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******Corsets
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Frequently asked questions... and a few answers! How
do I get the costume or corset style and look I want? 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. Recommended
reading: 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. Why
are corsets so popular now? 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! I'm
new to corsets, and not sure what's involved..? Is
wearing a corset the same thing as tight-lacing? 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? 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.
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. What’s
the connection between corseting and weight-loss? 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! Can
you introduce me to other people who are into corseting and like to play? How
did you get started making corsets? 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. 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 corsets and costumes? Can
I get Disney and other branded costumes here?
Can
I provide my own materials and hardware? 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. What
fabrics do you carry? Where
do you get your materials? 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!). What's
your background & education? Do
you wear corsets? Do
you use commercially available patterns?
Why
do you use Paypal? 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.
Can
I be an apprentice or an intern? 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. Do
you need more artists, models and photographers? 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. Content & Images Copyright
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