About Lucy (+ Measurements)

Last updated on January 20th, 2021 at 12:05 pm

Lucy Corsetry Trillance Serinde

Hi! I’m Lucy. I’m a long-haired, piano-playing, corset-loving, health-obsessed nerd. I love dogs and my mom’s Jamaican cooking. I hate shoveling snow.

I collect corsets (of course), swords, convertible dresses, and convertible high heel shoes. I’ve always had a fascination with wearable technology, wearable art, and clothing/prostheses that are designed for multiple uses, and are beautiful to boot.

I’ve been teaching piano for 20 years (more than half my life) and have a passion to learn and to teach. Despite being on the music therapy path, I decided to switch my major to biochemistry in my undergrad and worked in a microbiology lab for several years thereafter in an effort to land a “practical, secure” career, but I was disenchanted by the endless pipette-pushing and lack of human interaction, and the arts kept pulling me back again and again.

In 2016 I graduated again as a registered nutritionist, a field where I can directly apply my biochemistry knowledge to helping people improve their relationship with food and with their bodies. I am fascinated by the parallels–and stark differences–between the nutrition field and the body modification industry. There is the obvious harm of “diet culture” and shapewear on one’s self-esteem and body image, and yet when used in a different manner, there is incredible potential to use food and corsetry for body positivity and personal autonomy. Instead of forcing everyone into one cookie cutter aesthetic, I am dedicated to allowing clients the freedom to explore their relationship with their own body, correct deficiencies, address strong reactions (physical sensitivities and psychological connections) to certain food, and help them find a healthy balance.

My History with Corsets:

I started studying corsetry and making corsets over 15 years ago, and it’s been my primary fascination-turned-business for a decade. I have a free excerpt from my book Solaced (and a reading thereof, if you prefer to listen rather than read) where I explain more about how I got interested in corsets!

A car accident in 2014 left me with chronic injuries and I am no longer able to take commissions for bespoke corsets, but in 2015 I was given the opportunity to outsource my work, combining anatomically patterned designs with OTR manufacturing for a comfortable, unique and economically priced option.

It’s one of my greatest privileges to combine my education in health sciences with my passion for teaching, and apply it to the art of corsetry. Contrary to mainstream views, corsetieres need a solid foundation (no pun intended) in anatomy and physiology to understand how the body responds to the pressure of the garment, and to create comfortable and safe corsets.

My Mission:

My original mission was to educate and empower the average corset-curious layperson; to provide a comprehensive and free body of work so anyone can compare the differences between corset brands; their prices, silhouettes, etc. In other words, to create a savvy community of corseters who they are not at the mercy of greedy brands that exploit and swindle their customers. This is why I’ve filmed over 200 corset reviews, created the brand research guide, and built the Corset Database!

Besides this… it has now also become my mission to let the world know that modern corsets are not the same stigmatized “torture contraptions” featured in sensationalized media, and they’re not purely for vanity; on the contrary, contemporary corsetry can improve one’s relationship with their body, and can potentially offer therapeutic benefits.  Eventually, I would like to go back to school – again – this time, to study orthopedic technology to further combine my passion for the aesthetics of corsetry with the therapeutic benefits, and become certified to design physician-approved and insurance-subsidized orthopedic bracing devices that are also comfortable and beautiful – the best of all worlds.

 

 

My Measurements/ Stats

Although I try to be as objective as possible in corset reviews, the shape/fit/comfort section at the beginning of each video IS still subjective, as everyone’s body is different. At the request of some viewers, I’ve provided my natural measurements as I realize that it’s sometimes difficult to gauge how a corset will fit on your body based on how the same corset fits on me. When you watch one of my corset reviews, please pay particular attention to my hip spring and torso length especially, and never presume that a corset will fit the same way on everyone!

This set of measurements may also be a useful resource for “body doubles” when I’m paring down my personal corset collection. If you are curious about other numbers, please send me an email. Please don’t be creepy about it.

 
Circumferential measurements:

Full Bust: 35″ (89cm) (Left side is half cup bigger than the right side at times.)

Underbust (ribcage): 29″/73.5cm (full exhale); 31″/79cm (full inhale). (I generally request ~ 30″/76cm)

Natural waist: 27″ – 28″ /68.5-71cm (depending on time of cycle, how much I ate, etc.)

Corset sizes:

  • Underbust OTR corsets I can usually close size 24″, or wear size 22″ with a small gap.
  • Overbust OTR corsets I normally wear size 24″.
  • Custom fit corsets I usually request to close a size 22″ but have gone as small as 20″.

