Whether you’re stepping into corsetry for the first time, have years of cinching experience, or just need a quick refresher, we’ve created a helpful beginner’s guide to some essential corset vocabulary and terminology. Corsetry has its own rich language, covering everything from fabric types and construction methods to styles and fitting techniques, and understanding these terms can make all the difference in finding the perfect piece.
This glossary is here to help you make well-informed choices when shopping for a corset and to answer those common questions that may come up along the way. What exactly is an overbust corset? How does waist training work? What distinguishes a high-quality corset from the rest? Whether you’re curious about boning, busks, or the intricacies of underbust versus overbust, our guide is here to clarify and enhance your corsetry experience.
Boning Channels: The tape-made channels that usually sit over the seams of the corset. They are there to hold the spiral and steel boning in place and stop the boning from irritating the wearer.
Busks: The busk consists of two steel components at the front of the corset: one side with loops (the eye side) and the other with studs (the button side), creating the central front closure. This design allows for easy fastening and unfastening while also adding strength and structure to the front of the corset.
Corsets: Corsets are a structured and boned bodice used to create an hourglass figure for the wearer. Corsets can be worn for various purposes, such as shaping the figure as shapewear, supporting a weak back, enhancing posture, and strengthening the core. Explore our full range of corsets to begin your corset journey with Vollers.
Corsetière: A Corsetière is a seamstress who specialises in the art of corsetry. We have a fantastic team of highly skilled seamstresses and corsetières in our Leeds-based studio that skilfully craft each of our beautiful corsets and pieces of lingerie from start to finish to ensure they are produced to the highest quality possible.
Eyelets and Lacing: Eyelets, also known as Grommets, are the small silver holes at the back of the corset that have a metal ring around them to reinforce the hole. The lacing is the pieces of ‘string’ at the back of the corset, these two aspects make up the back fastening while also providing adjustability for the wearer.
Modesty Panel: A modesty panel is the four-inch back panel of fabric that is used to cover the skin exposed by the lacing at the back of the corset. It also makes it easier to pull the lacing tighter on the corset for a better fit.
Overbust Corset: An Overbust corset acts as a bra and a corset by offering support to the torso and the bust of the wearer simultaneously. This style of corset is perfect for smoothing out the lines and curves of the wearer and helps to create a plunge bra effect at the same time. See our range of Overbust corsets to add to your lingerie or outerwear collection; Aria Overbust corset, Anastasia Overbust corset and Vivienne Overbust corset.
Spiral Boning: Spiral boning is a flat strip of steel wire that is coiled and flattened. It is flexible and allows movement when wearing so the corset can move with the wearer but also provides structure to the corset.
Steel Boning: Steel boning is the solid pieces of steel placed down the boning channels at the centre back fastening. The steel boning provides structure to the eyelets and lacing so the wearer can pull the corset tightly around their body.
Waist Tape: The waist tape is tape that is placed around the smallest part of the waist of a corset and should be placed on the smallest waist point of the wearer. The function of the waist tape is to indicate to the wearer where on the body the corset should be sitting. Also, it helps to create a nicer shape on the corset and accentuates the waist when the corset is being pulled tight.
Waist Training: Some people wear corsets regularly to achieve a naturally smaller waist, aiming to gradually reduce their waist size. Typically, a corset can be tightened by around four inches, allowing for a potential reduction of up to four inches in waist measurement. Others wear corsets simply as a fashion statement or as lingerie. For more guidance on selecting the right size to begin waist training, please check out our “How to Measure for a Corset” blog post.
Underbust Corset: An Underbust corset rests just below the bust line, where the bottom edge of a bra typically sits. This style of corset provides support for the torso and waist but does not support the bust, making it ideal for waist training. This style is typically worn with a bra. Explore our selection of underbust corsets to enhance your lingerie collection, including the Anastasia, Clara, and Vivienne Underbust Corsets.
Do you have other terms you’d like us to add to the dictionary? Or a specific question in mind? Feel free to reach out at hello@vollers-corsets.co.uk
At Vollers we believe in sustainability to our core. We offer exceptional pieces, hand made in England, using high-quality materials, refined techniques and craftsmanship that withstands time’s test without compromising on comfort or style.
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