Waist Training

*The information in this post is not intended as or meant to replace medical advice. Before beginning a waist training regimen, always seek the advice of a medical professional*

Though there are loads of reasons why some of us become interested in corsets and waist training, I'd say a very popular if not most common reason, is to create a smaller waist. And I know that I at least speak for myself when I say that perhaps no one misses their "once-was-waist" more than a woman who is either approaching the end of her pregnancy or has just recently given birth.

Here are 3 of the most common questions asked in relation to pregnancy, childbirth and corseting:

1. "I'm in my last trimester of pregnancy and want to buy a corset now for after I give birth. Should I buy a size that would have fit my waist before I was pregnant?"

Let me tell you, there is almost nothing a woman is more ready for than childbirth as she approaches the end of her last trimester! As such, it is completely understandable to start considering things like having a corset ready and available for the day that you will once again be able to lace up.

However, setting our excitement aside, it is wise to be patient and wait until after you've given birth to select a corset.

Since the size of corset is crucial for keeping things comfortable and to avoid any possible damage to the garment, or worse yet, injury to oneself, you will be best to measure yourself after you've had your little bundle of joy.

You should also note that for several weeks (if not months) following the birth of your child, you will still have something of a belly. For many woman, their belly looks something like it did at the end of their first trimester or very beginning of their second. Though this isn't permanent and your tummy will eventually go back to its normal relaxed state, this will definitely impact which size corset will best meet your needs if your doctor has given you the green light to lace up straight after you've given birth.

2. "How soon after childbirth can I wear a corset?"

This is where you will absolutely have to ask your doctor for their medical opinion. For example, for those who have to undergo a c-section, wearing a corset before you've had the chance to heal properly is a definite no-go.

If you had a natural childbirth (i.e. did not require a c-section), then some doctors will tell you that it is okay to begin wearing either a girdle or corset as soon as you are ready to return to your home.

Again: this one is a question best suited for your doctor to answer, as only they know your current condition and whether it would be of benefit or not.

3. "Will wearing a corset after childbirth affect/limit my ability to breastfeed?"

Though I can give some pointers/tips on this subject, the best person to answer this one is again,your doctor. They will be best equipped to answer any question you might have on the topic and they would best know if there is any reason you may want to wait to get back into your corset until after you've decided to stop breastfeeding.

If you have already inquired with your doctor and they see no reason why corseting would in anyway negatively impact or limit your ability to breastfeed, then there are a few things you should consider for convenience sake:

-Stick to an underbust corset.

I couldn't personally imagine anything more impractical wearing an overbust corset if you've decided to breastfeed your little one. Nursing bras, easy to remove tops/blouses can be complicated enough: stick to to an underbust.

-Keeping your corset dry

Its a fact of nature: your breasts will leak. Whether you choose to breastfeed or not, you get to look forward to wet spots on your bra and blouse/top for a good bit of time to come.

In order to keep your corset and other garments dry, they do sell inserts to place in the bra to aid with absorption. As these can be quite expensive, an alternative is to cut a sanitary napkin in half and place them in the bonnets/cups of your bra. Voila! No more milky messes :)

And there you have a few simple tips and tricks to help you get back into your corset! But again, ALWAYS consult with a medical professional before making any hasty decisions about when to start corseting after childbirth.

Happy lacing!

Lots of us wonder what to do in order to conceal our corset laces. Though we have made a post on how to successfully hide your corset laces, there are 3 top things to avoid:

1. Do Not Tie Them in a Knot:

Its true that a neat little knot tends to be less bulky than tying your laces into a bow, however: knots are not easy to untie!

Even with assistance, a knot can be very difficult to take apart, so imagine the anxiety that could result in trying to untie it on your own! You always want to make sure that you can easily remove your corset at any time, so stick to tying it into a bow.

2. Do Not Cut Your Laces Once You've Tied Them:

Another "quick trick" some people have tried is to cut their laces once they've got their corset on and the cord tied. Please please please avoid this at all costs!

Think about it: before putting your corset on, you loosen the laces, sometimes to their fullest capacity. So, although once tightened and tied the cord may seem excessive, its required in order to be able to comfortably put on and take off your corset.

If you were to cut it, you would be left with less cord and as a result, you would not be able to loosen the corset comfortably in order to get it on or off.

