Corset belts, finishing belts, and Swiss waists (at least in their modern definition, not their original forms) are quasi-corsets or corset-like garments that may or may not lace up, may or may not contain a front busk, and may or may not contain elastic – but they all have one thing in common, and they tend to be extremely short on the side seam (4 inches / 10cm or shorter) and they can be used as a decorative belt on the outside of your clothing.
In this gallery, we’ll explore some of these options! I have set some ground rules, though. The belts found here fall under one or more of the following:
- contains at least one corsetty piece of hardware (busk and/or functional grommet system).
- finishing belt made by a corsetiere or brand, specifically for coordinating with corsets.
- can be ordered in custom sizes, and further adjusted in circumference through a lacing system or elastic, not by buckles alone.
- ~4 inches or shorter on the side seam, usually with a slightly higher / possibly pointed center front for improved support (or at least aesthetically leaning towards a corset)
- functional enough to reduce the waist slightly on its own (i.e. not flimsy or made from foam)
- not just a regular belt / obi.
Jump to your section of choice:
Corset belts with adjustable lacing
Elastic finishing belts with busks
Bespoke belts by Leatherworkers
Sewing Patterns & Tutorials for Corset Belts & Swiss Waists
~Corset Belts with adjustable lacing system~
~Elastic Finishing Belts~
These belts are offered by corset brands and designed to be worn to accentuate a corseted waistline. They contain a front busk (an aesthetic nod to corsetry) but they are made with elastic and have no back lacing system.
~Bespoke belts by leatherworkers~
These belts contain grommets / a lacing system, can be ordered to match your exact external corseted waistline, and several of them also are available in different widths depending on how dramatic your hip spring is and how you’d like it to fit over your corseted waistline. These belts may give a light cinch on their own, and being hard leather, they resist stretching – but they don’t contain bones and should not be used as training corsets per se.
~Corset Belt and Swiss Waist Patterns~
*Please note that I have not personally tried every corset brand in this list, nor do I necessarily endorse every company in these guided galleries. This is for informational purposes only. Please contact the individual corsetieres for more information about their corset belts. Etsy affiliate links help keep this site online and keep the galleries free for everyone.