Category: Corset
Corsets for beginners
There is a lot of intrigue concerning steel boned corsets and how they will effect your body. I have 15 years experience in working with corsets and whether you're thinking about trying one, or would like to learn a little more about them, you're in the right place! Information on sizing and putting on, can be found here.
The fashion corset wearer - At What Katie Did we class a 'fashion corset wearer' as someone who wears a corset for an evening out once a month, right up to someone who wears one nearly every day. This kind of wear is what our corsets are designed for.
The 'Dita Von Teese' shape - If you are looking at trying a corset for the first time, please remember that your current figure will effect the outcome. Whilst you might think that Dita Von Teese has the most famous trained waist in the world today - it isn't really trained at all, and Dita is the first to admit it!
Dita is in the enviable position of having a classic hourglass figure with an unnaturally small waist. She also has access to the finest bespoke corsetiers in the world and if you look closely you'll see that the majority of the waist reduction is confined to a small section around her waist. This allows her waist to be clearly defined without undue pressure on her ribs enabling her to wear a corset with dramatic results, whilst not waist training.
To achieve similar results to Dita you will need to have, what we call, a Vintage Figure: one where the waist is a good 10 inches (or more) smaller than the hips. Figures like this do exist but they are becoming less common. I have a friend who is lucky enough to have an extreme vintage figure: 19" waist, 35" hips. She wears a 17" corset daily which, although looks extreme, really isn't much of a reduction. If you have a more modern figure (with a waist less than 10 inches smaller than the hips) then it will be hard for you to gain such dramatic results, especially if you only want to wear a corset on the odd occasion. Harsh words I know.
That's my personal opinion anyway. Women in our boutique always seem thrilled at their corseted shape! Talking of which, always allow at least half an hour for a corset fitting as although you might have decided which corset you'd like in advance, a different style might be more suitable (and we can make our corsets in any of the fabrics we carry so you don't have to worry about missing out on a certain fabric or colour).
Above: Morticia is our most
popular underbust style
The right What Katie Did corset for you - If you have a Vintage Figure: try one of our styles with gored hips - Laurie, Mae, Morticia, Antoinette or Baby. If you have a Modern Figure: try a style without gored hips - Gina, Sophia or Dolly.
Our corset shapes with gored hips are specifically designed for hourglass figures and will not fit a very Modern Figure (with the exception of Baby). Our corsets without gores are suitable for both Modern and Vintage figures.
By the way, we have found a lot of companies using our pictures illegally: if a corset doesn't say it's What Katie Did, even if it uses our picture (and especially if it's cheap!) it will be counterfeit.
An evening out - If you decide to wear a steel boned corset for an evening out it's really not going to have any effect on your torso, apart from giving you a delicious waistline of course! With anything new it's always best to have a trial run and this is especially important when wearing a corset for the first time. Please 'practice' wearing it for a few hours before your big event. Whilst it might have felt comfortable for the few minutes you initially tried it on for, it might start to become uncomfortable after a couple of hours. By having a trial run or two, your body will have time to get used to the feel of being corseted and you'll know how tightly you can comfortably lace making amendments if necessary (for example, if you think you will become uncomfortable then don't lace your corset tightly until you arrive at the event - and remember you can always loosen the laces later in the evening as long as your dress allows it!)
Sophia is our most popular overbust style, ideal for modern figures
A little light training - If you would like to define your waistline a little then this is possible by wearing a corset on a regular daily basis. Your body will soon get used to the feel of being tightly hugged and you will be gradually be able to pull your corset in tighter. If you are looking to wear a corset on a regular basis we recommend you select an underbust style as this is less restrictive on torso movement. We also highly recommend our Baby corset which cinches the waist but, due to it's small size, doesn't restrict the rib cage and is ideal for modern lifestyles. If you do wear a corset daily then your waistline will gradually reduce although it will return to 'normal' disappointingly quickly when you stop wearing.
