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Frequently asked questions... and a few answers!

How do I get the costume or corset style and look I want?
What books do you recommend?
Why are corsets so popular now?
I'm new to corsets and not sure what's involved...what are they all about?
Is wearing a corset the same thing as tight-lacing?
Do you make bondage gear and fetish corsets?
What's the connection between corseting and weight loss?
Can you introduce me to others who are into corseting?
How did you get started making corsets?
Why wouldn't you sell me the one I tried on at your studio?
I live outside the area- how do I place a custom order?

Do you have rental costumes and corsets?
Can I get Disney and other branded costumes here?
I need a mascot costume- can you help?
Can I provide my own materials and hardware?
What fabrics do you carry?
Where do you get your materials?

Why don't you keep regular hours & why do I need an appointment?
What's your background?
Do you use commercial patterns?
Why do you use Paypal?
Does your website show everything you do?
Can I be an apprentice or an intern?
Do you need more artists, models and photographers?

How do I get the costume or corset style and look I want?
Get busy. Do your homework. Start collecting pictures, historical research, movie stills, pin-up photos, comic books, magazines, or whatever else moves you. This inspires you visually and gives us the concrete info we need for patterning and construction. It’s easier to design for you when you can at least provide some visual clues. We can replicate any look or cut you find an image of and we can research cutting information for any vintage or historic period corset. You get the benefit of having it custom made so it actually fits you and creates the figure and persona you've been craving.

Also, be direct. Ask for what you want. Don't be flakey. If you're serious about having something custom made, we're serious about helping you. But if you are too shy or closeted about your interest in custom costumes and corsets and can't bring yourself to actually commit to an order, please don't waste our time, thanks.
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Recommended reading:
Any visual source is fair game. Get your visual inspiration wherever you want! Costume history books are great, as are comic books, magazines, movies, costume history books and websites.

When it comes to the often contentious discussions about corsets and where you position yourself within these conversations, quit reading other people's bad websites that cut-and-paste plagairized, out-of-context anecdotes and so-called factoids about corseting. You can feed your visual imagination by looking at photos of corsets in any book, magazine or website. But if you're serious about understanding why they've been worn by varieties of people throughout history, please do some serious reading. The most scholarly examinations come from Valerie Steele, author of The Corset: A Cultural History and Fetish: Fashion, Sex & Power. I highly recommend these if you're interested in parsing out the truths about corsets from their many prurient stigmas.

Steele's a good authority on these subjects because she sifts the many myths about corsets from the culturally and historically situated facts. Then for some real fun, if you want your brain fully colonized by aesthetic principles underlying perceptions of beauty, sexuality and personality (which naturally also inform corset fashions and their appeal), I recommend you read Camille Paglia’s Sexual Personae: Art & Decadence from Nefertiti to Emily Dickinson.
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Why are corsets so popular now?
As an enthusiast of fashion (the ultimate spectator sport) for many years, I have to claim that the answer involves larger fashion cycles as well as individual consumer notions about status, conformity and individuality. Precisely cut and fitted clothing historically has almost always indicated status (and no, spandex doesn't fit within this construct---I can remember a good friend who always joked, "spandex is a privelege, not a right"...and he was right!). The fashion pendulum keeps swinging and it seems that every generation gives us at least a few iconic figures who repopularize the corset and its variations. Combine that ideal, that "artificial silhouette" the costume historians like to talk about with a mega-star or supermodel, and there's just nowhere to run and hide. The corset is tough-as-nails apollonian armour that simultaneously contains feminine fleshy vulnerability. It simultaneously empowers and conquers the body.

We have people like Madonna and Vivienne Westwood to thank for repopularizing corsets in the 1970s and 1980s. We have even more pop stars to thank currently, plus Hollywood’s period costume dramas and films such as Moulin Rouge and The Matrix for bringing corsets to our attention. Also consider Underworld, that amazing cats and dogs film which juxtaposes beasty, unsartorial werewolves against couture-clad vampires. Cultural products like these, not to mention the incredible resurgence of burlesque, fifties culture, Bettie Page fans and pin-up photography around the globe all seem to have inspired a bigger population to seek and wear corsets and corset-like fashions, now perfectly acceptable as outerwear. Add this to the burgeoning goth, cyber and romantic cultural waves in which corsets always play starring roles, and it's clear that corsets aren't fading from the cultural landscape anytime soon.

