"Quality" Corsets vs Crap ones?

[Troy Spiral (13)]

I assume this just has to do with the quality of the materials?

Twice now (well probably a ton more than that but only twice can I remember the specific language or was I really paying attention) I've heard lets call it "corset snob" talk, but had no clue how to tell one from the other, both times I clearly remember seeing women wearing corsets, and heard nearby commentary about how one was "good" while the other was "low quality" both looked pretty well done to me.

[*Siren*]

I assume this just has to do with the quality of the materials?

Twice now (well probably a ton more than that but only twice can I remember the specific language or was I really paying attention) I've heard lets call it "corset snob" talk, but had no clue how to tell one from the other, both times I clearly remember seeing women wearing corsets, and heard nearby commentary about how one was "good" while the other was "low quality" both looked pretty well done to me.

The biggest difference is the boning. A cheap corset has plastic boning that bends and loses its shape. These corsets don't really cinch your waist either. Real ones have steel boning to hold everything in place and give you an hourglass figure. The cheap ones are a decent alternative if you like the style of a corset without the pain or you can't afford to spend $300 on a real corset. Cheap ones can be found at most lingerie stores for around $50.

[Illuminatrix]

The boning really does make a difference. I just got a metal boned corset in the mail, and I'm positively in love with it.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

The biggest difference is the boning. A cheap corset has plastic boning that bends and loses its shape. These corsets don't really cinch your waist either. Real ones have steel boning to hold everything in place and give you an hourglass figure. The cheap ones are a decent alternative if you like the style of a corset without the pain or you can't afford to spend $300 on a real corset. Cheap ones can be found at most lingerie stores for around $50.

The boning really does make a difference. I just got a metal boned corset in the mail, and I'm positively in love with it.

So in actual practice I'm probably not going to be able to "see" the difference of a "decent" cheap corset and a high quality one it sounds like? Basicly one is just going to wear out a lot faster (and probably not be able to be tightened nearly as much) ?

Two of my exes were pretty accomplished seamstress's , that were both into "this type" *points around* of clothing, you'd think I'd have learned more. I do remember talk about "boning" (tries really hard not to say anything) but didn't pay much attention. Although we are talking about "the old troy" (I'm a lot more attentive and such than I was years ago, actually not just a lot, a HELL of a lot.)

I guess that is a pretty big price difference. If i could find a pair of say.. leather/pleather pants for $50 (yeah right) that looked almost as good as a "quality pair" for $300 (that only a very few people could really tell the difference between) probably be an easy choice for me.

[Glory13666]

I have both cheap and not so cheap corsets. They both have the plus sides, the cheap ones are cheap and the good ones are good. lol.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

I have both cheap and not so cheap corsets. They both have the plus sides, the cheap ones are cheap and the good ones are good. lol.

Best pro & con breakdown ever.

Although re-reading through the above about the difference between good and "bad" corsets I really do like the "its about the boning" sort of cliff notes reason, its easy to remember for us pervert males.

[Glory13666]

Yes, the boning does make all the difference. However, I'm not always in the mood to have my insides squished into oblivion but when I am.....

[TygerLili]

Actually there are four types of boning a corset can have: continuous steel, spiral steel, plastic, and actual (real or synthetic) bone.

The corset style tops that you can get at lingerie shops, or most mall stores that sell "corsets," have plastic boning instead of steel boning. They also usually have hook-and-eye closures instead of lacing (they may have lacing, but it's for decoration) or a busk as the way to get in and out of them. They usually cost between $25 and $70. You might get a 1-2 inch reduction from these, but the boning will start to bend and become misshapen immediately. These are for people who want a top that looks like a corset, but don't care about shaping and don't want to spend a lot of money. They look okay if you are naturally slim and don't really need shaping, but they usually don't look right if you are curvy, busty, or full figured. I can usually tell by looking if someone is wearing a plastic boned corset because you can usually see a bend somewhere in the boning.

Spiral steel is coiled, flexible steel with plastic over the top of it. Most of the corsets that you can find online that cost between $50 and $200 that claim to be steel-boned have spiral steel boning. It holds it's shape better than plastic alone, and you can get up to a 4-5 inch reduction with it, but it will start to lose its shape in time. I have 3 corsets with spiral steel and, while they are worth what I paid for them ($50-$75) I personally don't think they shape as well as the ones with continuous steel, nor are they as comfortable. Plus they wear out faster.

Continuous steel is a solid, flat strip of steel with plastic over it. This is what is (generally) used in the expensive (starting around $200 and going considerably higher) corsets. It holds its shape well, and allows for a pretty good reduction. In my opinion it's more comfortable because the bones don't shift and end up poking me in the hip or ribcage. I have one corset with this type of boning and it has lasted years, after being worn dozens of times. I can't necessarily tell by looking whether a corset has continuous steel or spiral steel boning, but I can tell which it is when I put one on.

In the "old days" whale bones were used for corset boning. You can get synthetic whale bones for corseting now, but I have never personally owned one or tried one on, so I don't know much about them. I would imagine they are pretty inflexible.

Aside from the boning, what the corset is made out of, what type of lacing it has, how well the seams and busk are sewn, whether it is lined or reinforced, etc. all contribute to the quality of a corset as well.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Actually there are four types of boning a corset can have: continuous steel, spiral steel, plastic, and actual (real or synthetic) bone.

The corset style tops that you can get at lingerie shops, or most mall stores that sell "corsets," have plastic boning instead of steel boning. They also usually have hook-and-eye closures instead of lacing (they may have lacing, but it's for decoration) or a busk as the way to get in and out of them. They usually cost between $25 and $70. You might get a 1-2 inch reduction from these, but the boning will start to bend and become misshapen immediately. These are for people who want a top that looks like a corset, but don't care about shaping and don't want to spend a lot of money. They look okay if you are naturally slim and don't really need shaping, but they usually don't look right if you are curvy, busty, or full figured. I can usually tell by looking if someone is wearing a plastic boned corset because you can usually see a bend somewhere in the boning.

Spiral steel is coiled, flexible steel with plastic over the top of it. Most of the corsets that you can find online that cost between $50 and $200 that claim to be steel-boned have spiral steel boning. It holds it's shape better than plastic alone, and you can get up to a 4-5 inch reduction with it, but it will start to lose its shape in time. I have 3 corsets with spiral steel and, while they are worth what I paid for them ($50-$75) I personally don't think they shape as well as the ones with continuous steel, nor are they as comfortable. Plus they wear out faster.

Continuous steel is a solid, flat strip of steel with plastic over it. This is what is (generally) used in the expensive (starting around $200 and going considerably higher) corsets. It holds its shape well, and allows for a pretty good reduction. In my opinion it's more comfortable because the bones don't shift and end up poking me in the hip or ribcage. I have one corset with this type of boning and it has lasted years, after being worn dozens of times. I can't necessarily tell by looking whether a corset has continuous steel or spiral steel boning, but I can tell which it is when I put one on.

In the "old days" whale bones were used for corset boning. You can get synthetic whale bones for corseting now, but I have never personally owned one or tried one on, so I don't know much about them. I would imagine they are pretty inflexible.

Aside from the boning, what the corset is made out of, what type of lacing it has, how well the seams and busk are sewn, whether it is lined or reinforced, etc. all contribute to the quality of a corset as well.

Wow. I now probably know more about corsets than 99% of the planet just from reading this post. Thanks! (have to Google "busk" right after i hit reply though. pesky vocabulary.)

[Simon Bar Sinister]

http://io9.com/where-armor-meets-corset-1524019024