Last updated on February 24th, 2016 at 02:19 pm
Are you looking to buy a new corset?
Are you trying to find a corset maker who lives near you?
Or do you just want to “window shop” and learn more about all the different corset brands out there?
You’ve come to the right place.
Welcome to the Corset Shopping Guide! Here you will find some of the tools, maps, lists and databases I’ve compiled to make your research faster and easier! Click on any of the headings to begin your search:
Corsetiere Map
This is a database and interactive map to help you find corsetieres (aka corset makers) who may live near YOU, where ever you are in the world. Look up their general location, website, email, Facebook and other social media. You can also narrow down your search by clicking the “Tried by Lucy? YES” toggle at the bottom, to find corsetieres I’ve personally done business with.
Corsetiere Map PROS: Meeting in person with a corsetiere can be useful – they can help you take your measurements and determine your size, they can help you figure out what type of corset would work best for you, and they can also make you a beautifully-fitting custom corset. If you’ve never seen or felt a corset in person before, they may have samples to show you, so you know what to expect.
Corsetiere Map CONS: Getting a custom-made corset from a corsetiere can be expensive. If you’re looking for something cheaper/ a smaller investment, check the next heading below. The corsetieres marked in red are those that I haven’t personally tried so cannot vouch for their quality. I advise you to do your homework on any corsetiere and look at their past work before investing.
Corset Brands by Price Range
Want a comprehensive list of all the corset brands that I (Lucy) have personally tried and tested? You got it! The list is separated by price range so you can easily find corsets that fit your budget. Beside each brand, I’ve also provided links to their website, and also to my objective and in-depth review(s).
Price List PROS: This list includes off-the-rack (OTR) corset brands which ship immediately and are often lower in price. You can also compare and contrast the different styles, silhouette, quality and price using my corset reviews, so you have a better idea of what to expect.
Price List CONS: Many of these brands are online-only businesses (no storefront) so you may not always know exactly what you’re buying. Research their shipping fees, exchange/ return policies, and whether or not to expect taxes/duty.
Guided Galleries for Corset Window Shopping (highly recommended!)
Shopping by price alone (like you’ll find above) sometimes isn’t enough. What if you’re looking for a specific kind of corset? If you’re short, you need a cincher. If you live in a hot climate, you might like a sheer/ mesh corset. If you want to correct posture, maybe you need a corset with shoulder straps. If you’re full-figured, you need to find a corset company that supplies plus-sizes. That’s what these galleries are for.
Gallery PROS: These galleries organize corsets by specific type, so you can narrow down what you want/ need in a corset, and find corsetieres that can cater to your wishes.
Gallery CONS: Not all of the corset brands and makers in these galleries have been personally tested by myself, so in some situations the quality is unknown. Take the information with a grain of salt, and if you do plan to purchase from a certain maker, be sure to email them and ensure they are the right “match” for you. You can also use my consultation service to help narrow down your options.
Corset Dimensions Directory (Lace-Base)
Are you interested in the “hard numbers” of a certain corset brand, but you can’t find a sizing chart on their website? Look no further! I’ve taken all the standard sized corsets I own and measured their bust, underbust, waist and hip circumferences, as well as their length in the center front and the princess seam (from underbust to lap). A well-made corset should reduce only your waistline and match the rest of your measurements as closely as possible. This chart will help you find the corset with the right curves for your body!
Lace-Base PROS: These charts take the guesswork out of finding the “spring” in the corsets (difference between the waist and bust, waist and hips etc), and numbers don’t lie! If you’re worried that a corset you find on the internet won’t be as curvy in real life as it is on the website, this chart will verify whether it will truly fit you.
Lace-Base CONS: While a picture of a “floating corset” doesn’t tell the whole story, sometimes numbers don’t tell the whole story either. For instance, a corset might be too narrow around the sides of the hips, yet it might also give too much extra space in the front and bow away from your lower tummy! This is a drafting issue, even if the overall measurements are supposed to be okay. To see the fit of all the corsets on my body, please click on any hyperlinked name in the chart and it will take you to my review where you can learn more about the corset overall.
Can I Waist Train in This Corset?
Many OTR corsets seem to be well-made and give dramatic curves, but are they suited for waist training, or only tight lacing? On this page, I summarize the corset brands and styles I’ve tried into an easy-to-read table, comparing construction concerns, curve level, customer service and my opinion on whether someone would be able to use the corset for daily wear or waist training under proper use.
