Salt Lake Tightlacer Studio custom corset process photos

All about the

Take me straight to:
    Costumes
    Mascots
    Corsets

Having something custom made is a pleasure.

It's a way to pamper yourself and to be pampered by an expert who is creating something fabulous, just for you. Your creation is guaranteed to fit and function the way it's supposed to. Whether you're promoting your product, your business, or your own fabulous self, we're here to help.

Your custom fitting process begins when you ask for a costume or corset made in any of the styles shown in the gallery, or when you bring in photos from books, films, magazines, websites, etc.

Above:
A source image of Jessica Rabbit informs the cut and details for the realized costume, plus how it should fit and function during a burlesque performance.

Left:
Engineering miracle: the famous backless, strapless Jessica Rabbit Dress, in progress, for Lorrie. Beneath the sleek outer sheath is a highly structured foundation.

Above:
an anime source from the web provides inspiration for a roller derby team of "ninja assassins!"

Above:
sketches detail some ideas for the uniform silhouettes, necklines, sleeves and accessories.

Above:
uniforms construction in progress in the studio.

Above:
Lady Octane. Team captain, ready for battle.

Above: The Death Dealers, 2007

Left:
...part of a custom tuxedo costume fitting in progress over a sumo wrestling suit.

Created for technology developer, Realm Systems, for their product debut party during the National Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

(One of their rented sumo suits needed a tuxedo because of their party's very special theme based on their creation of miniature computer hardware technology. The party's theme: James Bond - "Spy Another Day." Comedian Jon Lovitz was master of ceremonies).

Right: Custom cavalry jacket and breeches (modeled after the costumes worn by Denzel Washington and Kenneth Branagh in the film Much Ado About Nothing), ready for a themed wedding.
*Right:* The bride and groom-to-be rehearse their vows.
*And of course... seasonal costume favorites always* include Santa Suits! Right: JP, surrounded by the Slippery Kittens, sports the custom Santa Suit we created for him specifically in black** fake fur. Big Deluxe Christmas party, 2006. Photo: Hektik.org
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Having an employee in a well designed mascot costume gives your business an interactive, performative entity that can reach out and touch your customers directly.

McGrew Studio creates lots of custom mascots (including the ones shown here) for Clinique and other businesses.

We make the Clinique costumes in two different styles: those with cap 'heads' (where the wearer's face is exposed) and the 'headless variety' in which the head and face are completely hidden and the wearer sees through a scrim- (and there are reasons you might choose one style over another).

These are mascots made to order! For these shown here, we had to exactly duplicate the product bottle shapes plus the lettering and logos, and find exact fabric color matches for the moisturinzer, soap, and clarifying lotion! The cult of Clinique lives!

The research into effective marketing strategy underscores the fact that a good mascot (plus skillful, integrated campaigning with it) reinforces consumers' brand/product recognition.

Left:
New Mascots for Clinique.
Photo courtesy of the Salt Lake Tribune
from the Riverdale, Utah - Meier and Frank Store grand opening, 2004.

Above:
Clinique High Impact Mascara, a mascot that hides the wearer's identity.

click this little robot guy on the left for a special multimedia feature (courtesy of the Salt Lake Tribune) about the process of mascot creation and the new mascot, Randy Robotech, that Jen built for Ogden-Weber Area Technical College.

He could inspire you whether you're a business owner who needs a mascot, a graphic or animation designer, a marketing director, a performing artist, or any kind of imaginative hominid!

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All about the

Right:
A model from W Talent Management, fitted in a two-tone custom corset with a sweet retro cherries print.

Below:
Amber gets laced up
in the studio
by her sis, Brooke.

When you place a custom order, we take a specific set of your measurements, then create some sketches indicating further measurements and details, and ask you a set of questions about shapes, colors, fabric combinations, silhouettes, necklines, and whether you'd prefer a gold or silver busk, grommets, or other hardware.

Feel welcome to bring in any costumes or corsets you already own so you can point out what works and what doesn't. You'll usually need one or two fittings when you have us build you a new one.

I'll even ask if you're left or right handed and show you why this is helpful. If your new corset is going to be worn in a dance or performance (such as a burlesque performance), I'll ask you if it needs any quick-release features so you can get out of your corset quickly and gracefully.

Above:
A special corset in progress. The outer layer is an ornate satin that resembles Indian sari fabric. It's been carefully cut so the gradient color progression of dark blue starts at the bottom fades up into the beautiful Aegean green at top.

Left:
...the beautiful bride on her special day.

Her skirt is also cutom made to go with the corset.