Now that our culture may seem more mass-identified, safe, generic and global than ever, many individuals now seek increasing ways to individualize their identities through clothing and dress. How better to achieve this goal than by customizing one's own appearance through clothing, by turning to the professional services of an experienced artiste.

Fashion cycles may change, but quality service and personalized attention are timeless and crucial for anyone working in the dressmaking or custom clothing business. In our world of generic, throwaway clothing, many self-selected individuals recognize the value in investment garments such as custom corsets and highly-fitted or personally tailored clothing. Perhaps you, too, are one of these people.

The individuals we design and build custom corsets for view them as a pleasure, a way to pamper themselves, a way to achieve a more aristocratic silhouette and elevated social ranking. It's a nice change from the oversized off-the-rack clothing that adorned the grunge crowds of the 1990s and currently drapes our urban frat boys and gang-bangers.

Because a real corset does not stretch it must be custom fitted to do what it's designed to do, and that requires your visit to the custom corsetiere. If you are feeling sort blue, generic and anonymous out there in the everday world, your next visit to your friendly neighborhood service professional such as your hairstylist, interior designer, therapist or dressmaker gives you a lift. We are professionals who devote our time, attention and consummate skill needed to make you feel it's all about you. And it is!
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I'm new to corsets, and not sure what's involved..?
First: Don't be nervous. When it comes to wearing them, experience is your best teacher. Real corsets (not crummy lingerie imposters) are high fashion and they're the ultimate in cool. Practically speaking, corsets are beautiful, custom, strapless bodices that don't fall down because of their perfect fit and their structural integrity. They don't slump, bubble-out or pooch the way the crummy, stretchy lingerie 'corsets' always do. A real corset does not have plastic boning. A real corset contains many spring and/or spiral steel stays which create that wasp waist you've been craving. A real corset is strong enough to keep your figure contained. Lingerie corsets cannot do this, so quit buying them and invest in real one. You can choose when and how you want to wear them, and you won't get hurt because you decide how tightly to lace up. Lighten up and experiment with your wardrobe. Unlike getting tattooed or pierced, corsets are not a permanent commitment, although once you've owned a good one, they are rather addictive.
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Is wearing a corset the same thing as tight-lacing?
Umm...not exactly- it depends on how one defines this term as well as oneself within a big continuum of examples, habits, history and social constructs. Wearing a corset implies that it's to be laced tight (to give your body at least some of that figure control you've been craving), but it is not necessarily the same practice as "tightlacing." By function and definition, your corset is going to be tighter than most of your other clothing. Thanks to our language that "medicalizes" behavior, even during historical periods where most women (and even lots of men) wore stays or corsets as part of simply being fashionably dressed, "tightlacing" has always implied more of a minority or sometimes even a so-called 'deviant' or 'specialty' practice. Again, please read Steele's The Corset: A Cultural History and Fetish: Fashion, Sex & Power for all the details about how this "tightlacing" term has been bandied about within commercial, fetish and scholarly circles over the years. It's fascinating stuff.

However- and this is what you really want to know-- from a technical and engineering standpoint, our goal as a custom studio is to make real corsets that absolutely withstand the rigors of real tightlacing, should you see yourself and your habits in those terms. Our mission is to make each and every corset as tough as possible- to hold up beautifully under the perpetual stress of you wearing it frequently, as tightly laced as you can get it, should you want to lace it that tightly and that often, whatever "that" means to you. I know, I know, it sounds like Bill Clinton discussing the definition of "is"....

And... about the name of this studio, for inquiring minds who want to know: The "Salt Lake Tightlacer" moniker simply had a cute ring to it and became one of the division names for this little business. Maybe it even gives our clients a bit of a thrill because the 'tightlacing' term itself is such a loaded one!

