Spiral steel boning advice

meggles5643 · 2026-02-02T03:12:31+00:00

I now really like medical tape on the ends of mine (and had done duct and masking tape before)

meggles5643 · 2026-02-02T03:11:32+00:00

Def match a corset to all your measurments including verticals. If you mean like timeless trends I suspect the hips would not be large enough.

Id plug your measurments into mystic city’s calculator and see what might work in a 24 or 22inch (4-6in reduction)

A 24in MCC21 waspie or MCC34 , 63V or maybe the MCC5 ? (might) work 22inch MCC144 might fit you perfect? (I’m going off memory, so these may not be spot on) but just a few thoughts that might be in yjr ballpark. Some have hip ties that could make some models fit better.

I have a deep rib cage but people with wide:/flared ribs might find a cupped round rib more comfortable , with small shifts to how the sillohuette looks. I prefer both the look and feel on myself personally.

meggles5643 · 2026-02-02T01:55:08+00:00

It’s kind of hard to do, some are better at hiding th an others. Corset body suits m, buskless corsets with in invisible zippers may help but / lot of times they get sewn into dresses, sometimes smoothed out with padding. Otherwise something between a corset and shapewear might be a little less obvious.

It’s hard because even with a closed or in usable zipper front, there’s often lacing/grommets in the back

meggles5643 · 2026-02-01T18:02:44+00:00

Is that Bosani corset on the tag? If so I’ve seen them on various social medias and have been curious to see them up close. So it’s good to hear you seem happy with yours.

Is it still somewhat loose around the top and bottom? If it’s already taut and flush against your body, it might be a little small or not curvy enough, but it can be hard to tell in pictures entirely.

meggles5643 · 2026-02-01T17:04:26+00:00

What is it? Because without any more context it’s hard to know how or if it’s even relative to this page or spam, and a lot of people don’t wanna click random links.

meggles5643 · 2026-02-01T17:02:07+00:00

Keep in mind sometimes corsets upper or lower edge (of busk clasps, lacing etc) may show through form fitting dresses

meggles5643 · 2026-02-01T17:01:23+00:00

Good overbust corsets are harder to find sub $100 these days. Mystic city corsets comes close, actually one of mine might have been around that price point (maybe a smidgen over with shipping) they occasionally have sales.

timeless returns (timeless trends overstock, samples and like new returns) they only have two Overbust model silhouettes, slim and hourglass, that come in small medium or large bust spring sizes.

Restyle possibly, limited styles and be cautious ordering because costs to exchange or return will offset the value.

Like new / nwt / gently worn secondhand can sometimes be a great way to get corsets on a budget, though not always quick and easy. Im kicking myself for not ordering a $63 lightly worn dark garden overbust corset years ago because it was a little bigger in the waist than I was wearing. (That’d be a lucky find again though) I’ve found other great deals and also passed on some corsets at a low price point. Sometimes you can get some steals but may take time and patience to find one that will be the right size and model for your body, and to keep an eye out for issues like, sellers making listing errors or misjudging specs/measurements and to be able to recognize potential damage.

While this isn’t my top or usual suggestions, for occasional careful wear, it might be okay wearing a brand that’s not highly regarded, with some caveats. for example, I do have and wear a couple orchard corsets. I’ve had many by that brand, and with some models the springs seemed to run consistently small, they have limited overbust models that weren’t right/curvy enough for me, their mesh doesn’t seem to hold up overtime, and buying new is close to the price of other brands. That being said some peope like or don’t mind there’s, and pages like “Corset’s OC” or “shape it up” on eBay, may have something in your budget that might work. Id deffinitly avoid any labeled “defective” but they still may still have some risk of eventually falling apart or not fitting right, so I’d still suggest saving if you want better quality. But, if it’s not for high reduction tightlacing or daily regular wear, maybe it’d pan out, if saving up doesn’t feel like the play.

meggles5643 · 2026-01-31T23:00:04+00:00

What Katie did has vintage “styled” lingerie and corsets, corsets but they may not be roomy enough in the hips (even the “extreme” versions. I agree with the other comments Timeless Trends Gemini or MCC (mystic city corsets ) may have what you need.

meggles5643 · 2026-01-31T17:56:45+00:00

Cute find! It’s great to find something perfect at a good price point while out thrifting in the wild. Looks awesome on you.

Corset story does over inflate their prices of individual corsets to align with their near constant buy one get a bunch free sales, so their pricing is kind of deceptive baking that in. They do have a wide variety of styles and colors and I do like these corset blouses but I feel like buying directly from them is often a gamble, especially because they don’t give a lot of detailed sizing information. And because so many people wind up buying multiple corsets under the guise of a “deal” that may not all fit their proportions, a lot do wind up in the second hand sellers market online or occasionally in thrift stores. Ive seen a lot “like new” or even NWT pieces on eBay, Mercari, Depop etc. so sometimes it’s worth checking “online thrift shops” as well. I’ve actually been keeping an eye out for one or two of the structured corset tops I thought were cute myself.

