Corset Design Variations

Since all my corsets are 100% custom drafted, all the design details are negotiable. Illustrated on this page are many of the more common styles, lines, shapes, and silhouettes found in corsets historic and modern. Of course much of the shape of your corset depends upon your own body, but within the confines of any given body is a huge range of possible looks. Half of corset design is body sculpting, even when light-lacing is the goal.

Very few design elements are completely incompatible. If you see two or three different elements you like, but aren't sure if they can be combined, please email me with your ideas. We can discuss potential designs, and perhaps there is a perfect solution for your desired aesthetic which isn't even shown here. These options are only a small example of what is truly available.

Examples of past work are displayed in my Custom Corsets gallery.  Additional information is on Styles and Options - Corset Pricing Guide, and Ordering Your Corset.  For direct inquiries and personalized quotes, don't hesitate to contact me.

Underbust or Waist Cincher Top Edges - Front View

Victorian and Edwardian Hips Bottom Edges - Front View

Victorian and Edwardian Hips Bottom Edges - Back View

All Styles Top Edges - Back View

Victorian and Edwardian Waist Placement

A high or mid waist will create a more hourglass figure even at small waist reductions, while the low waist will create a longer torso and sharper curve onto the hips. For larger figures, a higher waist creates curves that emphasize the bust area, while smoothing the appearance of the abdomen.

Idealized Profile Comparison

These idealized profiles are very broad generalizations of the indicated periods. They each occur throughout the other periods, with the "modern" profile in particular also being the ideal for the early-to-mid Victorian when wooden busks were still in common use.

The "Modern" ideal profile is for a flat tummy and very defined bust area. The Edwardian ideal is forward and up, with emphasis on the waistline, posture, and top of the bust. The underside of the bust is de-emphasized. The "Victorian" profile is ideal for ample figures, because it allows for the creation of a flattering figure without placing undue pressure on the lower abdomen.

Overbust Corset Cup Shapes

Demi-Cup style crades the bust, and provides no coverage of the nipple area. Straight bust is the most common historic overbust style, and on most people the top line of the bust falls at about the same height as the nipples.

All sweetheart styles provide coverage of the nipple area. The slight sweetheart style usually comes to just above the nipple area. The higher variations provide higher necklines

Due to the inability of metal busks to curve over the bust, on most corsets the center front can go no higher than the largest part of the bust. Non-traditional closures, like a softer closure (buttons or hook-and-eye) above the bust, must be used in order to bring the center front higher than the bustline.

Conical Corset Top Edges - Front View

Conical Corset Torso Shapes