Your rib cage - All corsets will put some pressure on the rib cage and there are some rather extreme diagrams from the 19th century showing how the rib cage can be distorted. Whilst this is not a myth (modern day tight lacer Cathie Jung has been x-rayed in her corset and yes, her ribs are distorted) you have to tight lace seriously and over time for your ribs to be effected. It is also worth remembering that the skeletal system is very adaptable. The rib cage expands during pregnancy, with some of the internal organs being pushed upwards to allow room for the baby. After pregnancy, over a period of months, the skeleton returns to normal.
Your muscles - If you have a bad back then a corset can be great as it supports the back bone meaning that your muscles are under less stress: but this also has it's disadvantages. If you are intending to wear a corset on a daily or near daily basis then you do need to consider your back muscles which will require extra exercise to keep them strong. Ask your gym/yoga/pilates instructor to recommend some exercises to work on your back muscles. If you do not have a gym/yoga/pilates instructor and are considering light body modification (which is what regular corset wearing is) then maybe you should think seriously about finding one.
Serious Corset Training - To achieve the most dramatic result takes time and discipline. We're talking wearing a corset 23 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is the dedication required to attain a waistline like that of Mr Pearl and Cathie Jung (both current day tight lacers). Serious corset training is not to be taken lightly and What Katie Did corsets are most definitely not suitable for serious corset training. If you are even considering serious waist training you need to seek out others who have tight laced (Google Spook and Cathie Jung who tight laced for a few years with dramatic results, unfortunately there's not much about Mr Pearl who is a very private person) and read about their experiences. A made to measure corset is a must for waist training. Do not even consider using an 'off the peg' corset to waist train as you need one tailored to your exact measurements. I am happy to recommend a bespoke corsetier on request (katie@whatkatiedid.com)
Further Reading - Find out more about Dita Von Teese and her love of corsets in her book: Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese
For more serious reading check out The Corset: A Cultural History
What Katie Did corsets in Fabulous magazine
Today's Fabulous magazine includes a rather delicious fashion shoot inspired by Cabaret - all ostrich feathers and faded glamour. We're lucky enough to have our Mortica corset in peach, and Sophia corset in black, featured. It's been a tough week in the What Katie Did press office as we've had to deal with a few difficult stylists: you would expect the bigger publications to be a bit snooty, but the opposite is true - so I'm sure this coverage will cheer everyone up! If only all stylists could be as fabulous as those who work for Fabulous!
It's a cinch!
22/10/09 13:39 , Categories: Corset, Products , Tags: corset, steel boned corset, what katie did corset
What Katie Did designer Katie Halford began her career as a corset fitter over 15 years ago, before going on to develop her own collection. A decade on from the launch of her company, What Katie Did's now-famous corset range has grown from one style to an impressive eight; with the A/W 09 collection boasting what must be the largest choice of corsets around. There's a cut to suit every shape and size; and a style that will appeal to everyone - from glamour queens and tight-lacing Dita-wannabes, to those simply looking for something saucy to wear on a night out... or a night in!
Overbust Corsets
Sophia is the most popular of What Katie Did's corsets, with a gently curved silhouette
that's neither too extreme-looking or constricting to put off corset newcomers; but with just the right amount of cinching to satisfy experienced wearers. Its curved cups ensure that A-E-cup breasts are pushed delicately upwards and together. Those who are considerably more endowed needn't despair though, because decadent Dolly combines the same classic cut with slightly more room in the bust; perfect for those lucky ladies whose D+ cups runneth over.
These two have a naughty big sister, Laurie - an overbust style with real
va-va-voom. It features the same shaped cups for perfect uplift, but with WKD's signature gored hips, Laurie gives a fantastically well-defined waistline. It's enough to make even Jessica Rabbit jealous!
The 18th Century-inspired Antoinette is the WKD's newest overbust style. Its balconette bustline and innovative pointed sides mean that even the most well-upholstered needn't fear an overspill of fulsome flesh - simply a ravishing pair of (well-supported!) heaving bosoms. With gored hips for a truly ravishing silhouette, it's just like its antique counterpart, but considerably more comfortable.
