Submitting your measurements
SUBMITTING MEASUREMENTS FOR THE CONSULTATION OR WHEN ORDERING AN OTR CORSET
- Underbust circumference - this is around your ribcage, about the same height as your bra band.
- Waist circumference – your natural waist, not desired one.
- High hip circumference – around the iliac crest (“wings” of your hips) not around your bum!
This is usually about 4-5 inches down from your waistline, whereas your “full hips” would usually be 7-9 inches below the waistline. - Torso length – while sitting down on a hard chair or bench, with a straight back, measure vertically from under one breast to the top of your lap.
If you are ordering/ inquiring about an overbust corset, I will also need:
- Bust circumference – This is different to your bra size. Measure around the fullest part of your bust or chest, wearing a supportive but unpadded bra.
- Usual bra size – and it also helps to know what country your bras are made in (American and UK sizes are different)
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SUBMITTING MEASUREMENTS FOR A CUSTOM CORSET
Only after your order for a bespoke corset has been approved, I will need a list of measurements from you to ensure the corset fits your body properly – this is both the safest and most flattering option.
For an underbust corset, I will need the following measurements to draft your corset (diagrams coming soon) : To learn how to measure yourself for an underbust, please see this video:
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CIRCUMFERENTIAL:
(For best results, please provide both full circumferential measurements and the half-measurements around just the front of your body, stopping at the side seams of your shirt)
- Underbust (where you want the corset to begin) – and front half
- Lower ribcage – and front half
- Natural Waist
- Desired Waist
- High Hip – and front half
- Low Hip (where you want the longline to end) – and front half
VERTICAL:
- Waist to underbust
- Waist to lower ribcage
- Waist to high hip
- Waist to low hip
- Waist to lap (take this one sitting down)
- Desired height at center front (waist to top)
- Desired height at center back (waist to top)
- Desired dip at center front (waist to bottom)
- The dip of the center back bottom (generally limited to the tailbone due to curve of your bum).
If you desire an overbust corset, I will also need these measurements – PLEASE NOTE that a mockup is strongly recommended for all overbust corsets
CIRCUMFERENCE
- Bust at fullest point (wearing a well-fitted, supportive, preferably non-padded bra)
- Horizontal measurement starting from center front, over bust (at the height of top edge) and stopping at the armpit (ask if this is totally confusing to you)
VERTICAL:
- Waist to fullest part of bust (in a straight line, not following the contours of the underside of the bust)
- Desired height of top of corset above the bust (measured from the fullest point of bust up to where you’d like the top edge to be).
- *note that for most overbust corsets without straps, the upper edge of the back should be around the height of your bra-band or higher to give proper bust support.
- (If you are comfortable sharing this) Your bra size and which country you buy your bras from.
Okay so in this video you “marked” you upper hip by your iliac crest, but what if you are pudgy, and you can’t feel/see this bump?
Just estimate as best you can. If you can’t push in to feel the bump where your hips start, then you can take the waist-to-lap vertical measurement and use that (it will give you a corset that’s shorter on the hips) or measure maybe 1-2 inches below that point if you want a longline corset.
Just finished watching the video and absolutely love it. I do however have a question about a self lacing video that has the laces in the back rather than the front because i find it extremely difficult to tie the laces in the back once i am done tightening to where i feel most comfortable with it on. please advise considering I don’t want to continually rely on people to tie my corset for me. thank you
Hi Melissa, front-lacing corsets do exist. My very first training corset laced up in the front. However, especially if you are going for a large reduction in the waist I recommend that a corset have laces in both the front and the back. You can then keep the back laces knotted at whatever width you want or need, and adjust the front laces as comfortable. When you’re ready to train down more, then close the laces at the back and knot them once more, and adjust the front laces again as desired. I hope this makes sense!
Hi Lucy, and happy new year! I have been clicking through many of your videos in the past several days–they’re like potato chips, once you get started you just can’t stop! I have ALWAYS been intrigued by the beautifully enhanced curves that the female form can acquire–and only realized after many years of watching old musicals with thoughts of “Wow, look at her tiny waist!” that at least a bit of that size (or lack thereof) was accomplished with the use of a corset. Unfortunately I recently placed an order for an underbust model before I saw your service, but I’m thinking that I could probably use a second one so I can switch back and forth and give each corset an opportunity to air out before wearing again; I want to start daily waist training because I’ve got some serious pudge around the middle thanks to two babies and a lot of weight gain and loss over the years. I’m already wearing shapewear underneath every day–why not do it in style with a corset? Your guidance would be invaluable; had I found you first I’m sure I would not have ended up with the leather overbust model that I bought years ago which fits fine in the middle but the cups for the breasts are WAAAAY too small. I am so excited that you offer this service and I’m looking forward to getting your expert opinion about what models and sizes would be best for me. I am also interested in some of the undershirts I’ve seen you wear in some of the videos–in particular a beige one with cutouts at the shoulders, very pretty–do you sell those? Hope to hear from you soon, and thank you in advance for your help!
Hi Denise! Thanks so much for your comment.
I would love to give you a consultation when you’re ready – but see how you like the underbust corset you’ve already ordered beforehand, so you have the experience of how that particular brand and silhouette fits. Unfortunately at this time I don’t sell any corset liners or undershirts – the beige one you mentioned was purchased about 10 years ago from Winners! I believe the tag says “Lili Rose” but I haven’t been able to find another shirt like it. Best wishes!
Lucy, thank you for your fast reply! I appreciate your advice about seeing how the underbust I’ve recently ordered will fit. I hope to receive it in a couple of weeks at the most (ordered from the UK), and can’t wait to see how it looks. I’ll let you know once I get it, and we can proceed from there. Thank you again so much for sharing your expertise…one only has to look at you in the corsets you review to see just how amazing these garments really are!
HI bishonenrancher, I have been wanting a corset for some time now. I have a cone shaped body, large on top and very very narrow hips no butt (the guyish barrel shape you describe in your video) and back bulge.
. I am also plus size so I thought I would want a longline to hide (tuck in) the bulge but now I am worried that my narrow hips will look narrower. What do you suggest?
Hi Maria, I suggest taking a look at Bluemissytiger’s videos on Youtube, she also has broad shoulders and narrow hips so you’ll be able to see what a corset would look like on you if you were to wear an OTR corset: http://www.youtube.com/user/bluemissytiger/videos?flow=grid&view=0
I have severe scoliosis at 80 degrees at last xrays, I am so glad to find your corsits (I was told I would not live through surgery). My left rib cage is inside my pelvis. I am virtually waistless. My curve is high on my back on the right side. I can push myself up straight by pushing on kitchen counters and furniture, but of course I melt right back down as soon as I let go. My worry is that the corset wont come up high enough or I wont be able to sit in it because it is so long. I have xrays or can you advise me on how to adjust the measurements.
Thank you,
Cynthia in Alaska