Please note that is one of the most subjective pages on my entire website – what I may consider fair for waist-training is what many others would consider not suitable. Sometimes my opinion differs from what the brand advertises themselves, so take this information with a grain of salt. I’m still of the belief that a custom-fit corset made specifically to your body and your specifications by an experienced corsetiere is the absolute best option for training.
Corset Reviews (Video Playlist) (Written Reviews)
I have now tried an estimated 105 corsets from 46 different brands (not including my own corsets), and I’ve filmed and written reviews for over 60 of these so far! It is my hope that before the end of the year, I will have recorded another 20 corset reviews. My reviews are in depth, fact-based and not opinion-based reviews of products that I purchased. Over time, both myself and my viewers learned more about how the construction, pattern, materials, etc. can vary so widely from one corset brand and style to another. My aim is to show the corset in enough detail that the viewer feels as if the corset is right in front of them, so they know what quality to expect.
Corset Review PROS: Each corset is treated like a case study, and the corset is shown and described in high detail. The structure of each review is more-or-less the same, making comparison of small components between corset styles and brands quite easy. Over time, those who watch my reviews gain a true understanding of what quality is, and what construction techniques and features they prefer for their corsets.
Corset Review CONS: These reviews are not for the impatient. If you’re looking for quick, opinion-based reviews, you won’t find those here (although you’re welcome to read my “Final Thoughts” section of my written reviews). Also, I’m just one reviewer – my experience may be different from another customer’s experience – do your research and look for more reviews than only mine!
Consultations
Still feeling a little lost even with the tools above? I offer consultations on this site – you pay the fee, fill out the questionnaire as best as you can, and I will point you in the direction of the corset brands that I think will best suit your needs and preferences.
Consultation PROS: If you don’t have the time to learn about corsets, I take the guesswork out of corset shopping. This potentially save you hundreds of hours of research and thousands of dollars in waisted corsets that don’t fit you properly or doesn’t suit its purpose.
Consultation CONS: This is a paid service (hey, my time and experience are valuable – I’ve spent 4+ years and close to $20,000 on this corset/Youtube passion, and published my articles and videos for free) – and you don’t get the joy of learning for yourself by watching videos, reading articles and immersing yourself into the corset community.
Take a peek in my online store.
The corsets in my shop are tried, tested and true. Timeless Trends is the only OTR corset company that offers a 45-day exchange window, and Lifetime Warranty on their corsets – I’ve had the immense pleasure of working directly with them for years and have even played a part in designing their new Hourglass line. I’m proud to be a distributor of Timeless Trends corsets.
Hi Lucy
I watched your video on corset laces and I went to buy the poly flat laces.
And it said they are no longer there.
Should I try something else can you give me ideas there are for waist training.
Or do you get your poly flat laces from somewhere else
Hi Yuliya, sorry that site had changed their layout and the link broke. You can buy flat shoelace on this page.
Hi Lucy,
I’m looking to buy my first corset but I’m not exactly sure where to start. I intend on buying one for weight loss purposes rather than actual “waist training”. I need it to be safe, but compress my stomach so that I feel less hungry all the time. What website do you recommend I buy from? There are no corset shops in my area so I have to buy one from the internet.
Thank you!
Hi Olivia, I have a measuring tutorial and contact form here if you’d like me to personally recommend a corset for you from this site. Or if you’d like to explore different corset options on your own, my sister site Corset Database has over 100 different styles and dozens of brands of corsets, which you can filter by budget, length, curviness, silhouette, etc. Both my contact form and the Database are totally free.
Hi Lucy. I have lost nearly 80 lbs in 6 months after gastric sleeve surgery. As you can imagine, the skin sagging is horrendous even tho I expected it. (I’m 63 and skin just does NOT bounce back at this age.) I have the rather typical hanging belly of the ex-morbidly obese (although at one time, I had a smallish waist), so that needs to be addressed. I wouldn’t mind doing a true corset, BUT I have such arthritic shoulders that I cannot reach behind my back. I’ve retained all my strength and have no pain, but no flexibility either. What do you recommend? — Alix
Hello Alix! I often recommend fan lacing for those who have limited mobility in their shoulders – here is my page on corsets with fan lacing (stay with the brands that offer functional lacing and not just decorative, “faux” fan lacing). If you click on any of the pictures, it should redirect you to that person’s website. What I might also suggest is a custom corset made by a corsetiere who lives near you and would be able to give you a custom fitting. Almost any custom maker would be able to create a front-laced corset for you, or some other solution so you don’t have to reach behind your back.