Do you make bondage gear and fetish corsets, etc?
Of course. But you won't see many of these items here online. We're trying to keep things on the website a little more "artistic' and in the pinup/PG-13 category, which is also why you'll never see too much nudity here or anything like sex toys or videos.

Clients ordering certain projects can be understandably reluctant about being photographed in or even having their specially-comissioned restraint corsets, matching dildo harnesses, locking chaps, or cuffs and collars, etc, photographed on mannequins or dress dummies, to be put on display for the public, so we respect your privacy!

Among theorists, there's often discussion about a certain type of sacredness that becomes tightly associated with particular objects and items used in ritual, liminal experiences (not just in BDSM cultures or activities but in many cultures throughout history in many times and places), and these costumes, objects, props, or settings may only be viewed, handled or talked about by the priveleged few, whoever those particular people happen to be. Just ask a good, temple-going Latter Day Saint or Mason to reveal details about the rituals or objects he or she interacts with and/or what experiences and details of temple experiences are like, and usually, mum's the word, at least for the true-believers.

The construct of the sacred has been used to explain some of the secretiveness around many items, including fetish clothing, because for many in the BDSM lifestyle, sex is just one aspect of all the things that may be physically or psyhologically going on. So, um, anyway, I respect that. And... not everyone's an exhibitionist. Every person you see modeling something on this site has given us their permission. But yeah, we do make lots of really titillating stuff that will never be shown indiscriminately. As a rugged individualist, I'm not really much of a "joiner" when it comes to being "in" a leather or bdsm community. Instead, I position myself as a confidante and a dedicated, skilled craftsperson from a long line of extremely talented people who are damn proud of how well they build things by hand. I usually do take process snapshots so I can document and remember how I've made something, in case I need to make another one, change or improve on the design, etc., but you will never be allowed to see many of these items.

So I bet I can almost guess what your next question is, and here's some inside info: If you want something made, I never ever make judgments about you or your lifestyle. Really! In fact, it's not just that I'm liberal, for lack of a better term. I am. But the bigger truth is (and you might actually be bummed out to hear this), I actually care so little about your specialty interests or childhood experiences or backstory or fetish fantasies and gender identity work, that I'm sort of blase' about all that, and sort of yawning on the inside, and basically just want to get busy creating your new harness, corset or costume. That's the source of my true obsession, one could say (I know, I'm such a geek). And in case you're wondering, my own lifestyle is pretty mundane and academic. If you imagine that I'm some kind of dominatrix, you are dead wrong (but you seem to have an active inner life, don't you). As the proprietor of this studio, I am a workaholic and a slavedriving control freak when it comes to things being beautifully designed and perfectly constructed. Period.

When you come for a visit or a custom fitting, it's all business--very professional. You needn't feel compelled to reveal your darkest secrets or get specific about the 'how' and 'what' your new creation will be used for. I'm good at making small talk if you want, but I don't really care. I just want you to be a satisfied customer who owns an incredible new wearable creation that looks spectacular, fits and functions the way it should, and makes you happy. Just bring in your ideas, sketches, photos and color wishes, and let's get to work.
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What’s the connection between corseting and weight-loss?
There's a growing trend here. There has been lots of interest in this lately with many clients asking for my perspectives. I guess not surprisingly, some of them have undergone or are planning to schedule stomach stapling, lap bands, gastric bypass or other weight-loss related surgery. There is a combination of strategies that can work for you, given mitigating factors, and I've seen firsthand results in several clients.

But this first: I am not a physician. I don't play one on tv, either. By reading this blurb here or commissioning work from me, you are agreeing not to pursue me legally if your corset doesn’t help you lose twenty pounds in a couple months (crybaby)...but here’s my advice: Tightlacing can be an integral part of your weight loss success. But here’s the rub- and you must follow these instructions TO THE LETTER: You must wear your corset tightly laced every single time you eat and you must not cheat. In other words, do NOT sneak down to the fridge or eat at any other time when you’re not wearing your corset tightly laced. Period.

Again, in plainer terms: If you wear a properly fitted, tightly-laced corset every single time you sit down to eat, it automatically controls your portion size. Really. You simply get too uncomfortable to pig out the way you typically might if you were not wearing your corset. Ditto with beer, soda, and other fizzy or carbonated beverages. They make you so uncomfortable that it’s usually too difficult to drink more than a third of a beer or soda.