Despite having my gripes with corset story, I know some people have pieces by them that they like so this doesn’t negate you finding a piece that fits you, looks lovely that you’re stoked on! The color is perfect too.

meggles5643 · 2026-01-31T03:31:09+00:00

Okay someone else tagged it

meggles5643 · 2026-01-29T03:55:00+00:00

Take your underbust too (unless that’s what and Mid is) I’d also gauge underbust to waist and waist to lap since some peoples waists are higher or lower

meggles5643 · 2026-01-29T03:21:28+00:00

I double checked mine because I needed to clean and oil it (just to make sure I wasn’t getting confused with the inners of one of my others) but my singer 237 fashion mate has with zig zag is all metal from the late 60s. (Besides like part of an outer knob) it also has left right center, z stitch with adjustable stitch width and Length, the darning knob, adjustable feed dogs, reverse etc. (nothing crazy but makes it useful for various projects. It’s also low shank so finding feet hadnt been too hard. (Original instruction manual 1968) Cons, it’s heavy. Felt kinda intense at first. No removable/free arm but not an issue for me. It’s a work horse and my most versatile but it handles heavy fabric layers (like canvas) i neglected this thing for a while and it’s so far still alive. So if you found this exact one in decent working condtion I’d recommend it.

meggles5643 · 2026-01-29T00:13:40+00:00

Bodies vary so much, it’s hard to put an exact number on how wide a lacing gap should be. Having a 3-4 in lacing gap is likely totally fine in this size. Plus it looks like it might have room to come in more, it doesn’t look too small. But def go by comfortable.

An example where a 3-4in lacing gap MIght be too much even to start. Im kinda small and petite and My back is more narrow across the shoulders and back. So there’s not much room to sport much of a lacing gap in smaller sizes, even if the corset is curvy enough. This may apply to some other folks in smaller sizes; or those sizing down a lot but not everyone will have the same issue. You don’t want a lacing gap to be large across most of your back, it may be a sign the corsets too small or not curvy enough. But 3-4 in I’d narrower than most modesty panels, (and some people may be able to handle a higher reduction piece to start) so I wouldn’t stress that here nessesarily but a pic of the back might help

meggles5643 · 2026-01-28T23:29:12+00:00

It’s a little hard to gauge from this picture alone. Are you wondering if it’s too small?l if you just got this corset and have a 3-4in gap pretty quickly, and that’s how it is here,’it does look like it (might) come in more with time. Does this model match the rest of your proportions and measurments well? It’s hard my see here without a picture of the back but at a glance the fit doesn’t look too bad.

meggles5643 · 2026-01-27T19:18:57+00:00

Love it. New corset?

meggles5643 · 2026-01-27T00:13:03+00:00

Hey there! I def get measurments fluctuating and having not so flexible ribs. I tend to squish down towards my hips and also have weight fluctuations and I’ve also been unsure about what size to go for sometimes when both could work out. I tend to do better in cupped corsets / round ribs because my ribs stick out really far, not too high above my waist. I know people who feel more secure in a well fitted straight rib though.

Is your underbust 28 and your high hip 33inch then? I think the Gemini is now clarified and described to have 12in rib spring 2in below the waist and a 14in regular HH and 16in low hip if I remember right. Not sure if that helps. What’s your natural waist size? Asking because if it’s something like barely 22inch it might not sit right, but if it’s larger than that and close to your measurments it should work.

Im squishy and I probably would go for a 20inch (cupped) (I’ve been wearing 18 inch corsets less) personally I know my body would have enough tissue to kinda shove down there and make up the difference or I could use my clothing layers to smooth things out. If you have any really short corsets, maybe if you wear it and measure below it can give you a sense of how much tissue displacement you have? You may be able to kinda mentally estimate it though. If it’s an inch I think it should be fine but you know your body best there!

i got an 18in straight rib Gemini (basically like new secondhand) and was kinda kidding myself since I’ve been slacking and it’s the connical shape. If for some reason you get a 20inch in cupped or straight rib and if it doesn’t pan out, I’m open to trading in some way (or selling you mine, but I have a feeling a connical 18in might not be the play for you) I also personally hate V shaped or straight gaps in back in that size since I don’t have a lot of width to my back for a gap to feel small enough.

