The other day on Twitter, my friend Tamara asked how she could work a corset into her everyday wardrobe. It got me thinking about the corsets languishing in my closet, & if you have a secret goth past like I do, you might have some too!
Corsets are extremely beautiful & often very costly creations. It’s such a shame to not use them for something. Here are some ideas I came up with for Tamara to be able to use!
Under a jacket: If you have an overbust corset, try it under a jacket with a few buttons open. This would be great with a full skirt – a nod to Moulin Rouge!
Over a dress: If you start thinking about your underbust corset as a wide belt rather than a piece of lingerie, it opens up a huge new range of options on how to wear it. It adds new shape to things which might need a little cinching – slips, sweater dresses, cotton shifts. Take your underbust & really, try it on with every dress you own. You will find some very interesting surprises. It’s a great exercise.
With a pencil skirt: & a crisp white dress shirt. Throw in some seamed stockings & heels, & homina homina, vintage glamour! Bring some Dita Von Teese into your own life!
With any shapeless garment: Andi at Fashion For Nerds is great at this! Add yourself a lovely corset to be able to wear items you maybe had written off.
Because not everyone has a background in fashion history, here’s a little background on the difference between corsets, bustiers & basques! The three terms are used pretty much interchangeably, but they are actually different things!
Corsets are traditionally support garments to be worn under clothing. They are boned, close-fitting, & hooked & lace at the back. It starts either above or just under the bust & continues to either the waist or below the hips (& often have garters attached).
A basque is the name given to any tight-fitting bodiced garment, for example a corselette (like a corset, but without boning).
Bustiers are usually corset-like garments, lace trimmed & fancy. Think something you could buy at Le Chateau.
What about you? Do you have a corset languishing in your closet? Have you trotted it out in new ways? Share with us in the comments!
Pingback: Jes Lacasse » Dressing a New Body: The Sartorial Challenges of a Breast Reduction