I can attest to these facts because I’ve been to fancy dinners and galas that had awesome catering and open bars, and tightly corset-clad, I couldn’t eat or drink anything near what I can when I’m just wearing jeans and a t-shirt. I’m about 5’4” and 130 lbs, so your experience is going to be different, depending on your weight, height, and tolerance for the discomfort of having your torso squeezed while you try to eat. Good luck.

I made a corset once for a client who came to see me about five months later. I was amazed to see that he’d lost over twenty pounds! He came back to get a smaller, second corset made. I was astounded to see that the grommeted back edges of his corset touched, when just months earlier they were about 3 1/2 inches apart, even when tightly laced. I asked him how he did it and he told me he cut way down on his drinking. Of course you already know that alcohol has lots of empty calories and contributes to that beer or wine gut you’re trying to get rid of! And guess what? If you're tightly laced, it's all the harder to overconsume!

Let me level with you: I know you are a consumer who constantly reads articles about weight loss and health. And of course you already know that you must get at least an hour of exercise and some good cardio every day. You know this. Yoga and real stretching are also awesome for your physical and mental health, (I try to do these myself on a regular schedule and highly recommend them) -just NEVER exercise or do yoga or stretching while wearing your corset, of course.... A couple of years ago I tried walking briskly for only four blocks to an outdoor festival, tightly laced, and boy was I in pain. I hadn't experienced a stitch in my side that bad since my gruesome childhood track-and-field experiences.

If you're the type of person who can demonstrate this amazing kind of self-discipline, you will be astonished at how much weight you can shed simply by controlling your portions. The next step, obviously, is to take your corset off for at least an hour every day, get your fat ass up off the couch or out of your cubicle, and get vigorously moving for at least an hour. If you’re into the thrill of wearing corsets because you enjoy the change in the way your body feels once the laces are either tightened up or loosened, you’ll also probably enjoy the release of setting your body free for an hour, too, so you can get your crunches, push ups, and walking, biking or running done. The endorphines make you high, they're legal, you won't spend a fortune on them, and they won't wreck your life like a drug addiction will.

What several clients tell me is that exercise AND tightlacing are an exhilarating complementary combo, especially for sensation junkies. Never eat for at least 45 minutes after a work out. Water is ok. Take a shower, dry off, get your corset back on immediately, and get tightly laced up quickly before you get a chance to snack, sneak down to the refrigerator, or go to lunch. That’s my advice, now quit slacking and get to work!
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Can you introduce me to other people who are into corseting and like to play?
Nope. The purpose of this studio does not include providing a referral, networking or dating service and it will NOT hook you up with other people or groups who share your interests, so please don't ask. If you are looking for friends in the BDSM or leather lifestyle, go out and find 'em on your own. They are out there and if ye seek, ye shall find. As professionals, my associates and I respect, protect, and honor the privacy of ALL our clients and friends.
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How did you get started making corsets?
As part of theater costuming, I've made them for years. There's a fun narrative that gets passed around in those circles. A common gripe is that sometimes when you design a production with period costumes requiring proper corsets or undergarments to achieve the correct silhouettes, certain pesky actors may stop wearing them, ruining the look (and this is usually after you’ve gotten on a plane to fly back home or leave to work on other productions). If that production lacks an ethical stage manager and a firm wardrobe supervisor who exert enough authority, bad actors sometimes just get their way. This story is in no way limited to corsets but includes all kinds of costume items such as wigs, shoes, hairpieces, etc.

To circumvent this problem you build corset components into the actual costumes, leaving the actor no way to compromise your hard work. Designers build costumes this way all the time, especially if they don’t feel ideologically chained to the notion that actors psychologically need all the layers of “authentic” wardrobe elements to be able to perform well onstage. The steel stays and tough construction within the costume exert plenty of influence on actors who need to achieve period movement and accurate silhouettes. When you build the corseting into the actual costume itself, actors either wear the costumes you’ve designed and built, or they go on stage naked (well, ok, I’ve never really heard of this happening, but it’s always a funny story to tell!).