Iliac crest (high hipbones): 33.5″/85cm (I usually request 34″, as my left iliac protrudes more than my right)

Full hip around the bum (about 7 inches down from the waist): 36″/92cm

 

Approximate vertical measurements:

Please note that my torso tends to be on the long side, and my waist sits rather low. For this reason, many standard-size overbusts tend to look too short on me, but this may not be the case for you. Don’t be surprised if you find that your own waist-to-underbust vertical measurement is an inch or two shorter than my own!

Full height: 5’5″ (165cm)

Waist-to-armpit: 9.5 or 10″ (25cm)

Waist-to-fullest-bust: ~9″ (23cm) with the tape held taut, 10″ (25cm) with the tape contoured around the root of the breast.

Waist-to-underbust: about 5.5″ (14cm)

Waist-to-iliac: 3.5″ (9cm)

Waist-to-lap: 5″ (12.5cm)

For me to sit comfortably, most longline corsets are no longer than 10.5 – 11 inches from underbust to lap, although the center front can be as long as 13 inches if the corset is pointed in the front (rises up over the sternum and dips down at the pubic bone).

217 thoughts on “About Lucy (+ Measurements)

  1. Hi – I’m looking for a corset that will allow me to exercise. A year ago, I had a 9 lb. sarcoma tumor removed, along with a kidney and 2/3 of the psoas on my right side. My remaining muscles on that side are not up to the task of keeping everything where it should be, and I have an enormous bulge that extends from roughly under my arm to halfway around my front. It makes me very off-balance, and it’s hard to walk. I’ve tried binders, but they put so much pressure on all over that it constricts my breathing. I have a lot of weight to lose after all this, but it’s so hard to walk upright. Do you think you could make a corset that would put more pressure on one side than the other, and be flexible enough for exercise?

    1. Hi Jan, there are corsets that can help you, but they might not be off-the-rack, you may need a custom corset. Especially for an asymmetric figure, you might possibly need an asymmetric corset which some specialists can make. If you would like a flexible corset, something like Crimson Rose Corsetry’s Power Corset may help.

      1. Thanks, Lucy, for the information. I appreciate your help!

  2. Hey, just curious… Im absolutely facinated by this slimmening down of the waist by corseting… do you think it would be possible to have an internal corset, made of a biocompatible mesh type of material or somthing like that with antiinfections ingridents also, but the point… is … i havent seen any offerings from plastic surgeons that offer internal corsets, just tummy tucks and 4hd vaser, lipo etc… but not like really making it possible to squeese the muscular part of the body permanently underneath the skin.. and than the corset could become eventually your own skin… when made with biocompatible biodegradable material… what would your opinion be on this, do you think it would work? best regards Isabel

    1. Hi Isabel, the closest thing that matches what you describe is when a surgeon takes the excess flesh cut off from a tummy tuck, removes the epidermal layer and sews it over your abdominal muscles and underneath your skin – this creates an “internal corset” that draws the waistline in and makes it more narrow, and because it’s your own tissue you there is little to no risk of rejection or other immune reactions to it. But this sort of thing is not always possible unless you’ve gained and lost 200 lbs or more so that you have plenty of excess skin. It is not really biodegradable, but if the patient gains weight again or becomes pregnant in the future, this work is completely undone. Other than that, surgical mesh is used to repair hernias but those are small amounts, I am not sure anyone has used a large amount of mesh for cosmetic purposes. The risks of surgical mesh is scar tissue and adhesions growing around the mesh or the body rejecting it (your tissue that touches the mesh can possibly become necrotic and create a bad infection).

  3. Thanks a lot for your measurements. I am just starting out in searching for corsets, as I heard they can help with EDS. Sadly, my insurance won’t cover a fitted brace, so I am searching for almost no reduction in corsets. My difficulty, I am 6 ft. 2, and inline corset company don’t exactly tell me the measurements, where the waist is positioned. Your measurements along with your reviews are a great help in estimating which corsets have no chance at fitting me.

  4. Lucy, Fascinating Hobbies and Interests – My Compliments. I’d like to Share a Few Thoughts that I’ve not seen on your Websites – Perhaps I’ll Stumble onto Something Useful for You and Your Audience.

    1) Tie 2 Knots in the Laces at the Top and/or Bottom. When Cinching the Corset, the Knots will act as a Stop so the Cinching can Continue Closer to the Waist.

    2) Use Wooden Dowels as Low-Friction Leverage for Pain-free Lacing – Save Those Beautiful Hands.

    3) Fabricate a Busk Extender – Gives the Wearer More Options – Pins on Right – Hooks on the Left – Minimum 1″ Wide to Accommodate the Busk – No Bones about it.

