A GUIDE TO ORDERING YOUR BESPOKE CORSET
Step Into a World Where Your Dreams are Cut, Shaped & Stitched into Being
Bespoke corsets are unique to each client and are made in close partnership where we both design your dream vision. I will then bring it to life for you to treasure for many years, and hopefully generations to come. Below I have outlined the process so that you know exactly what to expect from this exclusive service. Needless to say, this is the most popular option for those looking for bridal corsets and gowns.
Defining your Vision
The design of your corset will be something you have dreamed about - it could be a definite design or a concept of colour and textures or simply an idea.
If you aren't sure of your exact requirements, please don't worry, I can help you by listening to your ideas and suggesting ways in which we can make it happen. I can help with design, fabrics, trims, or accessories - anything is possible and this will all be discussed in great detail during your first consultation with me.
I have a wide range of fabrics, laces, tulles, and other exciting accoutrements combined with nearly 2 decades of experience corsetting all shapes, sizes and genders, to help you visualise your thoughts.
Together we will form a plan and then work will commence.
Ordering your Bespoke Corset
what happens next?
Drafting the Corset Pattern - the Blueprint of your Body
After we have a concept or design, a pattern will be drafted to your measurements and a toile will be made for you.
The initial toile will dictate how many more fittings may be necessary and will show up anomalies such as asymmetry in the figure. There could be up to 5 fittings required in order to get a new design just right but in most cases, 2 or 3 fittings is usually just right and will suit most budgets.
Crafting your Perfect Corset
Skilful fitting of the corset toile is always best done in person, but it can be done remotely. Fitting the corset with a toile will ensure that
The shape is right for you - some people like a smooth line, some like a more dramatic modern hourglass line.
Everything is held in place and not smooshing or squishing in an unsighly or uncomfortable way
The transition between skin and corset is smooth with no bulges or muffin tops
The corset is comfortable and no parts are digging in, or pinching - a modern corset is necessarily tight, but should never restrict breathing or press on the ribs, hips or lower back causing pain.
As a general guide, cupped corsets, bridal corsets, and all male corsets will need a minimum of 2 fittings.
I always like to make sure that as many possibilities as possible are covered at every fitting. This way you, the client, get as many choices and options as possible, and I get as much information as I need.
After Fitting
When the final fitting is done and the corset fits perfectly, the pattern is adjusted as appropriate, traced onto cardboard to make it permanent, and the corset is made. Depending upon your design and the purpose of the final garment, there may be anywhere between 2 to 40 pieces of fabric involved.
Realising the Dream
When the corset is all but made, there will usually be a final fitting to fine tune the fit specifically over the bust and/or shoulders. This ensures that your corset is as perfect as it can be before completion. When the garment is complete - approximately a week after final fitting, you can collect from my atelier, or I can post the corset ensemble to you.
WHAT’S IN A CORSET?
Payment
For bespoke corsetry work I offer a default three step payment plan which works as follows:
A fully itemised quote is provided to all customers before work commences. When the quote is accepted, it forms an account which serves as our contract to ensure that we both know what to expect at each stage of the commission process.
An initial deposit is paid which covers a detailed design, pattern and first toile
A second deposit upon fitting covers the next stages of production
A third and final deposit covering workmanship and embellishments is due upon completion.
I accept bank transfer payments in £ Sterling, and card payments via Stripe.
If more deposit steps are required, this can be arranged. For complex commissions there will often be 4 steps with a deposit payable at each fitting.
Fabric
Most corsets, when they are made from fashion fabrics such as silk, have an inner layer of cotton coutil - a specialty fabric for corsetry which is strong and durable. I always use the best quality 100% cotton coutil from Europe where only a very few of the original coutil mills survive. Coutil has a dense yet smooth, fine weave.
Metal bones are held in place with cotton tape boning channels, or external boning channels made from the fashion fabric (these are not included in the basic price).
Corset laces are either flat tubular cotton, or strong double faced satin ribbon.
Hardware
All busks and bones are sprung steel which is made in a specialist factory in Germany. The factory has been making corsetry components for over 100 years.