In 2000, I’d been managing the costume shop and wardrobe for a ballet company in Princeton, N.J., when I learned that both my parents were facing cancer at the same time. I decided to move back to Utah after having lived in Monterey and Santa Cruz, California for over six years, in New York City for a few years, and New Jersey for one.

Once back in the west, I had the crazy notion one day that northern Utah was ready for a custom corsetiere shop, and I put my shingle out. It all started as a fluke, really, a glib little line, "she also makes custom corsets" which a local alternative paper printed up in an article about my custom slipcover business here in Salt Lake. (Yep, I've made custom slipcovers professionally for over ten years, too- I used to own Santa Cruz Slipcover before I moved to New York. You might think of slipcovers as beautifully-fitted custom tailored costumes for furniture!).

Corset clients started coming out of the woodwork, and I don’t mean that in a disparaging way. Individuals and groups here wanted and needed them, and I've been providing this service for more than five years now. I consider it a privilege to serve communities who, I think, have been largely underserved and previously haven't had quality resources to turn to. Since the best quality costume design and construction often comes out of university costume shops, and because most of these shops neither build for nor rent costumes to 'nonacademic' performing groups, I open my doors to all subcultures and lifestyles.
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Why wouldn't you sell me the one I tried on at your studio?
It either didn't fit you correctly or it was a sample we needed to keep. Your body is unique and that corset wasn't cutom made for you, and you need one that is. You are not allowed leave with one that doesn't fit. Even if you really, really liked the one you tried on, it just wouldn't be right, though this is always a risk when we send them to area stores and we don't have as much control over who's doing the fitting/selling.

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I live outside the area- how do I place a custom order?
If you wanted to get a haircut, would you try to do it by email or phone? Would you put your head in a box and Fed-ex it?
Get your body here. If you're going to be traveling through or visiting the area, great! Email some measurements in advance and your wish-list or clippings if you like, and we'll talk. As artists, my associates and I are doing everything we can to add to the reasons that Utah is a true destination state, and it's working.
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Do you have rental corsets and costumes?
Rental costumes... usually some seasonal staples such as Santa Suits, etc.
Rental corsets... it depends. Usually not, but call and ask.
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Can I get Disney and other branded costumes here?
You can get our excellent interpretations (and we do great ones!) of these kinds of costumes and mascots from Disney, Nickelodeon, Pixar, Lucas, Warner Brothers, Lord of the Rings, sports teams, etc, ONLY if you are not using them to make a profit. You may use them for entertainment purposes only. Most character images and likenesses from the companies listed above are licensed, meaning they are copyright protected. If you simply want a character costume for a party or special event, that's a-ok.



I need a mascot costume - can you help?
Yes! If you own or manage a new or growing product, business or sports team, you should consider developing your own mascot to reinforce your branding and marketing campaigns. Your mascot actually gets you visibility at public and sports events, parades and fairs, something all the banners and paper fliers just don't achieve. Bring in your logos, press kits and any other visual resources, and let us sit down with you and start sketching out ideas and a bid for your project. Your unique mascot will get you noticed!

Click here to see a special multimedia feature (courtesy of the Salt Lake Tribune) about the process of mascot creation featuring the new mascot that Jen built for Ogden-Weber Area Technical College, the first tech college in Utah to develop one.
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an example in our custom mascot line for Clinique

Can I provide my own materials and hardware?
Yes. You are invited to bring in fabrics, metal findings or other items you've collected or inherited to imbue your projects with unique features, emotion and nostalgia.

One rather bittersweet example occurred last year, when we made a corseted bridal bodice and skirt out of some silk fabrics that a client’s father had purchased and given her after his many business trips to Hong Kong. He had passed away before she became engaged, so her fabrics and dress became a visual and visceral personification of her memory of him. He couldn't literally be there to "give the bride away," yet his presence was still part of the event.

