We all love slipping into a corset, but with so many shop bought corsets out there in the same old colors – especially black (yawn) – it can start to feel a little like you’re a carbon copy of every other corset wearer out there. Fashion trends change with the seasons, yet corsets, although a timeless garment, do seem to have gotten stuck somewhat. Of course there’s a wide selection of different corsets on the net with brands like fairy gothmother and what Katie did; but if you can’t afford these brands, still don’t think they reflect your personal style, or aren’t ready to take the plunge and make a corset, what can you do?
Faced with the question of how to make a corset more ‘you’, the simple answer is to customise! This isn’t as tricky as it seems. You don’t even need to own a sewing machine and, depending on what you want to do, you don’t even need a needle and thread. The most difficult part is the creative bit – designing your corset modifications. I suggest looking through your own wardrobe and some fashion mags for ideas.
The easiest way to modify a corset is to buy iron-on transfers. These come in various styles – everything from flaming dice to embroidered lace designs can be ironed onto fabric. You can also sew on bows, attach tassels and trimming or use fabric pens. For a subtle change, try just swapping your laces for another color. If you buy extra long laces they can be wrapped around the waist a few times and tied at the front which accentuates the waistline nicely. You can go more advanced with customisation if you make a corset from scratch; I’m making one with triangular spiked studs at the moment, bought from eBay. So why not revamp one of your old corsets today? It’s cheap & fun and there’s nothing better than a ‘new’ corset to wear out this weekend!
