Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make a corset?

How long is a piece of string? It takes around 12hrs of skilled labour to make one of our average corsets, and we have the processes of production honed down to a fine art. Small ones take a slightly shorter amount of time than larger ones. Plain Fronts take a shorter amount of time than Busk Fronts or Limited Edition designs. Anything with detailing, decoration, special cuts or finishing take longer than that.
Labour is a large proportion of the price but almost equal to are the costs of the top fabric, usually silk, and other components.

What should I wear with it?

Be experimental. Your corset should be a much loved and well worn item in your wardrobe. Rely on it for those fat days and when you need a glamour boost, these babies are far better at rectifying an esteem dilemma than any boyfriend or best friend. These corsets are designed with adaptability in mind. You can wear one on your wedding day and then put it with a pair of jeans on your honeymoon. Splash out for an important function, put it with a long skirt then wear it under a sleek suit for a sexy but smart look.

How can I lace up my corset?

There are two different methods we can show you on how to lace up your corset. The first method is the most simplest way of lacing and the second is Victorian Lacing. Both ways are shown in full details with images to illustrate.

What do I do about overhang, spillage or gaps.

The corsets should fit flush to the skin with no great overhang, spillage or gaps either at the front or the back, top or bottom. A great deal of research has been put into these patterns to alleviate these problems whilst still creating the desired affect, but the rest has to be done with a bit of attention to the lacing and positioning of the boobs. Usually, by lifting and bringing the boobs together, this allows the lacing to be brought in a little at the back, giving more support and shape to the bust. Or if your bust or back is spilling over, loosen the lacing an inch or two, allowing the slack to feed down twisting back and forth again.

Why do I get a "Crease" down my back?

The crease appears in the skin down your spine as you tighten up from the back. If you twist the corset to the left and then right by either crossing your arms in front of you like your are hugging yourself and twist the corset back and forth or when it is tightened up hold onto the corset with one hand under the bottom on each hip and give a really good twist and wriggle around. Don't be shy as this will redistribute the tightness more evenly making the whole thing more comfy.

What do I do with my Boobs?

Lift and scoop your boobs together whilst tightening a little at the back to create more cleavage or loosen a little at the top by undoing the bow and taking a deep breath, to allow your boobs to sit a bit lower.

How do I Clean and Care for my corset?

Every effort is made to make these durable and comfortable corsets, designed to be worn and look good for a long time. We have used our experience of fitting and wearing to offer you what we consider to be the best corsets on the market. They are designed to take the strain of hard wearing but do treat them with respect. Specialist dry cleaning is a slightly more gentle process than normal dry cleaning. We would recommend that you take your corset to an independent drycleaner as they will probably take more care with it. Ask for a specialist dry clean. We don't recommend chain dry cleaners such as Brooks and Bolloms. We would not consider it necessary to clean your corset after every wear, only when in need of a spruce up. The polyester boning is designed to give support and flexibility. The steel busks and internal strips should prevent creasing under the bust and around the waist, although if the corset is not laced up properly they will be put under adverse pressure.

My bust is bigger than the guideline measurements but my waist and hips are the same. What difference does this make?

If your bust is a whole size bigger or more you could look at the curvy pattern. This is cut slightly shorter too. This will ensure that the lacing and eyelets at the back will remain parallel. If your bust or hips are only an inch or two bigger or smaller than the stated measurements you should allow for this in the lacing with a v-shape between the eyelets.

Special Sauce Customised Corsetry Ltd asserts Design rights and claims Moral rights as defined by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Copyright of the original design and its derivatives are the property of Emma Houghton, the designer. The copyright of the 2003 Autumn/Winter collection of designs is on behalf of the designer by Special Sauce Customised Corsetry Ltd.