Monday, June 8, 2015

Breath, girl! Breath!



This weekend while I was at an event, I had several people make comments about how they liked the look of corsets, but they liked breathing more. Or there were others who told me about a show they watched, or something they saw on the internet where this person laced their corset up tight enough to make their waist 20" or something incredibly tight. And this seems to be what people think corsets are for, and why they avoid them. Uh, no!

Tight lacing is one reason to wear a corset, but it is not the only reason. I have had people in the past come to me for corsets to help ease back trouble upon doctor recommendation. One of my top reasons for wearing a corset is that they are so much more supportive than a bra, and less stress on my shoulders and back. Like I said in a past post, you don't have to lace your corset to the point where you can't breath, in fact, you shouldn't lace it to that point. 

Well, if the point isn't to lace as tight as you can stand it, then what is tight lacing? Tight lacing is a process, it is a commitment, and it's not something you just jump in and out of. The idea is to slowly mold your form, not all at once. Here are the basic points:
  • Your corset should be worn 23 hours a day
    • This is what I mean by commitment. If you are tight lacing, the only time you should take the corset off is to shower or bathe. That means that you eat, sleep, and go about your day with the corset on.
      • Note: This again takes building into. You can't go from never wearing a corset to wearing it 23 hours a day, 7 days a week. Start with 3-5 hours a day and build up every week or two until you are at goal. 
  • Go SLOW
    • The first corset you buy to tight lace should almost fit your body exactly. The best way to get the proper fit is to pull the tape measure tightly when you take your measurements. This is how your corset should fit. It should be comfortable, and you should be able to go about your daily activities with out much (if any) resistance. 
    • From here you can move down. Most corset makers will put a little room to shrink into your corset (covered by a modesty panel). Usually this is only 1-2 inches. Leave those inches until you get used to the fit you're in. As that becomes comfortable, lace a bit tighter until you get to the point the corset is too big. Then you buy the next size down. 
    • That process can take 6-9months at a time between corsets. Again, go slow, don't rush it, or you can do some damage. Your body needs time to adjust. 
  • Buy quality
    • as I've mentioned before, if you are going to tight lace, you need to buy a quality corset designed for tight lacing and made to your measurements. We all squish differently and we're all shaped slightly differently. Buying a generic corset based only on your waist measurement is not going to fit everyone the same, and therefor will not only squish differently, but it could be dangerous to use in that way. No one likes cracked ribs.
  • Don't go half way
    • Proper waist training is not going to happen in a day. It's also not going to happen if you decide to take every other day off, or wear your corset on occasion. If that's all you want, that's great, corsets are fun! But don't expect lasting results, and stick to the rules. 
Wear your corset comfortably. And breath!

No comments:

Post a Comment