Can I Waist Train in That Corset?
Contrary to popular belief, waist training is not synonymous with tightlacing. One can tightlace on an occasional basis (for special events, or just for fun) while waist training is the process of wearing a corset on a daily or nearly daily basis for a specific goal – for instance, the ability to close a certain size corset, to achieve a specific silhouette, or to modify your natural waist (semi) permanently. (Many people who wear a corset on a regular/ daily basis for other reasons (such as back pain relief or prevention of anxiety) often “accidentally” waist train – because the body responds to consistent pressure, even light pressure over a long period of time, they may find that they need to size down to maintain the same pressure on their torso.)
Many people have their own requirements as to what a waist training corset should comprise of, so please take this information with a grain of salt. Note that this list is my opinion – and where applicable, I will include notes and disclaimers made by the corset maker/ company. Also note that overbust corsets are not mentioned here because most people prefer to train in underbust corsets. Overbust corsets may present some fitting/ mobility issues that underbusts don’t – although it’s not impossible to train using an overbust.
My requirements is that a waist training corset:
- has strong stitching to withstand the rigors of daily wear without tearing of the seams (preferably reinforced with a waist tape)
- contains sufficient steel boning that do not warp or break, thereby preventing extreme/ uncomfortable wrinkling at the waist
- resists warping or collapsing over time
- contains sturdy, fair quality grommets that don’t pop out under stress
- preferably comes with a guarantee or statement by the vendor or corsetiere
- has appropriate curves for the wearer – **while curvy corsets are more comfortable for me, the curve of a corset may not reflect its quality. Please note that some corsets are more compatible with different body shapes than others. Choose a corset that will best fit your body, not necessarily the curviest corset on the market. If you would like to compare proportions of different corsets and see which one will fit you best, see my Corset Dimensions Directory.**
Should I avoid a brand completely if their corset is not suited for waist training?
You can still purchase and wear any corset you like! Just because a corset is not recommended for waist training doesn’t mean that it’s not a good quality corset. For most of the brands shown below, I have been able to tightlace in them for 8 hours (if the proportions of the corset allow me to do so) although not every day. Just know that if you choose to train in non-training corsets, some may last longer than others, and some companies have better service/ policies than others. So in some cases a “no” is not definitive – more like a “proceed at your own risk.”
** Check back later as changes are currently being made to their construction**
| Brand/style | Waist Training Friendly? | Guarantee/ Policies/ Customer Service | Construction concerns? | Curviness? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axfords C242 Corset | No (train at own risk) | 60-day exchange/return on non-custom items | Single bones/ no waist tape reported. | Moderate |
| Burleska Athena underbust | No | 21-day return/exchange | Plastic bones/ partial waist tape reported. ** Check back later as changes are currently being made to their construction** | Mild |
| Corset Story/ Corsets-UK (etc) | No | 30-day exchange/return | Weak/ popped grommets reported, single bones/partial waist tape in some styles. Questionable materials reported. | Very mild |
| Isabella Corsetry (Immediate Line) | Yes | 10-day exchange/return of non-custom items Long wait times and unreliable customer service reported. | Some variability in curviness of corsets reported. Reports of the waistline stretching at least an inch over time (especially satin corsets). | Very curvy |
| Leatherotics | No | 7-day exchange/return (20-day for international) for non-custom items only. Unreliable customer service. | Weak/ popped grommets reported, single bones/partial waist tape in some styles. | Mild |
| Meschantes | No (train at own risk) | 14-day exchange for unworn non-custom items; 21-day repair window for custom items. Unreliable customer service. | Plastic reported in closed-front trainers (though not in those with a busk). | Moderate (standard size waist trainer) |
| Ms Martha’s Corset Shoppe | No (train at own risk) | 5-day exchange/store credit on non-custom items. Ms Martha states that although the silk collection is strong, her corsets are not guaranteed for waist training. | Single bones/ no waist tape reported. | Moderate (geometric cincher) |
| Mystic City Corsets (all styles) | Yes | 14 day exchange/ return window. Corset must be unseasoned, worn less than 15 minutes for sizing purposes. Customer service is spotty (can take months to receive sizing advice). Old reports of customers being blocked after requesting returns. | Company uses several different manufacturers, which implement different construction techniques. As such, bones and busk vary in rigidity, quality, etc. Customers have reported the use of strong fragrances on MCC corsets which may be an allergic trigger to some. | Silhouettes range from moderate to extremely curvy |