Hi Lucy, I am a plus size trans woman who is in the early stages of building my new wardrobe. I need to start wearing a corset to feminine my waist and shape. I am a B cup and wear padded panties, so a corset will give me the look I want. My waist size is 38 and I am over 6 feet tall. Would you be able to help someone like me? I need help with picking out the right corset and waist training too.
Hello Brianna, my measuring tutorial and contact form can be found here. :)
Would you recommend “Mae” from wkd for someone trying to stealth train? Or for hot climates? I have 30 underbust 29 waist 34 upper hip 35 lower hip 10 in torso… my hips are quite square imo and I’m not very squishy except my tummy now… do you have recommendations? Thank you
Hi Tracie, the Mae might fit you pretty well. You can also double check using corsetdatabase.com which is my sister site!
The Mae, like all standard WKD corsets, are at least 2 layers of fabric so middle-of-the-road for warmness. For information on corset stealthing, see my article here.
Hi Lucy,
My waist is pretty small and I am curvy, work out 4 times a week. I have high hips and “muffin tops” in the back that I just can’t seem to get rid of. I also have a bit of lower back fat rolls that have diminished greatly due to exercise, but like my hips will not go all the way away. Could waist training help me reshape my back and upper hips?
Your videos are great! So much information.
Hi Chelsea, I’ve spoken with a couple of people who have been able to get rid of their “hip dips” and love handles by using a corset, but it requires a lot of time, the right silhouette of corset, and these women had also completely stopped wearing the fashionable low-rise underwear and jeans you find everywhere today, and started exclusively wearing high-waisted clothing that put no pressure around the hips. They also had the “hip dips” in the first place due to their clothing – so it’s possible for a corset to reshape something that was malformed from external pressure over time, but whether it can help with genetic hip dips, it’s hard to say. It’s a question of “nurture vs nature” here.
Hi Lucy, I just wanted to start out by telling you how much I love your YouTube channel and how helpful it has been to me especially your dressing with a corset videos. Thank you very much for all your lovely videos! I also have a question. I have wanted to corset train for years and recently bought a corset however I am naturally very hourglass shaped and have a natural waist of 22 inches and I found that the corset seemed a bit to rectangular shaped for my frame. Would I be correct in thinking that? And if so could you recommend some Corsets that would be better without breaking my budget? Thank you.
Hi Bettie, thanks for your comment. What corsets have you tried in the past that are giving you a rectangular shape? I have a measuring tutorial and contact form here if you’d like some personal guidance as to what corset would fit you best. Thanks and hope you’ll be in touch soon!
Hi Lucy! I started waist training recently with a mystic city corset size 26. I want make my own corsets since I have experience from taking the costume making class at my university. Is it cheaper to make corset versus buying custom made? What websites do you recommend that carry specific corset silhouette patterns. Do I also need an overlock machine for certain stitches?
Hi Tammy, I made a video on the pros / cons of buying vs making corsets back in 2010 (but I believe I never made a blog post about this – maybe it’s time I update it!). If you know how to make a corset, then making one yourself can definitely be cheaper! But it depends on your time and income. I actually don’t use commercial patterns, I make my own patterns which isn’t difficult, and you get a more custom fit! I have a page on resources here including Foundations Revealed which has a great free pattern-drafting tutorial. You don’t need an overlocker – I have made entire corsets using just a straight stitch machine. But if you have a heavy-duty sewing machine, it’s much better than a plastic domestic machine when it comes to sewing through several layers at once.
Hi Lucy, I’ve been following your blog and Youtube channel for a while, and I love all the information you provide. Thank you so much!
I’ve been wearing OTR corsets on an occasional basis for about 6-7 months, and I am thinking to treat myself with a very first custom corset. I found a young corsetiere who seems to be very talented (Ryan LaRue of House of 1000 corsets), who is offering a great sale (200$ for an underbust corset) to kickstart her business.
What are the important questions to ask before ordering a custom corset? I feel very insecure, this is the very first time I order a custom corset, and I don’t want to make mistakes or forget important things.
Do you have videos or blog articles on this topic?
Thank you!!!
I’m interested in corsetry (I guess that’s what it’s called) and I want to start on a beginner corset (if such a thing exists). I have a natural waist of about 37″, and I eventually want to get down to 25″ or less – where would you suggest someone who doesn’t have oodles of money look first? I would like to be dedicated to the lifestyle, but on a budget for now. Thank you!
Hi Laura, I have a list of all the corset brands I’ve tried organized by budget on this page. Thanks!