Why Commission a Bespoke Corset?
A bespoke corset is the only corset that can fit you correctly. Off-the-rack corsets are made to standard size templates that assume a specific relationship between your underbust, waist, and torso height — measurements that vary enormously between individuals. When these proportions don't match the template, the corset doesn't fit, and a corset that doesn't fit either doesn't work or actively causes harm.
Heidi's bespoke corsets begin with a comprehensive measurement session and are drafted as individual patterns. The result is a corset that sits exactly where it should, provides real waist reduction and support, and is comfortable to wear for extended periods — something an off-the-rack corset simply cannot guarantee.
The Commission Process
Initial consultation: discuss your goals (waist training, theatrical, fashion, or medical support), aesthetic preferences, and intended use. Heidi will take over 20 measurements of your torso and discuss fabric and boning options.
Pattern drafting: a custom pattern is drafted from your measurements. For complex torso shapes or significant size, this may involve computational adjustment as well as fitting-derived correction.
Mockup fitting: a first version in plain coutil allows structural fitting before the fashion fabric is cut. This is where the pattern is refined — adjustments at this stage cost nothing; adjustments after the fashion fabric is cut cost time and materials.
Fashion fabric fitting: the corset is assembled in your chosen fashion fabric with boning in place for a second fitting. Fine adjustments are made before final finishing.
Delivery: the final fitting confirms the completed corset. It should fit exactly right — the cumulative benefit of the fitting process is that the final result is precisely tailored to your body.
Corset Pricing
Boning Configuration
All of Heidi's corsets use a combination of spiral and flat steel boning in a configuration chosen for the specific design. The busk — the front closure mechanism — is a period-appropriate spoon busk or straight busk depending on the corset's historical reference. The boning count and placement are determined by the intended use: fashion corsets are lighter than waist-training corsets; theatrical corsets prioritise visual impact while maintaining wearability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Accurate fit in a corset cannot be achieved remotely. A corset that fits incorrectly is not only uncomfortable — it can cause real harm. The fitting sessions ensure the corset is shaped to your specific torso: your underbust circumference, the height of your torso, the shape of your rib cage, and the degree of reduction you're aiming for.
Spiral steel boning is flexible in all directions — it bends both sideways and forward/backward, making it appropriate for curved seams and areas where the body needs to flex. Flat steel boning is rigid in one plane — it prevents forward bending at specific points (the front busk and side panels) where that rigidity is structural. A quality corset uses both types strategically.
Coutil is the traditional corsetry interlining fabric — a heavy, tightly woven cotton twill that resists stretch in all directions. It forms the structural layer between the fashion fabric and the lining, distributing the tension of the boning across the whole garment rather than concentrating it at the seams. All of Heidi's corsets use coutil as standard.
Yes — Heidi will discuss fabric options with you at the initial consultation. Some fabrics are more appropriate than others for corsetry (they need to handle the stress of boning without distorting), and she'll advise on what works for your design.
Typical waist reduction in a well-fitted corset is 2–4 inches for everyday wear; more is possible for occasional theatrical wear but is not recommended for long periods. Heidi will discuss realistic expectations for your specific measurements at the initial consultation.
Air out after each wear; spot clean only (never immerse — the steel boning will rust if wet and the coutil can distort); store with laces loosened; periodically inspect lacing for wear. See the full corset care guide for details.
Potentially — contact with photos of the damage and the corset's construction. Heidi evaluates repair requests case-by-case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Accurate fit in a corset cannot be achieved remotely. A corset that fits incorrectly is not only uncomfortable — it can cause real harm. The fitting sessions ensure the corset is shaped to your specific torso: your underbust circumference, the height of your torso, the shape of your rib cage, and the degree of reduction you're aiming for.
Spiral steel boning is flexible in all directions — it bends both sideways and forward/backward, making it appropriate for curved seams and areas where the body needs to flex. Flat steel boning is rigid in one plane — it prevents forward bending at specific points (the front busk and side panels) where that rigidity is structural. A quality corset uses both types strategically.
Coutil is the traditional corsetry interlining fabric — a heavy, tightly woven cotton twill that resists stretch in all directions. It forms the structural layer between the fashion fabric and the lining, distributing the tension of the boning across the whole garment rather than concentrating it at the seams. All of Heidi's corsets use coutil as standard.
Yes — Heidi will discuss fabric options with you at the initial consultation. Some fabrics are more appropriate than others for corsetry (they need to handle the stress of boning without distorting), and she'll advise on what works for your design.
Typical waist reduction in a well-fitted corset is 2–4 inches for everyday wear; more is possible for occasional theatrical wear but is not recommended for long periods. Heidi will discuss realistic expectations for your specific measurements at the initial consultation.
Air out after each wear; spot clean only (never immerse — the steel boning will rust if wet and the coutil can distort); store with laces loosened; periodically inspect lacing for wear. See the full corset care guide for details.
Potentially — contact with photos of the damage and the corset's construction. Heidi evaluates repair requests case-by-case.