So you have decided you want to buy a corset. Don't be fooled by the cheap "fake" corsets you see in chain stores or lingerie stores. Most things you see in stores at the mall are not real corsets, they are just boned bodices with plastic boning. The 1st thing you need to look for when looking to buy a real corset is the boning. Real corsets have steel boning. Steel boning comes in two main forms, Spring steels or "flat" steels or Spiral Steel. Spring Steel is flat steel boning that is sometimes but not always covered in a plastic coating. It comes in 1/4 and 1/2 widths. Spiral steel boning is steel boning that looks like a tiny slinky with curled links of steel making the boning, it is more flexible than Spring Steel and is used on bust seams and bendable parts of the corset. Bottom line, if a corset does not have any of these types of boning in it it is NOT a real corset. Real corsets are made to cinch your waist and smooth your figure. Only steel boning can do this. Plastic boning does not work because it shapes to your body and when your body gets warm it retains that shape and does not go back to the original position, causing lumps and bumps in your corset. It also tends to bow out in areas of pressure. Quality real corsets should have multiple layers of fabric including at least the outside fashion fabric, interfacing, and lining. This assures that the steel boning does not "cut" through the fabric. Real corsets should be able to handle cinching your body 2-6 inches without any bowing, tearing, or visible strain. The lacing should be able to withstand a strain as well. Pricing varies but as a general rule of thumb unless it's on super sale you should be paying anywhere from $150-$500 for a real quality corset. Corsets are best if purchased custom sized to your body if you are looking for one for real waist training. Off the rack corsets are best for light wear and non-serious corset wearers as they will be sized to standard sizes and not your own curves.

Throughout history corsets have been worn to change the shape of a woman's body (namely the waist) to fit into fashions that were currently in style. These days people wear corsets for two reasons:

1)For fashion, this meaning you simply like the look of a narrow tucked in waist and hourglass shape.

2) For waist training, this is when you wear a corset to physically change the shape of your waist. This should be done with extreme caution and the subject should be researched. You CAN hurt yourself when wearing a corset incorrectly (think about it this is a garment that is squishing your insides).

There is one main thing to keep in mind when buying/wearing a corset. Corsets are NOT an answer to weight loss and will not make you lose weight. Corsets move around the placement of your bodies fat but they will not make you thinner and are not an answer to the problem of dieting. You should only wear a corset because you LIKE the look of a corset or LIKE the feel of a corset, never to improve your health or weight.

With that said, I hope this article has helped you on your way to finding the perfect corset. Below you will find my own favorite links to corset makers on the net. Happy corseting everyone!

I have had a lot of people ask me what a real corset vs a "fashion" or fake corset looks like. So below are two photo examples that I hope help you out.