Bodice Issues

[Lady D]

(note: I just copied this out of my livejournal, so it may read a little funky, but it's the situation).
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I need help.

I played with my bodices today--I have three of them--and realized that I have an issue. And it's frustrating. I have an hourglass figure, a *definite* hourglass figure, which I do want to show off. It's set off by a 36DD rack up top--subsequently, any bodice I buy ends up being "saggy" around the middle. No matter how tight I pull the lacings, in front or back, it always looks like a tube on me, in order to ensure that my breasts are not exploding (and I mean as in my nipples are not *over* the bodice, even with judicious tucking and fluffing) over the bodice-top.

ANy bodice I've looked at that fits my waist for the hourglass figure makes my breasts explode and any over-bust bodice look like it's an under-bust on me. I have one which I can still lace into, but I run into the explosion problem. I have one which "sags", and is uncomfortable because it squishes the boys (and as Rocket once said--they cause this much trouble, they've *got* to be male!) rather than accenting them.

My third bodice is a light leather back-lacing one, which also squishes more than accents.

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I don't mind tightlacing--hells, I enjoy it!--but I want to look good for Faire this year, not a tuppeny whore or someone who can't get their costuming together. I'm looking for someone who can advise me on this, and I know we have enough costumers and seamstresses here that I hope someone can advise me!

[Theresa Grant]

I have a similar problem in that my figure does not fit the "traditional" pattern for a bodice. I'm very small in the bust already, and by the time I'm in a bodice I'm maybe a 32 there... But the rest of the bodice can be waaaaayyyy too tight. My solution was a godsend -- a friend who is a seamstress struck a deal with me, and now she makes all my bodices custom. If I buy one that she doesn't make, it gets handed to her and she alters it to fit me correctly. Is there a possibility that you know someone who can customize a bodice pattern for you?

[FairieTink]

Lady Linda .... [email protected] she custom makes all her stuff..

[Ysobelle]

I'm in the same boat, which is why I got into the corsetting business in the first place. I now make all my corset bodices custom for each person-- yours is, alas, a common problem! (Finding bodices, I mean-- being curvy is never a problem!)

You might try lacing from the top AND the bottom, then tying off in the middle, at your waistline. Gives you a lot more control. Is that possible?

[mstarfire]

I might have a solution for you. A friend of mine and I just came back from Sterling, where she picked up a new bodice from Fantasia Clothing.
She is a larger woman with a size I cup (yes you read that right, one above H).
She never fit a bodice right, always too loose at the waist and way too tight at the top, creating an waterfall effect.
Artemas had one that not only made her comfortable, but actually made her look like a simply well endowed woman of, say a D cup.
She hopes to catch up with him again either at Sterling, or MDRF or FlaRF and is willing to recommend him to any woman, particularly of curvy figure.

[Lady D]

I'm in the same boat, which is why I got into the corsetting business in the first place. I now make all my corset bodices custom for each person-- yours is, alas, a common problem! (Finding bodices, I mean-- being curvy is never a problem!)

You might try lacing from the top AND the bottom, then tying off in the middle, at your waistline. Gives you a lot more control. Is that possible?

I can try, but they just don't look quite right... ::sigh:: I have two corsets that work perfectly, and I wish to the skies that I could wear one of them to Faire, but they don't look right. Yes, I'm vain, damnit. ;) One of them is a Victoria's Secret one with hook-and-eyes in the back, and the other is one I bought that has lacing in the back, which I do lace in two pieces to the middle.

I am going to have to find a custom-corsetress (corsetier?) at NYRF this year, I think. I /do/ want one with boning in it, which might help. Given this situation, I want to meet with someone in person, or go shopping with the goods, versus online.

Can anyone reccomend any of the vendors at NYRF? I know there are issues with Moresca (visually appealing but the service is extremely fickle)--any reccomendations? Price is not an option on this--I need one that fits. I also live close enough to NYRF that if any of you seamstresses will be there, I will happily come down at your convenience if we can talk bodice for a few minutes, and as I will be of legal drinking age (finally!), I will treat you to drink or lunch as thanks.

If any of you seamstresses/corsetresses/?? are interested, please PM me. ANy vendor reccomendations--well, please do post those as I'm sure I'm not the only curious one!

-the appreciative,
Lady D-

[Muireadach - PirateRogue]

I can try, but they just don't look quite right... ::sigh:: I have two corsets that work perfectly, and I wish to the skies that I could wear one of them to Faire, but they don't look right. Yes, I'm vain, damnit. ;) One of them is a Victoria's Secret one with hook-and-eyes in the back, and the other is one I bought that has lacing in the back, which I do lace in two pieces to the middle.

Lady D-

With the Victorias secret corset you might try and make a cover for it, so you can hide the material and the closure. My wife did that for her wedding dress. She cut material and sewed the cover, the idea is kinda like a slipcover for a couch. She actually sewed the material to the corset, but you could do it without the sewing.

Hope that really vague explination helps.

[Lady D]

I can try, but they just don't look quite right... ::sigh:: I have two corsets that work perfectly, and I wish to the skies that I could wear one of them to Faire, but they don't look right. Yes, I'm vain, damnit. ;) One of them is a Victoria's Secret one with hook-and-eyes in the back, and the other is one I bought that has lacing in the back, which I do lace in two pieces to the middle.

Lady D-

With the Victorias secret corset you might try and make a cover for it, so you can hide the material and the closure. My wife did that for her wedding dress. She cut material and sewed the cover, the idea is kinda like a slipcover for a couch. She actually sewed the material to the corset, but you could do it without the sewing.

