Corsets

I love corsets. It's a crazy sadistic kind of love. They're restricting, expensive, and sometimes downright frustrating. But oh how I love them. I've been a near-daily corset wearer for around 5 years. If I'm not wearing one I feel naked an incomplete with that steely hug around my middle. A nice, plain black corset can really turn a casual Kuro Lolita outfit into something Gothic and oh-so-elegant. Or, even better, worn under your clothes, a corset can help with that extra bit of padding that all the layers required of Lolita adds to the waistline. It can help define the waist, hold a petticoat exactly where it needs to be, and thus create a perfect Lolita silhouette. Along with all this, I have to admit I love the idea of Lolitafying myself right down to my underwear XD

What kind of corsets go best with lolita?

Most importantly, a steel boned under-bust corset. Those over-priced, plastic boned, mall corsets aren't going to cut it. At all. In fact, they're just going to make you look frumpy. They're going to bunch up around the tummy, twist around, make you uncomfortable, and waste your money.

If you're a beginner to corsets, and aren't looking to spend a lot on a corset (because let's face it, you'd rather be spending that money on Burando), I'd suggest the corsets from Timeless Trends. They're $99 and just perfect for waist cinching. My oldest and most worn corsets are from Timeless Trends, and they've withstood the time and pressure just dandy.

Go for a plain corset at first, either black or white would work just fine, and be versatile enough to wear over or under just about any lolita outfit. Or if you're feeling adventurous, go for something like leopard print or a gorgeous jewel toned velvet that will turn a couple of choice outfits into something totally awesome. And you can always wear it under anything that wont match. No one has to know you're wearing a leopard print restrictive Victorian underwear under your fluffy pink Angelic Pretty monstrosity!

Don't corsets hurt?

Not at all! As long as you're wearing it right. Don't make your first corset one that will cinch you in too far! Buy a corset size 3-4 inches smaller than your natural waist, but on the other hand, don't be scared and order something too large. Remember that you don't have to wear a corset laced up as tight as you can, but you can't make it any smaller than the size you bought it at. A corset that is too large for you will just be uncomfortable and won't even be able to stay closed around your waist, since the busk relies on pressure to stay closed. If you are wearing a nicely made, well-fitting hour-glass corset that is only a couple inches smaller than your natural waist, you don't have to worry about any awful health risks that are too often associated with corsets. Most of the “dangers of corsetting” you hear about are directed at extreme corsetters, such as reducing your waist to a waspy shape or a few corset shapes such as the S-line or Pipe Stem Hour Glass that tend to take years of dedicated corsetting to be able to fit into.

A few tips for wearing corsets with Lolita

• If you're planning on wearing the corset under your clothes, buy an unadorned one. No ruffles or bows, no matter how Lolita it may look, it's just going to show through as ugly lumps.
• Stick with an under-bust with a short-hip. If you're wearing it over Lolita you're not going to want the corset to be too long, or it's going to give you a really weird shape. I've found the Timeless Trends corsets are just perfect for Lolita since they are a little on the short side. If you're buying from somewhere else, such as a custom corseter, and plan on wearing your corset over your Lolita clothes, try going for a waist cincher rather than an under-bust. It's exactly what it sounds like, a short corset that cinches in the waist.
  
• Invest in a couple plain camisoles to wear under your corset. So long as your corset isn't touching your skin, you need not worry about washing it too often. Frequent washing or skin contact can damage a corset. Plus, a couple cute camisole tops with a little bit of lace detail always adds to the dress-up thrill that Lolita brings.
• The corset should go over your normal Lolita under things. Put on any stockings, bloomers, petticoats, and camisoles that you are planning on wearing, then put your corset on over that.
• If you plan on wearing a JSK with a blouse, wearing a corset over the blouse, but under the JSK will help eliminate any bulk that the blouse would add, and also make sure that the blouse stays in place. Do a double check before you go out to make sure the corset can't be seen under the JSK, especially in the back!
• If you're going to be wearing the corset under your Lolita clothes, make sure you get your corset laced up with a ribbon. When you tie the corset off, the bow will lay flat against the corset. If your corset laces up with a cord, the bow will show up as a little lump through your clothes.
• Corsets don't look too good with A-line dresses, either over or under. Unless the A-line dress has a lot of poof to it, the corset is going to make it look really weird.

Links to some great info for anyone looking to buy their first corset

• Timeless Trends, affordable and well made corsets.
  
• Timeless Trend's how-to page. From putting on, to taking off, to corset wearing tips.
• Stay Lace's corset cleaning tips
• For a more in depth corset guide, here's an awesome 3 part corset guide on Dramatis Personae. Pt1, Pt2, Pt3.

Just one final note, I am by no means a corset expert or seamstress. I am just an excited wearer who likes to read up about them and occasionally introduce other people to the joys of corsetting.