3. Do Not Wrap Your Laces Around Your Waist & Tie in the Front:

Again, some feel that this method reduces how much "hang" there is to the cord once tightened and tied, but think about the friction that this wrapped cord will place around your corset's beautiful fabric!

We go about our regular days in a corset: we sit, we stand, we walk around, we drive our car, etc. Brief: we move! As we move, if the corset's laces are wrapped round the waist, they will rub against the corset and eventually cause the fabric to fray, ultimately reducing the life of you corset.

And there you have it: 3 things to avoid when tying your laces.

Happy lacing!

When selecting a corset for waist training, one has to wonder: does fabric choice matter?

Aside from the obvious things one might want to avoid, such as trim or swing closures, so that the corset can be kept discreet when worn beneath one's clothes, can you select, say a brocade? How about mesh?

Now, some people will tell you that fabric is not an important factor. That the main thing you should consider is that the corset be lined, steel boned and have strong cord for lacing, but I disagree and here's why:

Mesh Corsets & Leather Corsets Are Not Lined:

Because a mesh and/or leather corset is unlined, it does not have the same strength as a double steel boned waist trainer with a cotton twill lining, which is fused for additional strength. So naturally, the mesh and/or leather corset will stretch with wear, more so than other steel boned corsets will.

Brocades and Jacquards Are More Delicate Than Satin or Taffeta:

Brocades and jacquards are decorative fabrics. They are not engineered for strength, but rather for aesthetics. Now, that's not to say that they are a weak fabric, but overall they are not a fabric designed to be worn for extended periods of time. With a full day's worth of wear every single day of the week, a brocade or jacquard fabric will risk fraying.

My favorite suggestion for waist training is to select a simple design in a sturdy tafetta or satin. These choices will have the longest life and make for the best investment in a waist trainer.

Happy lacing!

Many of us who waist train do it with the goal in mind to size our waists down from their current size to something a tad bit more narrow. As such, it is perfectly understandable to view it as a milestone when the time comes to go down a size. But how exactly can we be certain when the right time is to go down a size?

Here are 3 of my favorite tips on when you can be sure it is time for a smaller sized corset:

You can tighten the corset completely, with no gap between the 2 back panels:

Now, in some cases we can tighten our corsets to this point, but it still doesn't mean that its time to go down a size. If, for example, you can tighten it to this degree but don't feel quite comfortable, notice that there's too much cinch going on when you do this, then you're not quite there yet and would be best to still leave a 1" to 2" gap between the back panels.

If you can tighten your corset completely and notice that even at this degree of lacing, it no longer offers the same cinch, then it may very well be time for a smaller size.

When your corset closes completely at the back & you can fit one hand comfortably down the front:

If you've laced your corset completely closed and you try to fit your hand down the front of it with no difficulty or even a good bit of room for your hand to fit, then you can be certain it is indeed time for a smaller size.

With your back panels are touching, you can rotate the corset around your torso:

If you can not only lace your corset completely closed but also once closed, shift the corset around your midsection with little to no friction, you can again be certain that you are indeed ready for a smaller size.

It is important to keep in mind that if you haven't quite met any of these 3 stages in waist training with your current corset, but you think that you feel ready for a smaller size nonetheless, it may not be the best idea. A corset's pattern is not only drafted to fit one's waist, but also the hips, underbust and bust and as such, even if you think you can comfortably cinch your waist in to a greater degree, you do risk discomfort around your hip and bust area.

And there you have it: 3 tips to help you determine if you are ready for a smaller sized corset.

Happy lacing!

Because it can be so tempting to see how tightly you can lace your corset as soon as you receive it, we frequently get asked what the big deal is about seasoning, anyway? How important is it really?

To put it briefly: seasoning your corset is very important! It is imperative that you allow yourself 7-10 days to season your corset (i.e. wear it for no more than 2-4 hours per day and not tightened to it full capacity, gradually increasing the tightness and duration of wear each day).

Here are the top pros to seasoning and the cons that will occur if you do not:

Let's start with the cons:

1. You risk warping the busk

2. Not seasoning the corset can warp bones, or worse yet cause them to bend/break

3. It has the potential to compromise the fabric

All 3 of these cons are due to the fact that an unworn corset though flexible, still has an added degree of rigidity from never having before been on a human body.

