, the natural waist and the low rise hip. The length of the corset will be from your central underbust to your central low rise hip.
What Size Corset Do I Need?
If you are buying your first corset, your body will not be used to being squeezed into a body-modifying garment, it is therefore sensible not to try and squeeze too much in. What your body can handle will depend heavily on your 'squish factor' (how easily you can squeeze your waist smaller) but will also be influenced by your bust-to-waist and waist-to-hip ratios. The bigger the difference between these parts of your body, the more difficult tight lacing with an off-the-rack corset will be as your corset will meet resistance at the waist caused by tension from your bust and hips being squeezed in at the same time.
As a first-time corset buyer, you may find it easier to judge how squishable you are using the tape measure. Standing straight, place the tape measure around your natural waist and then gently tighten it, squeezing the measurement smaller. You may find that you can 'disappear' the inches easily, whereas for others it can be harder. This is a good guage for the size corset you should opt for as a first-time wearer.
For an example, we'll say that you have a natural waist size of 28 inches. If you could easily reduce your waist by 4 inches or more with the tape measure, it would be sensible to opt for a corset that is more than 4 inches smaller than your own waist as you are likely to be able to reduce your waist quickly with practice. You should therefore opt for a 22-inch corset. If it was difficult, or you reduced by less than 4 inches in total, you should purchase a 24-inch corset as your body may take longer to adjust to wearing a waist-reducing garment and the 4-inch difference is likely to represent a challenge in itself.
You may worry that if you go for the smaller size you will have too much of a gap at the back when you first start wearing your corset. It is therefore worth checking to see if your corset has a modesty panel. This piece of fabric covers any back gap without revealing the flesh, leaving the corset appearing closed when it still has inches left to go. If your corset has a modesty panel, you can check the measurement and add this onto the waist measurement to find out at what point the corset will appear closed.
As always, these guidelines won't suit everyone. The only real way to buy a waist-reducing corset is to try one on. As a general rule, your first waist-reducing corset should be between 4 and 6 inches smaller than your own waist and the easier you are to squeeze, the easier your waist will reduce in size.
How to Put On a Corset
To watch videos, you need Version 9 or greater of the Flash Player. Click here to see which Flash Version you have. If you have Version 8 or less, get the latest Flash Player here.
You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Step One: Check the lacing
One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying on a corset for the first time is trying to do it all yourself. If you are not used to lacing yourself into things, you're likely to get into a tangled mess and could even warp the shape of the corset. If you have never worn a corset before, read through this guide carefully to ensure you know what you're doing before you start.
Our corsets should arrive with you pre-laced, but it's important to check that the corset is laced correctly before you try to put it on. Most corsets are laced using one continuous lace with two pulling loops at the waist for tightening. Check that your corset lacing looks like the photo before trying to put it on. If your corset is not laced as per the diagram below, you will want to relace it.
Step Two: Loosen the laces
As the corset is smaller than you, you will need to loosen the laces in order to fit into it. This is done in the same way as loosening the laces on shoes or boots. Start near the lacing loops and gently pull the lacing open one criss-cross at a time trying to keep the opening consistant up and down the corset. You can then 'shuffle' the laces by moving each side of the corset up and down in a reciprocating motion.
Step Three: Put the corset into position and close the busk
Once the corset is loosened, you can wrap it around your body and secure the busk into place. Make sure that the modesty panel is straight at the back and in position for lacing as this will disguise any opening in the corset once you have finished lacing. Clip the busk one hook and eye at a time making sure that each one is closed securely, making sure that it runs in a straight line down centre of your body.
Step Four: Tighten the laces
Once your corset is secured you can begin tightening the laces. You want to do this slowly and consistantly, so start at either the top or the bottom and work your way to the waist, pulling the lace smaller and pulling the excess through each set of loops one pair at a time. Once you reach the waist, do the same from the opposite end.
You'll want to readjust your modesty panel every time you reach the waist to make sure that it stays flat and as smooth as possible.
Step Five: Take a break
Your new corset will warm and mould to your shape given time, so when you're lacing your new corset for the first time, it is wise to give yourself a break once it starts to feel tight around your body. Tie the back lacing off at the waist just as you would with shoes or boots, but first double the lacing on itself to prevent it trailing across the floor. Give your corset ½ an hour to 1 hour to warm to your body. You should feel it become progressively more comfortable.
Step Six: Finish tightening your corset and tie off the laces
Once your corset has been given the opportunity to shape itself to your body, you'll find it easier to take the waist in further. Be careful not to over-tighten yourself. Your body will still need a chance to adjust to being tight laced and this can take a few wears. Pull in the laces to a tightness that you're comfortable with before tying them off.
To finish lacing, cross your laces and tie them at the waist and then give them a few extra tugs just to get that waist measurement a little smaller. You can then tie the laces tightly at the back of your waist.
A-Z of Corsets
When buying a corset these terms will be used a lot so get familiar with them and you'll end up with a corset you love.
Busk - The fastening on the front of a corset with what look like big hook and eye fastenings. It is usually made of metal and in good quality corsets, will stay firmly closed and reveal no flesh underneath.
Pull Loops - If the top set of laces and bottom set of laces on your corset are actually joined together, you will have a set of loops in the middle which need to be pulled and adjusted to get the perfect fit.
Steel Boning - Thin strips of metal that are sewn into vertical pockets in the corset. Steel boning shapes the body and is responsible for the waist-reducing effect you get from wearing a corset.
Plastic Boning - Strips of plastic that are sewn into vertical pockets in basques, bustiers, most corset dresses and some suspender belts and cinchers. It can twist, bend and flex more than steel corset boning and won't create an hourglass figure, but helps provide a firm shape to the garment so it looks the same on you as it does when it's on a hanger.
Modesty Panel - A piece of material that is sewn into the inside of the corset near the lace-up back section. A modesty panel lies flat against the body and prevents any skin from showing but can be folded over if you want to flaunt some flesh!
Eyelets - The metal rings through which lacing is threaded.
You may also like:
Featured in this guide:
Add a comment