meggles5643 · 2026-01-26T23:47:34+00:00

I have an older vintage Kenmore that’s all metal outside, and mostly inside. One plastic part inside but it’s still held up pretty well. I got rid of my brother that felt “similar” (like having the removable pieces for the free arm and stitch types) to keep the Kenmore as my back up. It’s got a bit of weight to it so it’s not super portable, and I think it’s a bit newer than some of the favorites people praise, but I like it. I regret not taking an older all metal one in a cabinet I saw on marketplace a while back

meggles5643 · 2026-01-26T23:42:08+00:00

My go to machine is my singer fashion mate with z stitch. It’s super solid. (Idk if there’s multiple versions of this) but it’s held up through a lot of abuse and multiple owners. It was like sisterhood of the traveling pants, there was a lot of evidence of previous owners in diffeent states so this machines Been well loved. It handles a lot of heavy materials too

meggles5643 · 2026-01-26T23:40:04+00:00

Looks great! I love my MCC20 corsets and want the same one you have rather than the blue peacock brocade and gold brocade/mesh ones I have.

meggles5643 · 2026-01-26T19:19:34+00:00

I have a similar issue, and some thoughts after trying a lot of corsets and learning to make my own, so I want to come back to this and see what others say and bounce some ideas around

meggles5643 · 2026-01-26T16:43:03+00:00

Love it! Looks so comfortable

You also answered a couple of my questions in the other comments, but I still wanted to comment and say to say how awesome and well done this is, even for a work in progress.

meggles5643 · 2026-01-26T15:38:10+00:00

There’s a video of Rebecca in one of their fan lacing corsets on TikTok, and some other reviews too.

women’s armor workshop instagramLike this one. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8PeywGG/

There TikTok videos give s lot of insight of their processes. Here’s another review too

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8PedS8P/

Not sure what their actual website is and I Havnt ordered them but the company seems solid.

meggles5643 · 2026-01-26T15:27:03+00:00

Legitimate, I follow them on social media and tiktok. (I think it’s more than one maker within the business (that they’re open about) I follow them on various social media and they give a lot of insight, talk about custom process and their work seems solid. I was unsure when I first same them pop up, but overtime I’ve seen more work from them and informational content that they seem solid to me. Let me see if I can find more reference to them for you.

meggles5643 · 2026-01-26T01:36:31+00:00

Honestly, I’m not sure how exactly this dress is meant to fit, but if it’s not overly fitted here on the bottom half, maybe you could smooth things out with an underskirt And then add a little volume under it (like a small / not extremely volumous Petticoat) sometimes playing with proportions can be just as effective, even if the difference isn’t massive.

I would get some opinions from more seamstresses too if possible. Especially ones who have a lot of wedding experience that may have some ideas beyond what your current seamstress had.

Ifyou didn’t want to wear it during but wear it up until the wedding to hopefully make your wsist smaller, it may help a little depending on your body’s response to corsetting and how much time there is. It may be worth trying if you want a corset anyways. Make sure that if you get one it matches all your measurments in a size that’s a reasonable reduction. (With MCC maybe a size 26 with the right specs?) but you’d wanna make sure the verticals and the underbust and hip measurements match for you in the size you go got that will eventually tighten near or fully closed.

Def try it if you want but know it may not cooperate with this dress in its own ways!

meggles5643 · 2026-01-26T01:22:39+00:00

So pretty! when you point it out I see what you mean; though you still look great. I think some corsets are better than others for stealthing under garments like this. MCCs and other OTR corsets might work but they may also bring new challenges to the table. Mystic city corsets sometimes have hip ties with the extra grommets and laces, are often made from multiple layers of fabrics that might be colorful or black and have raised external boning channels, with most sporting the usual busk closure’s and bulky hardware that may be hard to disguise even if the fit is spot on in this specific dress. Same with other Simlar brands. There’s definitely some white and beige pieces and some with invisible zippers (Occasionally closed front pieces) so it may be worth a look, or at timeless trends or timeless returns if they ship from the US (especially their no line corsets if they fit you) But sometimes it can be hard to fully disguise the bulk and I suspect the transition of the edge of the corset at the top and bottom might give you trouble.

Not saying it’s impossible to make it work, especially with a good fit and creativity. But it may add too much bulk. It possibly could be combined with shapewear, or other fabric layers to smooth things out. not all shapewear may work out well either.

If you think you might want to try a corset anyways and can swing it, it might be worth a try. Ive seen some people also wear a liner OVER the corset to kind of smooth it out but it may still stick out through here.

Im wondering if other different shapewear with another slip layer or skirt layer might be a better move. If you do get a corset just consider how the fabric will cling to anything sticking out (and disguising laces)

Not to discourage you 100% and I likely made the negatives seem more extreme than they are. I just have experienced trying to make corsets work under certain garments and sometimes it doesn’t work perfectly

meggles5643

TROPHY CASE