I had seen corsets in Stores for many years but was always turned off by the price. Finally, about 4 years ago I got up enough nerve to allow a salesgirl to lace me into a corset for the first time. It was a strange feeling to have the corset slowly drawn tight and snug. When she was finished getting me laced, I could not stop running my hands over my newly defined waist and hips. Laced in, I fell in love with the feeling of the tight caress of the satin material and the transformation of my torso into a feminine shape. Suddenly my dresses and skirts all fit so much better and flowed like they were designed to do.

The corset can easily reduce a waist by up to four inches. I have been able to reduce to a waist size of 28 inches and maintain it all day by working to that size slowly. I put the corset on over a light dusting of bath (talcum) powder and a teddy. The undergarment absorbs any body moisture, prevents chaffing and allows the corset to close easier. When I dress I put the corset on and tighten the laces so the corset fits snug, but not tight. As my torso begins to adjust to the shape of the corset I apply my makeup, at this point I will put on high heels because they help with maintaining my posture and the carriage of my feminine torso. Besides, high heels and a tight filling corset just go together so well. The final steps in my dressing are to tighten the corset to the desired final waist size, put on a slip and dress, touch up my hair and finish with necklace and earrings. Waist reduction must be done slowly, reducing too quickly can injure your spine, kidneys, ribs or other internal organs.

The corsets are made of two separate pieces that hook in front with a metal busk and lacing to the rear. The rear lacing is done in a manner that once the front busk is hooked I can tighten the lacing without any assistance. The lacing is always left in place and only loosened to remove the corset. The lacing is like that of a shoe, except there are two lacing loops at the waist which are pulled to tighten the corset. So forget the "Gone With The Wind" lacing scenes of holding onto the bedpost with mammy pulling the laces taut. The main principle of the corset is to tighten from the top and bottom at the same time so the corset is closed evenly. The corset is constructed so the bust and hips are wider than the waist, so as it closes, it will maintain a snug fit and shift excess tissue from the waist to the hips and breast area. When I started to wear a corset I was worried that I did not have "ABS of Steel," but I soon learned that a soft waist is easier to train, just as long as there isn't a lot of fat in the way. Without the fear of injury, a corset cannot correct what a poor diet and lack of exercise has done to your waistline. The space between the halves does not have to be fully closed so the corset will accommodate some gain or loss of weight.

I currently own five full length corsets and an 8" ribbon corset. The ribbon corset is more like a wide belt that fits under the lower ribs and is used to define or reduce only the waistline. I have a silky satin black 11" corset with a 30" waist which is what I regularly wear. This corset fits so well that I can have it on in only a matter of minutes and can tighten it fully as soon as I put it on. I have an 11" beige cotton with cinnamon lace that laces to 28". I wear this only when I want a serious waist reduction and only with advance preparation. This corset has 6 detachable garters per leg. There is an 18" brown brocade with black lace that comes low, well past my hips for extra definition and a green brocade Victorian (Edwardian) that gives a flatter front but with an "S" curve to my back. My last corset is a training corset or corset dress that goes from the breasts to just above the knees, about 28" in length. There is back lacing for the upper busk to define the waist and hips, but also front lacing from the hips on down to draw the legs together. With this corset on, and the lower part tightly laced I am only able to take the smallest of steps and must stand, since I can not bend at the waist to sit. The corset dress is the most impractical one that I have. Each of the others have a time, a place and certain fashions that they enhance. I have always worn a corset when dressed for the Tri-Ess meetings, so no you know the secret of my waistline!

Corsets are available from the following stores:

Amazon Dry Goods, 2218 E. 11th St., Davenport IA, phone 800-798-7979

Romantasy, 199 Moulton St., San Francisco CA 94123, phone 415-673-3173

Versatile Fashions, 1925 Lincoln Blvd., Anaheim CA 92805 phone 714-776-1510 or 1010 No. Batavia St., Orange CA phone 714-538-6498

Dream Dresser, 1042 Wisconsin Ave., Washington DC 20007, phone 202-625-0373

Dream Dresser, 8444 Santa Monica Blvd., W Hollywood CA 90069, phone 213-848-3480

Dark Garden, 2229A Market St., San Francisco CA phone 415-626-6264

Waist & Stays, PO Box 6399, Fullerton, CA 92634 phone 714-579-7512

"Style over Substance" To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar