Corset Links
So You Want to Wear a Corset
Long Island Staylace Association (L.I.S.A.)
Corsetorium
WebRing
@ Corset Home
Corsetry at Waisted.com
So You Want To Buy a Corset
Dark Garden Corsetry
Romantasy Corsets
Vollers Corset Co. (UK)
Axfords (UK)
L.I.S.A. sells some corsets.
Isabella Costumiere
Corset Connection
Elegant Corsets (currently sells Axfords and Vollers corsets)
Designs of the Past sells Renaissance and Medieval costumes, including tudor corsets. (they also have a good deal of information for costume research).
Starkers (Toronto) - Gothic clothing and custom corsets. Very interesting styles.
The Fitting Room - custom corsets and supplies.
Versatile Fashions (California) - This is the only company I have bought a corset from so far. I like it, it is quite well made.
So You Want To Make a Corset
Patterns
How to Make a
Victorian Corset
How to Make
17th Century Stays
How to make an Elizabethan
Corset (including a custom pattern generator).
Laughing Moon Mercantile sells a pattern including two basic Victorian style corsets (as well as a chemise and drawers). The pattern is heavily documented and very easy to follow. I would advise making your first corset as a wearable test in plain fabric, and then make the alterations you find you need before making one in any "special" fabric. You will learn a lot from the first one, and your second will be much better.
Sources for parts
There is only one corset part that is not easy to come by and which I know of no substitutes for: the front-opening busk. I have seen very attractive corsets that lace both front and back, but if you want the classic Victorian Corset look, you will probably have to order one. This is why I don't make as many corsets as I would like.
Milieux Costume
Source Pages
Alteryears (formerly Raiments) has a
great catalog with reasonable prices on most items, but had slow service last time I ordered from them (in the late 1990's).
Past Patterns sells
an array of corset patterns and kits, which are also carried by Alteryears
and Amazon Drygoods.
Lacis sells corset parts. Their
prices are quite high, but they are within a reasonable driving distance
of Sacramento. If I can't wait for shipping, they are my only choice.
Farthingales is in Canada,
which adds a little bit of travel time for orders, but she is very friendly
and ships very promptly. Her prices are also quite good.
Enhancements Costume Supply does not seem to be online, but
they had very good prices and quick service when last I dealt with them (late 1990's). P.O. Box 8604 Anaheim, CA 92812-0604
Del Corset Supplies has a good selection, good prices, and is located in Philadelphia.
Greenberg & Hammer has a wide array of costume-type supplies, including corset parts.
The Fitting Room
So You Are Interested in Costume, Not Just Corsets
Mode Historique focuses mainly on Elizabethan era costume, but has some great information applicable to all eras. Don't miss the article on types of boning. A nice site, and I'm not just saying that because Sarah is a friend of mine.
That is all I have right now. More to follow, and changes in organization.
amazing page design with vintage HTML by Ashley (corsets at alienora dot com)
Last modified March 20, 2004