Gina was the very first corset that What Katie Did designed, and it's still a firm favourite amongst their customers. It gives a smooth and defined shape, but,
like Sophia, not one that's too extreme. The addition of the signature gores to this basic underbust created Mae. The beauty of the goring is that hips are not compressed, and waists can therefore be cinched down even further, for a very pronounced hourglass shape. Those with a large waist-hip ratio look particularly spectacular in the gored hip versions of What Katie Did's corsets for this reason!
Wickedly tempting, Morticia is a slightly longer-line style based on the Mae shape, and the latest version to incorporate goring. The longer busk and lower hip-line ensure that shapely derrieres are shown off to their full advantage, while the waist is pulled in as tightly as desired. Morticia is so well cut and designed, that many customers find they can actually go down a size!
The newest underbust style, Baby, is a little 7” waist cincher designed to be worn under clothes. It's directly inspired by Christian Dior's post-war New Look fashions, and the boned waist-nippers that his models were tightly laced into to achieve that incredibly dramatic silhouette. Baby's clever cut allows the waist to be substantially reduced, but its small size makes it incredibly comfortable.
The Gentry de Paris Review
31/08/09 08:03 , Categories: Corset, Event , Tags: corset, dita von teese, millicent binks, the gentry de paris, warren speed, what katie did
Over the last couple of months I've been avidly following the developments of The Gentry de Paris Review. Not just any Review, but a Grand Review being staged at the Casino de Paris, one of Paris' legendary music hall venues with a history dating back to the 18th century. The finest cabaret artists have performed their including my design muse for AW09 - Josephine Baker.
The Gentry de Paris review is a two hour extravaganza featuring 35 performers taking part in 18 tableaux. Unlike the usual music hall show, there is a narrative and you will be taken through the cobbled streets of Paris, to a ritzy night club and on to the circus before heading into the blue sky. From the picture you might have guessed that the feature star is Dita Von Teese who will be bringing her new Opium Den number to the show. It's nice to see that there are a couple of English burlesque stars in the show: Millicent Binks (who has frequently modelled for What Katie Did) and Warren Speed (from Newcastle infamous for his chav boylesque routine).
I'm sure you can see why I was quite excited about the show! The only obstacle was that although I am in Paris on the day it opens, I have to return that evening. Disaster! Luck must be with me at the moment as a couple of weeks ago Gentry (yes, there is a Gentry behind the Gentry de Paris, just as there is a Katie behind the What Katie Did) telephoned me requesting a couple of corsets for the show. Not for Dita of course, but for the lovely MillicentBinks, who's petite curves were made for What Katie Did Corsets. Gentry asked me if I was around on the opening night and when I said I wasn't as I was leaving that day she asked me if I would like to come to the dress rehearsal the evening before. I held my breath and said quietly that I might just be able to fit it in...
The Gentry de Paris Review takes place between 7th and 17th September at the Casino de Paris, Paris, France. Thank goodness for Eurostar, that's all I can say!
What Katie Did in Now Magazine
Our Pigalle Sophia Corset is in this week's Now magazine (dated 5th January),
along with our black frilly knickers.
What Katie Did at the Rhythm Riot
We've just returned from the Rhythm Riot in Camber near Rye. We might not have the same weather as the Viva Las Vegas rockabilly weekend but luckily Miss Aloha and the Hurly Burly Girlys (in our Ahoy There corsets) were on hand to warm things up with a Hawaiian themed Sunday night. I managed to catch up on all the lastest gossip from head Hurly Burly Girly Miss Polly Rae, who's got some very excting things lined up for December. Be sure to keep an eye out for your WKD newsletter on 1st December, or on our forum for all the details.
What Katie Did in Bizarre Magazine
October's Bizarre magazine is a fetish fashion special with features old friends of mine including House of Harlot. Corsets are also included with a 5 page feature on corset obsessed Vicky Butterfly who laces interviewer Alix Fox into one of our pink Gina corsets. The main pictures for the feature were shot at our Portobello road boutique.