| Orchard Corset CS-201 | Yes for cotton, no for mesh | 30-day exchange/return. 1-year guarantee has been revoked as of 2014. Responsive customer service. | Popped steel bones reported. Opt for all-cotton fashion fabric; stronger structurally. Expect mesh corsets to wear down quickly. | Moderate |
| Orchard Corset CS-301 | No (train at own risk) | 30-day exchange/return. 1-year guarantee has been revoked as of 2014. Responsive customer service. | 10 bones/ partial waist tape reported. | Moderate. Length may promote tummy pooch/muffin top. |
| Orchard Corset CS-345 | Perhaps | 30-day exchange/return. 1-year guarantee has been revoked as of 2014. Responsive customer service. | Single boned, partial waist tape reported. Opt for all-cotton fashion fabric; stronger structurally. | Mild |
| Orchard Corset CS-411 | Yes for cotton, no for mesh | 30-day exchange/return. 1-year guarantee has been revoked as of 2014. Responsive customer service. | Popped steel bones reported. Opt for all-cotton fashion fabric; stronger structurally. Mesh corsets wear down quickly. | Moderate |
| Orchard Corset CS-426 | Yes | 30-day exchange/return. 1-year guarantee has been revoked as of 2014. Responsive customer service. | Popped steel bones reported. Opt for all-cotton fashion fabric; stronger structurally. | Curvy |
| Restyle “Wide Hip” underbust | Yes but Train at own risk | 10-day exchange/return Restyle tells me that the corset is suitable for rigorous daily use and comes with a 2-year guarantee. | *Updated* new stock now has waist tape. Some torn seams reported in old stock before waist tape was included. | Very curvy |
| Snobz Corsets | No | 7-day exchange/return on non-custom items. Unreliable customer service. | Single bones/ partial waist tape/ single-piece eyelets reported. | Moderate |
| Timeless Trends cincher | No | 30-day exchange/return; lifetime manufacturing guarantee. Responsive customer service. | Very mild. Length may promote tummy pooch/muffin top. | |
| Timeless Trends HOURGLASS cincher | Yes | 30-day exchange/return; lifetime manufacturing guarantee. Responsive customer service. | Curvy. However, length may promote tummy pooch/muffin top. | |
| Timeless Trends standard underbust | Perhaps | 30-day exchange/return; lifetime manufacturing guarantee. Responsive customer service. | Some variability in sizing/ proportion. | Mild to very mild – 2011 stock is curvier than 2013-2014 stock. |
| Timeless Trends HOURGLASS standard underbust | Yes | 30-day exchange/return; lifetime manufacturing guarantee. Responsive customer service. | Size 26″ hourglass corsets in the blue, emerald and burgundy have a slightly smaller ribcage. This has been corrected in the other styles. | Curvy |
| Timeless Trends longline underbust | Perhaps | 30-day exchange/return; lifetime manufacturing guarantee. Responsive customer service. | If your hip spring is more than 16 inches, the side hip ties run the risk of splitting over time. | Small ribcage; contains adjustable hip ties for curvy/very curvy hips. |
| Timeless Trends HOURGLASS longline underbust | Yes | 30-day exchange/return; lifetime manufacturing guarantee. Responsive customer service. | Curvy. Contains adjustable hip ties for curvy/very curvy hips. | |
| True Corset steel boned cinchers | No | 30-day return/ exchange window. Reports of some customers not receiving their corsets, especially from UK warehouse. Reports of customers being refused a refund after returning their corsets. | Single bones, weak/ popped grommets reported. Partial waist tape has been corrected; they now contain a full waist tape. | Mild |
| True Corset waist training long cincher | Perhaps | 30-day return/ exchange window. Reports of some customers not receiving their corsets, especially from UK warehouse. Reports of customers being refused a refund after returning their corsets. | Mild | |
| Vollers Corsets | No | 21-day exchange/return on non-custom items | Single bones/ partial waist tape reported. Single-piece eyelets. | Mild to very mild |
| What Katie Did Corsets (all underbusts) | Yes | 30-day exchange/return on non-custom items; store credit given for custom items. WKD recently revised their previous statement and now says that their corsets are suitable for training. | Eventual stretching at waist reported (satin pieces only). | Mild (Gina) to moderate (Mae) to very curvy (Morticia, Baby and Vamp) |
I’m looking for an underbust corset in the $100 range for waist training. My measurements are as follows:
Underbust – 30″
Waist – 27″
Height – 3-34″
Torso length – 8.5″
Which do you recommend? I’d like to wear it all day, every day.
Hi Victoria, thanks for your measurements – in the future please use the contact form on this page as I check it much more often than comments. I’ve sent you an email with my recommendations – please check your junk or spam box if you don’t see my email.
Hi there I have very broad shoulders and a big chest with a long torso would you recommend a gemini or a straight line hour Glass ? I’m want a very curvy waist but I also don’t want to look like a line backer !