The heat from your body plays a huge role in warming up the bones and busk and allowing them the time they need to not just form/mold to your curves but also to accentuate them to their full potential.

And now for the pros:

1. It will allow your corset to shape to your curves

2. It will prevent any otherwise avoidable damage to your corset

3. It will increase the lifespan of your corset

Most importantly, aside from avoiding any immediate damage to your corset or possible injury to yourself, properly seasoning your corset will also increase its lifespan. And since a high quality steel boned corset or waist trainer should be an investment, who wouldn't want to take advantage of them for a long time to come?

And there you have: why it is indeed most important to properly season your corset!

Happy lacing!

For those of us who prefer to wear our corsets as an undergarment, this post is a quick how-to on concealing your laces so as to avoid that pesky "lump" they can sometimes cause at center back.

First let's start off with a couple of basic "Don'ts":

Don't Tie a Knot:

Though tempting, this is generally a bad idea. Yes, technically a knot would cause less of a lump at the back, but that doesn't outweigh the fact that it can prevent you from getting out of your corset easily and comfortably, even if you were to have someone assist you. Knots can be very difficult to undo.

Don't Wrap the Lacing Around Your Waist:

Though this does seem like the most logical idea when it comes to reducing the length of the laces and as a result, reducing the back bulk, what this will eventually do is cause wear to the fabric of the corset from the friction of the laces. Bad idea.

Even though we're talking about laces as an undergarment here, we still don't want to compromise the beauty of the corset, am I right?

And now for the "Do's"

Do Braid the Laces and Tuck

For this method, you will need to leave a gap of 2" at the back, to make it easier to pass the laces through the x's (don't worry! there are images below to give you a visual about what I'm going on about here!).

First, after tying up your corset laces as you normally would, take the excess lacing and braid:

Second, once the excess lacing has been braided, pass the braid beneath the x's either going upward to tuck in at the top, or downward to tuck in at the bottom of the modesty panel:

Re-Lace Your Corset So It Fastens At the Bottom:

To do this, undo the knot at the bottom of the corset and unlace it to just above the bunny ears.

Once you've done this, re-lace the corset forming x's down to the bottom:

This way, you will now have the corset tying up at the bottom and the excess can either be tucked in under the bottom hem of the corset, or easily hidden under a pretty A-line skirt.

And there you have it: several tips on how to avoid the back bulge!

Happy lacing!

One of the perks of wearing an overbust is that it allows you a break from wearing a bra. Though you certainly can wear a bra with an overbust, it isn't always necessary as the bonnets or cups of an overbust will generally provide enough support for you to forgo your soutien-gorge. But can an underbust provide enough support without your bra?

Overall, the answer is no. Not unless you generally don't mind going braless, whether because you prefer to be without a bra, or your bust is on the smaller side so you don't require the support a bra provides, or you've had your breasts augmented, which generally keeps them in their set place with or without a bra.

But for those of us who prefer to the assistance and support a bra provides us with, you will find that an underbust simply will not provide the same degree of support.

Though you may find that when you are wearing an underbust, and you sit down, the top edge of the corset will sit a bit higher pushing the bust up, this is not at all the same sort of support that your bra gives you.

As obvious as it sounds, an underbust does in fact go under the bust, vs. a bra which covers the bust providing support both from the band that sits beneath the bust and from the cups or bonnets which go over the bust.

So there you have: generally speaking, and underbust cannot substitute a bra but at the end of the day going with or without your bra, is a matter of personal preference.

Happy lacing!

The beauty of a corset is that it can provide instant results by nipping in your waist as soon as you get all trussed up. But what happens when you take your corset off? Will your waist remain smaller than it was before you began waist training?

Yes and no.

Permanent results:

If you treat your waist training as a set regimen (much like one would treat a new diet or exercise regimen), then over time, you will likely shed some weight, and it is the weight loss that might help reduce the overall circumference of your waist. The general rule of thumb is for every 5lbs you shed, you will lose one inch from your waist.