Hope that really vague explination helps.

Actually, it does. ::blink:: I had never considered that, but I will definitely. Because it's a very possible thing to do--I can even put fake "laces" in the front of the cover... ::lapses into thought::

Thanks, Kevin!

-Lady D-

[Lady D]

I believe I have found a solution. It's a bodice from Potted Fox, which I intend to purchase this weekend at PCRF. Very nice, fits just right, and fluffs and fits *without squishing*! It's a long-line bodice, which I think is part of what makes it look good for me.

Thank you all for your advise--and to the PM'ers, i'll get back to you. :) One can never have enough, after all--as long as they fit right...

[Pamela, Strawberry Tart]

I believe I have found a solution. It's a bodice from Potted Fox, which I intend to purchase this weekend at PCRF. Very nice, fits just right, and fluffs and fits *without squishing*! It's a long-line bodice, which I think is part of what makes it look good for me.

Thank you all for your advise--and to the PM'ers, i'll get back to you. :) One can never have enough, after all--as long as they fit right...

Which one did you get?? *hoping it was one of my designs for PFox* I want to see pictures!!

[Lady D]

I believe I have found a solution. It's a bodice from Potted Fox, which I intend to purchase this weekend at PCRF. Very nice, fits just right, and fluffs and fits *without squishing*! It's a long-line bodice, which I think is part of what makes it look good for me.

Thank you all for your advise--and to the PM'ers, i'll get back to you. :) One can never have enough, after all--as long as they fit right...

Which one did you get?? *hoping it was one of my designs for PFox* I want to see pictures!!

LoL... when I get it, and pictures, I will provide them most certainly. It's not up on the site yet--I think itw as the Circe? (nice full-length with two insets in the side of different colour, versus being a full one-piece of hide bodice). As soon as I get my bonus, I am buying it, and as soon as I buy it will give pictures. I will promise. ;)

-Lady D-

[Pamela, Strawberry Tart]

That's one of mine!! *does the dance of joy*

And it's brand new too! Congrats on being a trend -setter!

[Lady D]

LoL--well, honey, you did an excellent job, 'cuz it's just what I needed. Kudos to you! :cheer:

Can I have you autograph it? :)
:D

-Lady D-

[Saucy Ria]

Pamela... any idea when this bodice will be on the website? Do you think it would be helpful for shrinking, aging boobies as well???

thanks
Ria

[Lady D]

I know when I spoke to everyone there, they said the website was being worked on, so this bodice wouldn't be up for a bit. That's why I had to get the name of it. :? I'm pretty sure it would work--the thing that I love about it is that it is _not_ a short bodice, and the leather moves well, versus the squishing or sagging of the fabric. It should work... soon's I can get pictures, I'll post them somewhere. :)

[Pamela, Strawberry Tart]

Pamela... any idea when this bodice will be on the website? Do you think it would be helpful for shrinking, aging boobies as well???

thanks
Ria

This is an alteration of the newly-redesigned classic PFox bodice. When we redesigned the old version of the PFox bodice, we did a prototype, and had four different women of various body types and bra sizes try it out. Let's just say that it gives cleavage to those sho have none and perky VaVOOM to those who have plenty. As Samantha put it "It (her cleavage) would be considered obscene, but it's utterly perfect! No spillage or naughty bits showing!"

Try on a new PFox bodice to see how it'll make you look fantastic, and we can always make a new Circe bodice (same upper body cut, but longline and a bit of a skirt tail in the back) in your size and color. OR, if you want, I can design something totally different, just for you! :-D

[Ariel]

On the topic of bodices, I was hoping to find a new one that would fit a person with a long waist and small ribs, but big breasts. Most of the bodices cut me way to short and I don't like the result. Any suggestions? I want the type of bodice that fits to my ribs so its comfy but doesn't make my breasts look obscene.

[Lady D]

That's similar to mine. I am going to be swearing by Potted Fox, which I'm sure no one will complain about--but... definitely look at them! :) Fit me wondrously, and most bodices end too short on me.

[Pamela, Strawberry Tart]

*G* They're made for the regular-to-long waisted, because I'm long waisted myself. There are tons of bodices out there for petite and short waisted women, and they barely hit the bottom of my ribcage (I have a 15" busk on my corset, if that gives you any idea of how long waisted I am. In fact, the new bodice design -not the Circe- gets a 1" addition in length when I have one done for myself.)

*G* And wait until you see the Franco bodice -not my personal design, but the prototype is mine, thanks to Daemion.

Oh, did I mention that because they're leather, you can FIGHT in them?? no boning restrictions, and they take a gallon of water in a direct hit, and still look darn good (ask anyone who was at Stockwood last year!)

(/shilling)

[Ariel]

I like the idea of leather for a bodice, but I don't want to invest in leather right now because I'll be working the pubs at Tux this year. I don't want to soak a leather bodice in beer and mead and soda and not be able to just wash it. I'm looking for a fabric bodice that would fit a long waisted woman, rather than cut me and make me look weird. Well, weirder anyway. :lol:

[Flansy]

I have a VERY hour glass shape and a long torso...what works for me is making my own bodice with the good old duck tape bodice. put on old t-shirt wrap long pieces of duck tape so that it forms and supports like you want your bodice to fit. Cut up and use tapped t-shirt pieces as pattern for perfect form fitting bodice. I love it....uhm I hope that makes sense.