    4) A Corset is a Security Risk – Watch your Surroundings Ladies – You are not as Agile when Laced. Consider Buying and Training with Self-Defense Equipment – I’m only thinking of you.

    5) Lastly, I Strongly Advise you Continue your Blog, YouTube Channel, Facebook and Twitter Postings. You have a Great Deal of Charisma, and it would be Very Selfish if you were to Stop. Be Well. Steve.

    1. Steve, Your #4 point is very important. We, ladies or men, cannot rely on outside help in self-defense. We MUST be capable of protecting ourselves!

    2. You clearly have a biased opinion against women’s capabilities. Unless you corset yourself, don’t offer advice. Much of your “advice” shows evident lack of personal experience wearing a corset. Continuing to offer uneducated advice might cause more harm than good.

      1: We only need one knot at the bottom. It works just fine. A knot at the top limits the much-needed movement while tightening. We need significant length before removing a corset, or else the busk won’t properly unhook. There’s usually a knot where the aglets meet, because in most cases we’re pulling out the bunny ears in the centre.

      2: A wooden dowel on laces would be a pain to use. Sure, you could use it on shoe laces. But have you tried them on a corset you’re wearing? It’s non-intuitive, and I’m more likely to stab myself with the dowel while looking backwards in the mirror. Our “beautiful hands” are fine. Your wording here is actually a bit condescending. I’m a seamstress who does a lot of hand sewing. They can handle fine needlework for several hours. Adjusting laces is nothing.

      3: A busk extender wouldn’t offer the options you think. This would negatively impact waist training, as corsets are designed to be as flush to skin as possible as we train down. If a corset is too tight, we measured or ordered wrong. You must have missed the entire set of articles on choosing the right corset. Tube compression waist trainers can use an extender as they’re just glorified wraps with all spiral scale bones. The busk is made of 2 rigid steel shanks. Imagine the discomfort in adding 2 more. Ah… you probably can’t.

      4: I know women who regularly fight in plate armour. A well-fitted (wasp) corset can be worn during exercise. So long as it’s seasoned, we’re not facing a security risk. It’s no different than wearing a back brace or fitted leather jacket, once a corset seasoned. At best, squating or certain commode use in a longer corset is an issue. I would be more concerned about someone with panic attacks while tight lacing.

      5: I’m sure you might think mean well in your advice, but mich of it comes off as condescending. Your obvious lack of experience with corsets led to unhelpful, non-intuitive. The advice for a busk extender is kind of an insult to corsetries who have spent decades perfecting their craft. It would also do you well to treat women more inclusive, as equals, as you seem to be under the mindset that we can’t handle much. If you told a military woman to “protect your beautiful hands,” she might show you what training taught her hands to do! Uneducated assumptions are dangerous. Take care to only offer educated advice.

  5. I am confused about the size to order. Do you order your natural waist size or the size that you wish to get to? I am short waisted and short of stature, but have some padding around my waist. I am looking at ordering a waist cincher. What size should I be looking at? (a couple inches less than my waist?)

    1. Hi Rachel, you order the corset a little smaller than your natural waist – usually 4 inches smaller than your waistline. I can help you find your correct size and style if you fill out the form on this page. Thanks!

  6. I bought a corset here a few weeks back but have not started waist training yet because I want to be sure that I have the time to do it consistently. Just a couple of questions – after wearing the corset for a long period (months or years) would your own muscles in that area become weaker and less able to support an upright posture because they are not needed to work while the corset is in place. Also, Lucy – just curious – your measurements – I’m assuming after waist training – what was your waist measurement before and how long did it take to go from before to after. Thanks, Pat

    1. Hi Pat, yes if you’re going to be wearing a corset on a regular basis, I recommend starting or increasing your abdominal exercises so you don’t experience any physiological dependence on the corset. Ann Grogan (Romantasy) is a waist training coach, and she recommends taking at least 1 day off per week so you spend the whole day not depending on your corset – she also works out regularly! I have an article on corsets and muscles here which contains more detailed information. When I was waist training with intent, I started with a waist of 29″ and wore a size 24″ corset. I slowly trained down to closing a 20″ corset, and my natural waist was between 26 and 26.5″. I stopped training with size 20″ corsets though, because I preferred a less dramatic silhouette in a corset (and I also had a car accident and couldn’t wear my corset for several months until the swelling went down).