Another recent client asked us to build her a custom corset using fabrics her husband tie-dyed, and he is becoming a well-known artist in our area who laminates tie-dye onto solid boards as stunning visual art. This project was really satisfying because it was a welcome shift from seeing or using tie-dye in its more stereotypical forms (think big t-shirts, sloppy, hippy, Grateful Dead-y looks of the past), and the creation of a trim little corset out of it with patterns matched perfectly in front and back had big payoffs in compliments and inspiration. Projects like this one will definitely help tie-dye stay fresh as a fabric-art to wear, and we plan to make more.
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What fabrics do you carry?
Lots, though obviously not as many choices as a fabric store has, however, we do offer some unusual rubber materials, vinyls, brocades, and other fabrics you might never have considered. You are welcome to discover and use any of the fabrics in the studio that are not already in use on someone else's project. If you want to match a fabric you've seen in a photo, we can you locate it or something similar.
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Where do you get your materials?
As fabric omnivores, my pals and I collect and use everything we can get our hands on to experiment with, whether it's fabric from local vendors, internet sources and overseas, or fabrics that may even have fallen off the back of a truck. If you've never ordered brocades from Thaisilks.com, try it. You'll be addicted, too.

I’m loyal about purchasing my corset busks and boning from Lacis in Berkley, and my aglets, coutil and tutu hooks from Richard the Thread in Culver City, both California vendors. I buy my grommets and many other hardware findings locally from our upholstery suppliers and tack shops, plus from luggage companies. Interestingly, but I guess not surprisingly, ninety percent of our clientele prefers silver or nickel busks, grommets and other hardware rather than brass or gold-toned metal findings (I’d bet you a nickel that if I were doing this type of work during the 1970s, the preference would be the exact opposite!).
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Why don't you keep regular hours & why do I need an appointment?

Dude, one of the benefits (maybe the only benefit) of working for oneself is working when and how one chooses. Maybe my associates and I are goofing off, at lunch, or doing stuff with our families. We have busy lives just like you do! You need an appointment because this isn't my only job! I also work in teaching, theater, film and installations. You need an appointment. Even if it's a costume or corset emergency. Just use your telephone. We can probably see you quickly even if it's not immediately.
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What's your background & education?
Born in Las Vegas, Air Force brat, lived as a kid in Colorado for 10 years, first moved to Utah as a high schooler in 1979, then lived all over the place including both coasts since and wound up relocating in Utah in 2001. Bachelor's degree in English- Master of Arts in Performance Studies- Master of Fine Arts in Theater and Costume Design. Schools I graduated from: Weber State, Utah State, New York University. Been working as a professional designer and cutter-draper for theater and dance for more than 15 years. Been teaching in higher ed. for more than 12 years.
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Do you wear corsets?
Almost never. Well, every once in a while. I save them for specific occasions such as parties, galas, promotional events, openings, speeches or lectures, gallery stroll, the opera, the ballet, etc. You’ve also heard that old chestnut, “the cobbler’s children have no shoes.” I create lots more custom clothing for other people than I'll ever make for myself. Just the way it is.

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Do you use commercially available patterns?
Commercial patterns are swell starting points for many items items such as skirts, jackets and blouses, etc, because why would anyone want to reinvent the wheel when you could combine these with a set of tagboard slopers plus your draping skills to quickly draft and adapt what you want?

I have found, though, that contemporary commerical corset patterns (such as Butterick, McCalls, Vogue, etc) share some of the same problems with retail or off-the-rack corsets, which is that they are generally oversized and pretty oversimplistic in design. They also usually are not long-waisted enough (even for petite customers), and they don't give enough overall surface area for tummy control, which is, after all, what every corset seeker seems to crave.

With focused alteration, though, some commercial patterns can often be adaptable for a variety of figures but are not always a good beginning for those undergoing gender reassignment or for big and tall people. I start from scratch for many projects.

It's interesting to research corset patterns (such as the one on the left) in museum books with patterns carefully traced or graphed out by costume historians.

I can resize patterns such as these to create toilles or mockups to fit on modern people's bodies, and get things going from there. When I do this in addition to drafting and adapting my own patterns for corsets, it gives me a lot more control over the finished item's final shape and fit.
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Why do you use Paypal?
Paypal is exactly right for our needs and it is FREE to you.
This studio doesn't mass-produce anything. There are no Asian children here, chained to sewing machines. We make each costume or corset to your measurements and specs, one at a time, by hand, with the highest attention given to fit and craftsmanship. We don't sell anyone else’s merchandise, either.

