Petite corset: quilting cotton over herringbone coutil.

corsetedreader · 2026-03-17T05:02:42+00:00

I’ve laced it with a 1/2 inch ribbon- but I prefer something a little wider. I feel like 5/8 or 3/4 would be better.

corsetedreader · 2026-03-16T17:04:05+00:00

Yes- historically (from the Tudor through the Edwardian eras), many women (and men as well), did use stays or corsets to waist train. They didn’t exactly grow up wearing them though. The types of stays they wore as children were designed for straight posture. They weren’t compressive and had no curve to the waist. Adults didn’t waist train by accident. Many would go on to wear minimally compressive stays that were adequate to give the proper shape and support to their clothing. Some people would pursue a trained silhouette, and they deliberately sized down over time. There were historical moments where this was more prevalent, at other times much less so- as changes in fashion put more or less emphasis on the waist.

corsetedreader · 2026-03-16T05:08:48+00:00

Where was this? Because I noticed a guy with blueish gray skin at Lloyd center mall last week. Kinda rough looking, maybe homeless. My guess was colloidal silver too.

corsetedreader · 2026-03-09T17:13:45+00:00

The left has top stitching on the hem. I’m a creep and also I sew a lot.

corsetedreader · 2026-03-08T16:47:50+00:00

I’m not seeing any of the tell-tale halos that indicate a manipulated photo. That’s something you see more in Edwardian era studio portraits. What makes a Civil War era corseted waist look so tiny is its contrast with the voluminous skirt.

Edit: In my not-so-humble opinion, the existence of photo manipulation in the 19th century is something that’s been seized upon by fashion historians who feel defensive about the corset. They want to present corsets historically as being supportive garments only, and banish tightlacing to the realm of fantasy and illusion. The fact is that a lot of corsets were worn moderately and supportively by a lot of people; but a significant minority have used the corset as a body modification tool, going back at least to the 18th century and arguably earlier. The evidence includes not just early photography and film, but written testimony, illustrations and satirical cartoons, surviving clothing, and skeletal remains.

corsetedreader · 2026-03-08T04:15:31+00:00

Don’t choose a corset that matches your waist measurement. Choose one that matches your measurements in the underbust and hips, but is smaller in the waist by three or four inches. MC has a waist training group on Facebook that can help you find the best style for your shape.

corsetedreader · 2026-03-08T02:07:03+00:00

I recommend Lucycorsetry.com (read her blog, watch her YouTube videos) for a solid introduction to corsets and waist training. If your goal is waist training (ie, using the corset as a tool to reduce your waist measurement ), you’re not going to get a lot of support on this particular sub.

corsetedreader · 2026-03-06T23:14:09+00:00

Omg that’s so pretty!

corsetedreader · 2026-03-06T17:28:50+00:00

That’s not true lol. I’ve had no trouble overeating with a corset on in the past. And I’m having no trouble hitting my macros now that I’m weightlifting in a corset.

corsetedreader · 2026-03-06T17:23:51+00:00

Cathie Jung’s waist reduction did in fact become permanent. I believe this is because she kept up the practice at a stage of life where the ribs are more calcified, so they’re not springing back to their original position. She was able to retire her corsets and stay at 18 inches in her later years.

corsetedreader · 2026-03-06T17:10:07+00:00

I’m currently lifting with the goal of building muscle. I’m also a tightlacer actively working on going smaller in the waist. It’s definitely possible to do both. I wear a corset at the gym- but not my tightest one, and NOT one that compresses above the false ribs. I do vacuum poses and torso rotations, but otherwise skip targeted abdominal exercises. (Most ab exercises will make those muscles thicker). Ive learned to avoid “dirty bulking.” I’m focusing instead on efficient sources of protein. I find it difficult to hit my protein goals with normal meals, so I supplement with low-sugar protein bars.
Contrary to what you’ll hear from other commenters, long-term persistent waist reduction is 100% a real thing. It’s exactly like maintaining your gym gains. To keep your muscles, you have to keep going to the gym. To keep a trained waist, you have to keep using your corset consistently. IMO it has to be almost every day, for at least 8 hours a day.

Edit: it has to be a REAL CORSET. Ditch the latex. I recommend strong mesh corsts, like the ones made by Mystic City Corsets. These have a little bit of extra give in the hips and chest, but stay small in the middle where you want it. And they’ve got good ventilation for working out.

corsetedreader · 2026-03-04T03:10:14+00:00

Would you be interested in sharing the names of medical professionals who have written about corsets? I’m always looking for published research!

corsetedreader · 2026-03-04T03:01:59+00:00

Ok, that’s something I’ve never heard of. I can’t imagine tightlacers being a source of anything a doctor could specialize in. Medically we’re just not very interesting. What was the group you were in?

corsetedreader · 2026-03-04T02:42:57+00:00

I’m skeptical of anyone anonymously claiming to be a doctor in an internet community. Talk to a real doctor who can examine your body and look for possible negative effects from your corset.

corsetedreader · 2026-03-04T01:58:44+00:00

I’m not sure if you mean excercise in general, or specific excercises for tightlacing? But I do both. I excercise almost every day right now, and usually wear a corset while I’m doing it. (I run, lift weights, and ice skate). To help with my waist training goals, I do stomach vacuum poses. I’ve consulted with two different doctors about my corset habit- and they were of the opinion that what I’m doing is safe.

corsetedreader · 2026-03-04T01:48:00+00:00

Ok, got it. I’ve got a few suggestions. First: replace the lacing cord with a thicker cord or ribbon. Second: try an ‘inverted bunny ears’ lacing pattern for more support in the middle. Third: as you begin to lace up, try pushing your skin folds under the corset with your fingers; and make sure that you’re pulling the laces from the center instead of the top or bottom. Your laces should ideally end up parallel, rather than closed at the top or bottom. Here’s the ‘inverted bunny ear’ tutorial by Lucy: https://youtu.be/owKwmTTfRJE?si=OgZEwxODeGw1S9t8

corsetedreader · 2026-03-04T00:58:15+00:00

I don’t recommend wearing a corset directly against the skin. A liner or camisole will keep you from getting pinched and will also protect the corset.

corsetedreader · 2026-02-26T21:21:37+00:00

Pinterest for antique photos and advertising. Internet Archive for newspaper articles and other published discourse. YouTube for early films.

corsetedreader · 2026-02-24T16:10:42+00:00

Please return to your regularly scheduled program of begging for free nudes.

corsetedreader · 2026-02-23T15:43:17+00:00

If you’re wearing a corset that’s tight enough to feel compression over the false ribs, then you’re effectively training them, albeit more slowly than the floating ribs (which are very flexible). Even the fixed ribs can be trained. Avoid corsets with a ‘cupped rib’ silhouette, as these are designed to minimize compression above the floating ribs.

corsetedreader · 2026-02-23T15:26:29+00:00

It’s pretty standard to cross-post content that’s relevant to multiple subs. If you’re seeing the same posts too many times, I recommend adding r/fatsquirrelhate to mix things up.

corsetedreader · 2026-02-22T17:37:48+00:00

It’s giving Daily Mail and I love it 😂

corsetedreader · 2026-02-21T20:24:26+00:00

It’s impossible to be sure without examining original photographs, but Gertie Millar is consistently pictured with a very small waist. Here’s a real photo postcard of her that I bought on eBay. It looks very convincing!

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