It's layered gold satin underneath,
sheathed with gold netting that sparkles.

Above:
Lorrie, during a custom fitting.

Above:
In the corset that started it all for burlesque phenoms, the Slippery Kittens.
Audition Announcement,
Back cover of SLUG Magazine, July 2006
courtesy of SLUG

*Below:* The ol' 'knee in the back' image is for comic effect only. It's been showcased in many cartoons over the years but isn't really the best way to get lacing leverage. Let me show you how to do it better. Your custom fitting includes instructions about how to put on, take off, and care for your new corset. If you bring a friend, I'll show both of you how to lace it up.

Below:
Cydney, during a custom fitting.

The corset is in a partially-completed stage. At this point in a fitting, the corset has its steel busk, boning, or other fastening hardware in the center front and the grommets installed directly through steel stays in the back. The top and bottom fabric edges are raw and unfinished. Normally, I begin building your corset out of your actual fabrics, stopping short of completing all its casings, so it's in this partially-completed form when you come for a fitting.

Because the corset is still alterable in this stage it allows me to take in seams (usually at the waist) and tapering others slightly (usually at the hip and abdomen) so it fits you properly, hugging you. You get the maximum flattery and figure control out of the corset's surface area.

I also make sure it's cut low enough under your arms so it doesn't rub or chafe you there when it's completed. I ask you to sit down in a chair to determine whether we need to alter the shape directly over the crease of your thigh. You'll get more tummy control when the corset is cut lower over your abdomen and hip because of the increased surface area that acts as a container for your torso. In most cases, you'll want to be able to sit down comfortably. If you have the exact opposite idea in mind, then you need to tell me!

Above:
more pictures of a partially-constructed corset, ready for its fitting.

When the client came for her fitting, I cut the under-arm areas a bit lower and cut the area right above the thigh crease a bit higher, plus checked and adjusted some seams that needed to taper in further. (Inquiring minds wanted to know about this corset- yes, it DOES have a front busk, but it's covered by a clever placket with petite chinese frog closures over it. The client found this beautiful green brocade fabric and these cute frog closures on a trip to Portland, Oregon, and the finished corset will forever be her reminder of that vacation).

Depending on your fitting needs and the complexity of what we're building for you, I may have a sample in a suitable size for you to try on during your first visit. If not, I'll often create a toille or mock-up corset for you, made especially for fitting purposes, and schedule you for a second visit.

Usually, I'll have a slip for you to wear when we are doing an intermediate or final fitting. It's also helpful if you can bring one of your own. We don't want bulky clothing in the way.

When you visit the studio, you're invited to look through a collection of costume and corset history books, and you're invited to try on any sample corsets in your size.

You are welcome to any fabrics in stock. If you don't see some you like, I can help you locate the fabric of your dreams, or we will send you shopping.

If you shop for your own fabric, you'll usually need to purchase 3/4 yard to 1 yard for most corset projects.

I can figure your yardage after we take measurements and do some sketching.

Usually, the only fabrics you'll need buy are those that show on the outside of your new corset.

The studio provides all the sturdy inerlining fabrics, steel stays, grommets, lacing, etc.

Above:
Jamie is thrilled about her new 1000 roses corset!

Left:
more pictures of a partially-constructed corset, ready for its fitting.

The stay casings for this one were then sewn onto the outside of the corset. The closures down the front are swivel studs with holes drilled through, so the client can put small padlocks through them.

Once we're ready to get started in your actual fabric, you place a deposit (usually half the total) before we begin construction. If you make arrangements with me privately, you are also welcome to spread out your payments (like a layaway).

Your new corset can be ready for you to take home and enjoy in about a week or two, depending on how many orders are ahead of yours.

It's fun to get laced up! You might even get your picture taken... maybe in a leather cincher.

Above: Julie in a dramatic black and white cincher. It's cut so the repeating ornate pattern matches perfectly at every seam.



Remember, your body is unique, and a corset is a clothing item that does *not* stretch. It's made from at least 2-3 layers of fabric and your outer fabric is stabilized by an inter-or underlining of tightly woven fabric such as coutil, drill, canvas, denim, cordura, or other tough material, depending on the style and purpose of your finished item. Sometimes you'll even have an inner "waistband" of petersham covered in fabric, for corsets that need extra resilience against wear and tear. Depending on the size, style, and purpose of your corset, it will contain 10 - 20 or more spring steel and/or spiral steel stays inserted into special casings. We advise you never to purchase a premade corset from any website or retail vendor unless you've tried it on first.

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