      1. Hi please advice me ….. I have had 2soine surgeries now have unstable thoracic spine I was recommended to wear a Corsette. I don’t want laces on my back to show thru clothes , I feel so fat I don’t walk a lot anymore and feel so fat . Can I wear one without getting reflux too …l so how do I measure to order one and how do I begin to choose one for myself thanks so much look forward to hearing from u

        1. Hello Jodi, if you would like a standard sized, OTR corset, then I have a measuring tutorial and contact form on this page, please fill it out and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible with my personal recommendation for a corset size and style that will fit you best. If you need a custom fit therapeutic corset by a specialist corsetiere familiar with your injuries, then I would recommend you consult the corsetiere map for people who might be in your area that you can commission!

  7. Dear Lucy,
    I’m a dude and married but my wife is dead against my x-dressing so alas must in secret when she’s away don my beloved but not wonderful plain vanilla Fredrick’s brocade corset. I love the look of women in corsets and love the erotic, submissive thrill of wearing it and sleeping in it (along with my petti, knee-hi’s and sheer anklet stocking chastity sheath). But why do women like yourself like to wear them? I’m just curious – is it for:
    1) Looks only
    2) Erotic thrill
    3) waist training to look better
    4) or just love the restricting feel of it?
    I’m just trying to understand. I LOVE IT!!

    1. Hello Michelle, I enjoy the visual aesthetic of a smaller waist, but I do not personally find it erotic. I find the corset to be empowering, not of a submissive nature. I also look at waist training almost like a sport or personal challenge. While I do occasionally tightlace, I generally wear it so that it feels no more restrictive than a strong hug. I have videos on why other people may wear corsets here, and my own reasons here.

      1. Hi Lucy – you’re reply (to Michele M.) is most brilliant, and is how I view corseting for myself.

        1. Thank you Debi!

  8. Hiya. I’m going to be starting waist training but can’t find any information about what happens to the shifted organs and your skin after say … a few decades of training… if you decide to stop completely? I can’t imagine everything going exactly into place perfectly (minus natural aging on the body of course haha) :o)

    1. Hi Patrice, I think if you emailed Fakir Musafar or Cathie Jung, they would be able to tell you the effects of corsetry on the body after many decades! Of course, Cathie still wears corsets daily, but I believe Fakir has become an occasional wearer now. Your organs are somewhat suspended in place with ligaments, and in some cases (like with Kitty) a well-fitting corset can help maintain the organ’s proper position instead of dropping out of place over time. Also, when a person becomes pregnant, after labour their organs never settle back 100% into their previous nulliparous positions, there is always a tiny bit of a difference (some people more than others) – so while corsetry may very slightly affect the positions as well, that’s not to say that it would necessarily have a noticeable effect on function.

  9. Hi Lucy,

    I stumbled on your site this afternoon and was really glad to see the results of those who are waist training. I have a few medical issues: diabetes, high blood pressure. I am a 43 in the waist and need help in reducing my bmi as well as my weight before I end up on insulin. I have tried the Body Magic and paid a lot of money for it but it wasn’t the right fit and it really wasn’t what I wanted. I like the corsets that lace up so that I can adjust it as needed. Can you help me Lucy so that I can order the corset for my waist that is the right size and fit for me. Oh by the way I am 59 years old but I have the mind and heart of a 21 year old. LOL.

    Thanks,

    Vic

    1. Hi Vicky, sorry for my late response – you’ll get a faster response with email, for future reference. Because of your medical issues, I would definitely talk to your doctor since they know your medical history best, and making sure it’s alright with them to wear a corset. High blood pressure is a concern, because the corset can raise it more. The pressure from a corset can sometimes help people with portion sizes, but it takes making good choices with food as well. I have a video on it here: Weighing in on the Corset Diet. Cheers!

  10. Hello, Lucy! I’m a big fan of your YouTube and Instagram. You are one of the main reasons why I even wanted to begin waist training.
    I just recently started looking at your before and afters and was absolutely inspired by Penny Brown. Her results were fantastic!
    I am 5’7 and 180 pounds. Completely healthy, no back problems, etc.
    I wanted to know what type of corset or cinched (brand, name, type, etc) could I get to get results like Penny Brown, while exercising regularly of course.
    I understand that my results won’t be identical to hers, but I just wanted to know which corsets or cinchers I could try out (that aren’t too expensive) that I could wear all throughout the day and will create a very strong curve in my waist.
    Thanks a bunch!
    xoxo
    -Joy

    1. Hi Joy, sorry for my very late response. Penny has a super unique body shape, even before her surgery she had a long torso and impressive hip spring – so unless you have a frame that is similar to hers, it might not be possible to get results exactly the same as hers. However, if you like the style of corsets she wears, I’d recommend contacting Amber from Lovely Rats Corsetry because she makes Penny’s custom corsets. :)

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