Back in the day, I had a cheap Merry Widow. It was black and lacy and had hooks and garters and a few bones made of plastic. I wore it until it was ragged...imagining myself to be so modernly old fashioned. Really worldly. This was in the 80's when it was OK to wear your underwear on the outside, with lots and lots of accessories. Oh and high heels.
Then I had kids. Then I had the body of a woman who had kids. No more Merry Widows for me. Soon after I discovered 'GOTH' I viewed these lovely children I saw at Disneyland with much admiration and I generally coveted their wardrobes, somehow never picturing myself in those striped stockings.
Decades later, I found myself dressed exactly like that...stripped tights and all. But missing the important faction...the CORSET!
Looking around on Ebay and Goth Auctions I discovered that corsets are ridiculously outrageous in both designs and prices. So I found a 'gently used' Fredricks of Hollywood corset. Hooks and eyes and lacing and plastic bones. Oh the delight. Once again I wore it until it was ragged...on the outside, with boots this time.
Never being one to either have $300.00 to plunk down on a garment, nor being the type to do so...I of course decided to make one.
I poked around at it. Tried to solve the issue of not knowing anything about it by buying cheap materials and using the old faithful stand by skill...faking it. Using plastic bones I got at the local fabric store...using a hand held eyelet setter. Yeah my first corsets are laughable, but I wore them, with other undergarments to do the actual work.
Christmas was on swift approach and I needed to get a gift for Nigel's girlfriend Lauren. She is always my challenge for gifting. By then, I had found a place to
purchase a pattern, so off I went to find supplies: Busk, bones, fabrics, eyelets. I carefully cut each piece, assembled the thing and hammered in each golden eyelet. Its a nice corset...but it never really fit well,
it looks great on the hanger in her closet.I spent the next 6 months or so, eating, drinking, reading about and sewing corsets. I learned that commercial patterns for the modern woman add inches, so your corset patterns need alteration. Eyelets are not suitable, grommets are the way to go and hammering the damm things in place SUCK! I learned the bones will eat all the needles in your sewing machine. Steel bones will also poke through most material and so on.
Boy did I learn.
I met with professionals, read books, found online posts/blogs/communities sewed corsets, wore them, ripped them apart, made and wore the new ones, ripped them apart then one day lo and behold I knew what I was doing. I drafted in wicked curves. Bones stopped poking through, lacing got straighter and held up. People began noticing my delightful waist!
PSB Creations was started in June of 08. I was recovering from a torn knee and grieving over the subsequent loss of my EMS profession. So I had time. I sold corsets dirt cheep to get a leg in. The first year I sold 18 corsets. I went international and sold to the UK, the Netherlands and Canada. I sold to a woman who is a professional musician. I sold one to a man. I marketed and learned.
My own little workhause has gotten a bit of attention, in it's short time. Once someone tried to pirate my design by taking it to another designer. I was delighted. I admit, its a bit of a rush to see pictures of an event and see someone in your design! Being invited to early movie previews and other private events isn't so bad either. I even have my own stalker. LOL
I wear my own corsets...until they are ragged...heh. Honestly, they are good. They fit, they take a LOT of waist off my waist. The man of the house loves to put me in them almost as much as he likes to take me out of them. They still hold me spellbound. I recently saw Gone With The Wind on the big screen I shouldn't have been so surprized when I leaned over to mutter "man what a gorgeous corset" Only to find The Man of the House leaning over to mutter the same thing to me. ;-)
Now, of course I am working on more historically correct pieces. Things to wear UNDER my clothes as they were intended.
But I still love me a good dress featuring a corset on the outside
with stripped tights and, of course boots.
Awesome & delightful.
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