Here are some of the emails I’ve received that I think are most relevant to all readers interested in corset training – names removed for privacy x

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I want to buy a training corset? Can you help?
I’ve wanted to start constricting my waist by a couple of inches for ages. I’ve looked at various websites for side effects, health benefits and permanent effects etc. How much does a good quality corset cost? Any tips? I’d like to get as much info as I can. My friend Sef says it damages your spine and weakens your core muscles, and that is where you lose waist inches. Is this true? Many thanks!

I’m really sorry to Sef who answered you first but Sef – you don’t know what your talking about!

You loose size through the redistribution of your internal organs, this sounds scary but happens to a greater extent during child birth than during tight lacing. A conical shaped corset will pushes your ribs in slowly to give you a nicer silhouette – this reshapes the rib bones and is more or less permanent, but the waist size isn’t (unless you tight lace for several years then stop, in which case yes you are going to be smaller than you would have been naturally). Sef’s right about the muscles weakening tho – although this makes very little to no difference in size – you will need to exercise your trunk/core muscles as the corset will be taking your body weight when your wearing it and so you’ll not be using the torso muscles during wearing time.

As for the best place to get a training corset from – you really are best off making one, unless you can afford to get a corset custom made for your body, otherwise your likely to be uncomfortable, at the very least make sure you can try it on before you buy – for more than 10 minutes! Make sure its steel boned and specially made for ‘training’ or ‘tight lacing’, and remember to go slowly so your body can get used to it/adapt. Good luck xxx

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How many inches could a corset “safely” take off my waist?
Just wondering how many inches on say, a 27 inch waist could be taken off safely, i.e with no internal damage caused and a minimal pain. I only want one for fun really.

The rule is buy a corset 4 inches smaller than your natural waist size. Corset training is the method used to reduce – thats where you wear a corset 23 hrs a day and slowly go smaller and smaller. It shouldn’t cause pain tho, heavens no! Even if you keep going. Believe it or not even altering the position of your internals shouldn’t cause discomfort! The trick is to do it slowly and let your body adapt. But it doesn’t sound like you want to go that far. Just putting on a corset and pulling it comfortably tight (do this slowly over 10 minutes, wriggle in between pulls while putting your make-up on or something) would take maybe 2 inches off and looks very pretty AND doesn’t hurt! Yay!

Where can i buy a cheap corset?
i want an inexpensive corset with plastic boning.

Nooooo no no no you don’t want to get a cheap one! Or plastic boning – no, its a false commodity, it bends when you sit and that bend stays their and weakens the bone, after maybe 4 wears they’re useless, I’ve had a couple a looong time ago. Its a ‘waist’ of money getting the cheaper plastic boned ones 😀 Metal sounds uncomfortable but its the opposite, it keeps its shape and supports. Spiral steel are much suppler if you want really comfy. Go on fork out for a decent one, or make your own.

Where Can I Find A REAL CORSET, Like In Gone With The Wind?

To be really honest your best bet is to make one, thats what I do, otherwise your looking at $200 upwards for a decent one. I charge $350 plus for properly fitted corsets. But if you do plump for a tailor made, make sure you are fitted for it and have at least 2 fittings. Remember – Real corsets have steel boning and are made with or lined with a special corsetry fabric called coutil.

Where can I buy supplies for making Corsets?
I am a designer and I’ve been asked to make a special Costume. This involves making an Old fashion Corset. I think they’re gorgeous little beauties but…. Finding the material is proving to be a task. I need Busks and Boning if there is a store you know of or an online store give me a link please.

There are a few online stores –  The Vena Cava site for example, but if you’ve never made a corset before your really gonna need to get a book or some instructions, I make alot of them for customers and just inserting the busk is very specialised, the eyelets at the back will need to be supported by boning on either side or a lacing bone (which is a bone with holes for the eyelets – I prefer these but a historically accurate corset will use the 1st method). Otherwise the fabric rouges and they pop out. Try my course at https://corsettraining.net/make-a-corset for info on making corsets and corset mock-ups and 11 great patterns! If you don’t like it I offer a full refund – no questions.

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How do corsets work and where do i get one :)? Plz Plz Plz!
How do they work and where can I get a sexy one? 😉

You’re male right? Lots of guys wear corsets, there’s no problem there. The tricky part is you’re not necessarily going to want the traditional corset shape. Unless super feminine is your thing?

A conical shaped corset, if you wear it 12-23 hours a day will slowly reshape your ribs, giving you a more feminine shape, whereas an hour glass shape leaves more room for the ribs to remain as they are.

‘Tight lacing’ as it’s called doesn’t hurt (unless you go too far too soon) you just have to take your time. There’s loadsa info on doing it properly and pictures of male corseters on my website corsettraining.net including Mr Pearl – he makes corsets for Dita Von Tease and has an 18inch waist himself! Gasp! Don’t go too mad.

You’ll also need to get a proper ‘tight lacing’ corset for corset training with steel boning if your intention is to remodel your figure. If you’re just after some fun and don’t want to corset train or wear it tight any of the millions of online corsets will do. Search for either ‘burlesque corset’ or ‘underwear corset’ depending on your fancy 😉 xxx