Corsets!

[auroraceleste]

Before I leave (again!) I wanted to upload a few pics of some recent corsets. Just 3 for now, but it's graphics-heavy:


First, my entry for the Laughing Moon contest at www.corsetmaking.com. It's a pink and orange changeable duppioni, although all I could get is the pink in the pics. The orange maribou trim is snapped in, so it's detachable. This is a present for Lucky, in New Orleans. Somehow the duppioni got really, really wrinkled in the move, and I can't figure out how to get them out.




Next is my orange Regency. This was an experiment in resizing Corsets and Crinolines to my size. It worked pretty well, and I kept going crazy with the orange! The front lacings aren't sewn down yet, the colored bead-looking things are the pins holding them in place.




Last is my repo for the Phantom of the Opera Don Juan outfit. It's an underbust, but with my ever-expanding chest I can't get the bra right, so for now it's just the corset. Also, I haven't finished the modesty panel yet.

Comments

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

Would steaming the dupioni help at all? Hanging it up in the bathroom while you take a hot shower?

(I made my first corset ever for the commedia show I'm in next month. You should be very proud.)

[auroraceleste.livejournal.com]

I am proud :D

I dunno about steaming. I forgot to mention that the duppioni was interfaced, so I think it's the interfacing wrinkling more than the fabric. I can try it though, it's been washed so steaming can't hurt.

[tecno-fairy.livejournal.com]

Dupion is a complete bitch of a fabric! Press it perfectly the first time and it looks amazing, but if anything happens to it, woe betide you! Steaming it might get some of the creases out, then probably the best thing to do is to stretch the seams over a ham or a sleeve board to give yourself a fighting chance, and press it extremely carefully, only letting the tip of the nose of the iron touch the fabric. it will take ages, but that should work. It's so depressing when you make something really carefully and then it gets all crunkled up.

The other two corsets look beautiful; the Phantom one is just perfect! I made a copy of that Regency corset from Corsets and Crinolines out of black velvet for a party - it's actually really comfortable! Although I did make it a little shorter so I could sit down.

[auroraceleste.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'll try that. I'm willing to take the time, since it's a gift.

The regency is really comfortable, except I've noticed it moves my breasts out more than I thought it would. Did you have that issue? Like your breasts aren't in their natural position, or pushed together like other corsets do, but are relocated toward my armpit. Not under, but closer. It's not uncomfortable, just wierd. Maybe my busk is too wide . . .

[tecno-fairy.livejournal.com]

No, that's exactly what happened to me too! I made it when I was in my second year at college and spoke to my tutor about it, and she said that's pretty much what is supposed to happen; for some reason that's what was considered the right look at the time. You can lessen the effect slightly if you can get a friend to help you put the corset on - do up the front and wrap it round you, then they do it up at the back while you stick your hands down the front and push your breasts to where you want them to be till the last possible moment! The best corsets for cleavage (i've found) are the eighteenth century ones - they really push everything up and out!

[kittyzabelle.livejournal.com]

Sorry, can't help about your wrinkles trouble, but I wanted to tell you you've done a great job. The regency one is so original ! The last one is simply stunning. What is the fabric on that last one? Gooorgeous!
You make fabulous corsets and although I thought I'd stay into Victorian corsets, after seeing your Regency corset Iwant to have a go at that as well this summer!

Well done!
Isabelle

[auroraceleste.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! The Regency was fun. It has very little boning, but lotsa quilting. I gave up on making all the quilting exact and just drew in the major border lines and free-quilted in-between them, keeping the same directions and such. I highly recommend it, because it's a lot easier than drawing all those lines.

Also that was a copy from Corsets and Crinolines, but I'm trying to do the Mantua Maker pattern soon, so I'll post on how it goes :D

[kittyzabelle.livejournal.com]

Aww... I'd love to have that book, but I can't find it in Europe and postage from the US is $10 at least! :(

I'm truly looking forward to following your progress on your next corset/stays with the Mantua Maker pattern. Put you in my bloglines account ;)

I started researching on Regency stays, and I'm very suprised they have so little boning! Oh I really love that look.

Isabelle (http://e-zabelle.blogspot.com)

I'm bad!

[kittyzabelle.livejournal.com]

I just splurged and bought Corsets and Crinolines from Amazon.com. Cost $8 in shipping fees to France but I so wanted that book, and it's all your fault you know! ;)
Can't wait to get it! :D (hopefully by the end of the month).

Have you started on the Mantua Maker yet? I'm curious to see what fabric you'll choose.

[crystalin-li.livejournal.com]

I've been searching for references for the Juno CanCan dancer costume from Moulin Rouge, and I saw a post by you on a costuming forum, that said it was a project for 2005. Could you share any references you have?

[auroraceleste.livejournal.com]

So sorry it took me so long to get back to you, I've been a counselor at Girl Scout camp with no internet access, and getting through my emails has been a nightmare. Anyway, from what I can tell it's pretty simple. A circle skirt out of a grey sheeny fabric, I'm going with silk dupion. The shirt is the same material, it's in a square-tube-top-with-straps style. The straps and trim are a greek key. This may be the hardest, getting completely accurate greek key, but if you're willing to fudge it should be easy. The skirt lining is burgundy with chiffon or tulle ruffles. I got a burgundy organza from JoAnn's to use. It should be nicer because it's poly; I can melt all the edges instead of hemming all those huge yards of ruffles. For the headdress just look at craft stores, they have pre-made wings to mount on a headdress. I can email you pictures, just email me at auroraceleste@gmail.com.

[kartos.livejournal.com]

The red one is to die for :O