However, it is extremely important to note that this is not a guarantee, even if you do find that wearing your corset has helped you shed weight. Each body is different and each person sheds weight differently and in different places. Some may lose weight almost everywhere but their waist. This is purely genetic and if you are truly unhappy with the shape you've been dealt, then it is a good idea to seek the advice of a certified fitness trainer and nutritionist/dietitian.

For those who treat waist training as a lifestyle, such as someone like Cathie Jung (more on her below), then there is evidence that years of wear and consistent waist training can reshape one' floating ribs. But again, this is if/when waist training literally becomes a part of your 24/7 daily routine/lifestyle.

Temporary results:

Overall, the dramatic difference that a corset delivers while you are wearing it will only last until the corset comes off; it is most unlikely that the hourglass shape you've got when all trussed up will remain once the corset comes off. Regular wear or waist training cannot re-shape one's body unless taken to the extreme, such as someone like Cathie Jung:

But results like Cathie's come from having waist trained/tight laced since 1992 and she wears her corset quite literally, 24/7.

As always, if you do decide to give waist training a go, we highly recommend that you seek the advice of a healthcare professional before you begin.

Happy lacing!

I recently received a question from a customer in regards to why her corset did not fit correctly. After many back and forth questions and asking for greater detail, we discovered the issue: shapewear.

Not that shapewear is a problem, but it will influence how a corset fits you, that is certain.

Some of us rely on our corset to provide a cinched waist and to get that beautiful hourglass shape that, let's face it, very few of us were born with. But there are those who even with their corset, still wear shapewear beneath.

Whether its for additional control and smoothness, or to help with the dreaded muffin-top or lower belly that many of us deal with, if you plan on wearing shapewear beneath your corset, then here's what you need to know:

Take the measure of your waist with your shapewear on.

Though your average pair of control top undies or pantyhose or body suit won't give you the results a steel boned corset or waist trainer will, they can smooth your hips and lower waist by up to an inch. That 1" difference between your middle with the shapewear on can lead to you purchasing the wrong size corset if you measured your natural/relaxed waist sans spanx.

Happy lacing!

Whether you are looking to purchase a corset to help you with your weight loss, or if you are looking to purchase it as a treat for yourself to celebrate having reached your weight loss goal, the one important rule of thumb is to always buy a corset to suit your current size.

Let me give you an example for each of the above situations:

1. Purchasing a corset to help you reach your weight loss goal

When we set a weight loss goal in mind, we can't help but envision what we're going to look like once our goal is reached. And sometimes, we begin to shop a little prematurely for things that perhaps don't yet fit. Even more so, we may be tempted to go down a few sizes with our corsets because we hope that this will help us shed weight all the quicker.

This is not the case! You need to consider a few things here: first, a corset is sized to not only fit one's waist but also one's hips and rib cage in proportion to one's waist. Therefore, if the corset is too snug around your waist, it will also be too snug around your hips and ribs or chest and this will undoubtedly not be comfortable for you.

Secondly, a corset cannot provide a greater waist reduction than it promises. Therefore a steel boned corset cannot bear more tension than the 4" to 5" it promises, nor can a waist trainer go beyond the 6" to 7" it promises to nip from your waist. So let's say your waist measures 30" and you decide to purchase a size 22" corset: hoping to have the corset reduce your waist by 8" will cause stress and even damage to the corset and its boning and in the worst case scenario, injury to the wearer from a bent, warped or broken bone.

2. Purchasing a corset based on the size you hope to be in the near future

I honestly do understand and appreciate the psychology behind purchasing something that will fit you at the end of a diet or exercise regimen or once your goal is reached. Some people find hanging up a smaller sized pair of jeans or a swimsuit in plain sight can be very motivational to stay on course, and I get it.

The only problem I have with this is there is no guarantee how you will lose the weight (because not all of us are lucky enough to shed it from our waist), you don't yet know how toned/muscular your midsection will be once you've met your goal, or if you are even able meet your original goal (sometimes we can set our sights a little too high).

All of these factors will influence whether or not the corset you purchased months ago in anticipation of reaching your goal, will fit you properly.

This is why, at the end of the day we cannot stress enough the importance of purchasing a corset that either fits you at this moment, or holding off on your purchase until you've reached your weight loss/fitness goals.

For any additional questions about corsets and weight loss, please email me at sabrina@truecorset.com

Happy lacing!