Thread: Corset Damage

I was trying on an underbust corset the other day and the girl working there told me that one shouldn't open the corset from the front if you're all laced up into it. She said the reason behind this is that it damages the boning. But I can't imagine trying to unlace my self mid-dance!

Has anyone heard this before or have any suggestions as how to prevent damage to corsets if it is indeed true?

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Whenever I've seen performers wearing steel corsets they've loosened off the laces before they undid it from the front.

When i perform with a corset i usually dont do it up very tight so thats its got enough slack to undo it from the front.

I've been told by a corsetier that you should loosen the laces before attempting to undo the front - for the reasons already stated.

It's not impossible to loosen the laces during an act - keep practicing. It definitely requires a bit of patience, as you'll no doubt find out - unless you get if off to perfection from the onset.

or don't try it with a proper corset, get a stretchy one instead...

I've seen plenty of performers use a relatively tightly laced corset in their act(s), loosening the lacing before unhooking the front of the corset for removal. If you run into the assistant again, it might be worth asking her to clarify whether she meant one ought to loosen the lacing before unfastening the front, or whether she meant something a bit more extreme, like unlacing the whole back. I can't really see the latter being the solution though, otherwise why would there be hooks and eyes on the front of a corset at all?

Scarlett's Corset - Caring For Your Corset

I did ask her if it could be worn a little less tight but still laced and then undo at the front which she said yes to...but she still looked a little concerned. I'm guessing her focus is more on corset care than performance though. I suppose it is just a matter of learning to loosen it elegantly before undoing at the front. I've never used a real corset before so it's just practise, practise, practise I guess!

Thanks for the suggestions ladies!:twothumbs:

the sales assistant proberly wondered why on earth you would want to wear a loose corset!

The main thing about loosening it before you take off a corset is if you don't you'll very likely damage the busk. But you don't need to completely undo it at the back, that's far too much work, especially in a performance

It's easy enough to loosen the laces during a performance. The problem is making sure you don't get stuck whilst it happens ... >_<