Ebay owns Paypal and it is the most widely recognized online payment system in the world. When you buy items from any website that uses Paypal, you can use any credit card or even your personal checking account. Paypal is easy-to-use, flexible, and saves us both time and money.

It's safe, guaranteed against fraud, and Paypal doesn’t cost you a cent. Not one penny. You don’t even have to sign up for a Paypal account to pay. If you've never used it before, just click here– it only takes a minute and is very easy.

If you make arrangements with me privately, you can split up your payments (like a layaway) or split your payments between your different credit cards or bank accounts. This gives you lots of flexibility and control over how and when you spend your money.
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Does your website show everything you do?
Nope. There's a ton more, including about a dozen years of costume design for theater and dance productions and lots of miscellaneous projects now owned by private collectors. Our sister site, Salt Lake Slipcover, showcases our "custom costumes for furniture" hehe. There isn't time to put everything online. Primarily, what you see here are best-sellers and funny outtakes that make this creative process so much fun.
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Can I be an apprentice or an intern?
We have to meet you and go through an interview process to determine if you pack the gear to serve in my beloved corps. This studio take on apprentices and interns on a person-by-person basis. Interns and apprentices are indespensible and allow us to create items for many not-for-profit projects that otherwise wouldn't be possible.

Although we've never officially applied for nonprofit status, we've hosted various groups including volunteer moms with civic ballet organizations to children’s theater groups to belly dancers to roller derby teams and burlesque performers, and worked side-by-side with them in the studio to guide them in cutting, stitching and building great costumes, almost always on modest budgets. Individuals from these groups give us some of their volunteer time with our projects as well, so we all benefit. We also have many friends who barter their time, plus apprentices from the local area and interns from Salt Lake Community College’s Fashion Institute.

If you become an apprentice or intern, you get hands-on as well as visual learning experiences. You also perform many duties, such as cleaning and organizing, which are essential to running a studio. You observe how I draft patterns, cut, drape, stitch, and proceed during custom fittings, and you will do most of these activities, too. You observe how I work with clients and how I manage a thousand things at once.

In exchange, I get your needed help with cutting and stitching projects, paperwork, shopping, errands, plus cleaning and organizing. Friends, interns, and apprentices often extend their assistance to hosting open house nights at my studio and managing our monthly gallery stroll events. Our work together on any given project is as much a social experience as it is a focused, technical pilgrimage.

I enjoy providing apprenticeship opportunities to individuals who might otherwise never discover costuming in a university setting, and I also enjoy giving courteous, quality service to our so-called "fringe" or amateur performing communities because since I also work in academia (I teach theater and writing courses at Weber State University, just north of Salt Lake City) I am a frequent witness to other academics and even my own colleagues in the humanities who take it upon themselves to write "about" "other" communities and subcultures (in sometimes rather pejorative or exploitative ways) while not exactly working cooperatively "with" them. Anyway, that's my soapbox.
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Do you need more artists, models and photographers?
YES! Just ask. But please be patient. If you're a paying customer who's placed an order, your corset project gets into the schedule faster and you'll be modeling it a lot sooner! It takes lots of spare time (which there never seems to be enough of) to create new corset prototypes and samples to send out to artists or to loan to photographers and models.

If you are a client, I can usually arrange to get you a complimentary photo session with my favorite photographer. Check out some of his work here. If you're a model or actor who needs a website, he's an good choice for that, too. Check out Nina LaTaunt's website he created for her.

If you know a good photographer, please email some links that showcase this person's work, and let's collaborate. If you're a 2-d artist, painter or illustrator, I want to meet you, too. Nothing's as cool as giving a blank corset "canvas" to an inspired painter or illustrator, then being blown away with your fantastic creation. Call and let's meet over coffee so you can show off your portfolio. The next gallery collection I'm scheduled to curate is one that shows more customized corsets.
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McGrew Studio / Salt Lake Tightlacer