A Corset Story

I love a challenge! When I was contacted by Jess from A Corset Story and asked if I would like to refash one of their corsets, I happily said yes! After perusing the huge selection on their site, I eventually just asked them to surprise me.

You see…I’d never actually worn a corset before. With the rise of boudoir photography, it seems like everyone is getting corseted and sexy. “Why not?” I asked. “I can do it!”

Just like this! — “I’ll look *just* like this!” I thought.

Then it arrived in the mail.

You’re looking at a perfectly lovely black satin steel boned corset. And I was looking at my rapidly-depleting nerve. There’s a reason why you don’t ever see me in cute pinup-style dresses and stiletto pumps. Any time I actually try to look sexy, I end up looking like a sad 12-year-old misfit playing dress-up. :/

But I had to rise to the challenge! I needed to make this intimidating garment look a little less severe. I dug through my bins of fabric, and found this curtain panel I scored for 5o cents at a thrift shop ages ago.

Douglas wonders what's going on. — Douglas wonders what’s going on.

I began to cut. I snipped out a section that was twice the size of the front of my corset, with an extra few inches added on.

I pressed 1″ of the long raw edge of this section down.

It's a most "pressing" matter. — It’s a most “pressing” matter.

Then, I cut it in half!

I pinned each of these lace sections to the front of my corset, like so:

There was no way my machine could handle sewing through this thing, so I got to enjoy a bit of relaxing TV watching while I hand-stitched. 🙂

I'm working, I swear! — I’m working, I swear!

Once the long parts were stitched down and the short parts were sewn to the inside, I tacked down each of the points!

Now! What was I going to wear this with? I opted for a street style friendly skinny jeans and tank combo with a fun green beret! Dan helped me lace up the back (You definitely need help getting into one of these) as I sucked in braced myself against a doorjamb. 🙂

I thought my outfit was well-suited for an evening of art gallery crawling!

While in this alley, a gentleman to my left played director for my “photo shoot”. 😉

"Be confused!" he said. — “Be confused!” he said.

"Be sensual!" He said. I clearly think the Zoolander "Blue Steel" look is sensual. — “Be sensual!” He said. I clearly think the Zoolander “Blue Steel” look is sensual.

"You're an ANIMAL!" he shouted. — “You’re an ANIMAL!” he shouted.

Some of my friends were fascinated by my minified waistline.

My hypnotist (not kidding) friend, Fredric is fascinated!

But I liked that my new corset didn’t stick out too much or seem too odd to anyone. 🙂

It's filmmaker, Christ White! :) — It’s filmmaker, Chris White! 🙂

It's local artist, Michael Krajewski! :) — It’s local artist, Michael Krajewski! 🙂

My corset was surprisingly comfortable, and I must admit…my posture was stellar all night! 🙂

Thanks so much to A Corset Story for presenting me with this exciting challenge! Do you think you’d wear a refashioned corset out and about, be it steampunk, girlie, funky, or crazy? How would you have refashed/styled this one?

Cheers!