Corsetmaker

Corsetiers cutting out and fitting in the 18th century

A corsetmaker is a specialist tailor who makes corsets. Corsetmakers are frequently known by the French equivalent terms corsetier (male) and corsetière (female). Stay-maker is an old obsolete name for a corsetmaker; the word: "stays" been replaced by "corset" after the Great Exhibition in 1851 because the new prizewinning French stays been named Hygienic Corset.

The best corsetmakers are highly skilled tailors and have some knowledge of anatomy which enables them to make well-fitting, long-lasting corsets. In addition, corsetmakers who reproduce historical styles need to be familiar with historical fashions and costumes spanning hundreds of years of history.

Individual corsetmakers often favour a certain style and frequently have differing theories and opinions about the physical impact and benefits of various corsets, thereby influencing their corset design and creation.

Famous corsetmakers

• Thomas Paine, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.
• Roxey Ann Caplin.
• Cathrine Allsop Griswold
• Daniel Kops
• Fakir Musafar

Travelling corsetiers

Some companies had travelling saleswomen, corsetiers who order the tailored corsets from the company. Well-known is Spirella (1904–1989), Barcley , Spenser .

Considerations

Corsetiers cutting out in 1928.

The main consideration of corset design is duration of use. For short-term use, e.g. used for a special event such as a wedding, the corset will be rarely worn and will not show visible wear, therefore does not need to be of the highest quality of construction. For long-term use, e.g. by tightlacing or waist training, corsets must be made to exact standards and are best custom-fitted and designed for the individual wearer. If it has a single weakness or flaw, it will be visible. Some custom-made gowns have corsets built into the design; a talented dressmaker may also be a skilled corset-maker.

Example of a Corsetmakers work

The first step in a corset make is identify the customers type of body shape. The more fat, the fewer alternative corsets.

Slender Figures

Medium Figure

Stout Figure

14 variants!

See also

• Corset
• History of corsets
• Hourglass corset
• Tightlacing

Books

• Doyle R. (1997)Waisted Efforts, An Illustrated Guide To Corset Making. Nova Scotia, Sartorial Press Publications, ISBN 0-9683039-0-0
• Tight Linings and Boning Mary Brooks Picken, 1920
• The Practical Corsetiere Mme Ruth A. Rosenfeld 1933
• The Basics Of Corset Building, A Handbook For Beginners by Linda Sparks (Author) ISBN-10: 0973735805
• Caplin - Health and Beauty (1864)