Hi Stephanie, the smaller the waist is, the larger or wider the bust/shoulders and hips will look by contrast – but there are some silhouettes which soften the look more than others. It’s important to get a corset that properly fits your underbust area though – I have a measuring tutorial and contact form here. If you let me know your measurements, I can tell you which corset will fit your body best!
Just to confirm, “Waist Training Friendly – Yes” means I can use their corsets for body modification specifically?
From what I understand, there should be no pain when wearing a corset.
Thanks.
Hi Emerald, that is correct – a corset should not cause pain. As long as the measurements of the corset fit yours properly (with enough waist reduction to create change), and you find it comfortable enough to wear for long periods, you should theoretically be able to train in it. Different people prefer different silhouettes, rigidity, number of bones, etc – so there is no such thing as one objectively perfect corset for everyone. When I say that a corset is waist training friendly, it means that the corset contains the required components to make a strong corset, combined with a decent amount of curve (and ideally, sufficient customer service). But it doesn’t guarantee that the corset will fit your body properly, as everyone is shaped differently.
If you’d like more waist training corsets, see my sister site Corset Database which I keep more up to date. These corsets are guaranteed by the brand to be strong enough for daily wear (including waist training) although you will need to filter the results to find one that fits your body, and other preferences like budget.
Hi Lucy, I was wondering if you had checked out corsets-uk’s new line of corsets called “expert waist training”. They claim to have put more research, time and money in them than in any other of their corsets. Do you think they would be at least a little more suitable for waist training? Do they look curvier to you? Thanks!
Hi Marithé, I haven’t tried their underbust training corsets specifically, but I have tried the overbust version of the corset you’re interested in, which is indeed curvier than their previous line of corsets. The rib and hip spring measurements are probably the same for the underbust – but I make some notes about their construction and about how the fit of the corset is crucial because of the hip panels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTmIzsuPb6s
You’ve said “train at your own risk” for the restyle corset. What are the reasons behind that?
Hi Casey, some of the older stock did not come with a waist tape, and a couple of customers have reported that a seam had ripped on their corset. It’s nothing that can’t be repaired as it was just the thread that had snapped and not the fabric itself that had ripped. But it was noted nonetheless. Now the quality control seems to be much better, I haven’t heard of any construction issues in awhile. But I would not create unreasonable expectations for a $50 corset to perform the same way as a $300 corset.
Hello, I am currently using a charmian Womens double heavy spiral steel boned corset and was curious if this could be used to waist train. It fits snuggle and feels pretty sturdy, but the price is on the lower end. Should I opt for a more expensive one? I really like the shape of this one because I have wide hips but not the longest torso lol. Thank you!
Hi Madison, that is one corset that I haven’t tried (yet) so I can’t say with confidence how good quality it is just from the product photos. If it feels comfortable for you and it reduces your waist, you’re welcome to keep wearing it.
I don’t see the morgana femme coutoure (specifically the MF1331) on this list, is it decent, do you think for waist training?
Sorry I meant do you think it would work for waist training, typo:)
Hi Riley, this table mostly deals with off the rack corsets. Morgana Femme Couture has a made-to-measure option, as well as you can choose different colours and fabrics, so I do think they are able to make corsets suitable for training. :) I would send them an email about your needs, and their customer service should hopefully help you.
hello! i am looking to reduce my lower ribs and waist slightly just to give me more of an hourglass shape (my ribs at the bottom actually stick out further on the sides than at my bust). I was looking at the timeless trends hourglass clincher, do you think that will help with ribs?
Hi Lana, sorry for my late response! The hourglass corsets do have a bit of a rounded ribcage, but if your floating ribs protrude quite a lot (more than your underbust area) then it will still probably pull in your lower ribs. If you know that you’re able to tolerate more pressure on your ribs, you could try one of the conical rib corsets (one of the Gemini styles is conical which is quite restrictive over the ribs).
Hi Lucy! Is waistershaperz a good brand? I honestly ordered them for aesthetic reasons but once I put it on I noticed how the pressured calmed my nervous system (I had complex ptsd and anxiety disorder) so I decided to google information and your blog (which I am in love with) was the first thing to pop up related to this kind of information. So now that I have this product in my hands, and that I read your rubrics for the benefits of corsets, was wondering what your take was on this brand?
Hi Coco, technically that brand does not sell corsets. There are differences between genuine corsets and rubber cinchers, which I outline here. :)
Hi Lucy! I see here that the Orchard Corset CS-426 doesn’t come with a warning about possible pooch/muffin top. Is that true for the longline, specifically or also the short? Thank you.
Hi Jessica, the CS-426 longline should cover most people’s lower tummy and may help flatten existing pooch. The short (or I think it’s called the “426 standard” now, just recently renamed) may not cover lower pooch.