Corset for the Business Professional

Estimated Cost: ~$30-$50 (more if you don't already own the necessary tools)
Estimated completion time: 15-20 hours
Difficulty: Moderate - Challenging (dependent on skill level) 
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I designed this corset for my wife who loves wearing corsets but did not yet own
one that would be suitable for a business environment. The end result is a light corset
made with a quality suiting material, a slight slimming effect on the waist and loads of
back support.

This corset is considerably more challenging then my other corset instructable and will
require a fair amount of hand sewing. It will also require several iterations of mock-up,
fitting and adjusting to get the correct fit. If this is your first time making a corset I
recommend starting with my other instructable How to make a Steampunk Corset as it
is far more basic and it is much easier to fit properly.

You can see the evolution of this pattern from a mess of fabrics scraps and duct tape,
through several stages of mockup and redrafting, to its current state in Figure 3. Note:
I am using a mannequin not a naked person.

If you have trouble seeing the details of any of the images, click the little i in the top left
corner and it will allow you to view it in the original resolution.

Step 1 Tools

Tools You Will Need:
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1. Straight-stitch sewing machine and hand sewing materials
2. For the sewing machine you will need a zipper foot
3. Scissors
4. Awl
5. Marking tool (Preferably something non-permanent like a chalk pencil)
6. Fray Check (If you use a fabric with a tendency to fray)
7. Lighter or other heat source
8. Grommet Setter
9. Pliers
10. Ruler or seam gauge
11. Dressmakers pins (Ones that won't snag on a sewing machine)
12. Steam Iron
13. Hole punch

Tools that will Make the Job Easier
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1. Rotary Cutter
2. Cutting Mat or other razor safe surface (office chair mats work great)
3. Seam Ripper
4. Weights (I make my own with bags full of steel shot)

Comments

[mowdish]

I would not have expected a corset to ever be appropriate for business, yet here we are. Nice work.

[jadekikyo]

Gorgeous!!!! Voted!

[angelabchua]

Amazing construction skills! This is a really awesome and versatile piece!

[XofHope]

This is absolutely gorgeous! I have one in this style but not as good looking as yours.

[The Gingham Ginger]

Love it!!!

[steveastrouk]

Beautiful piece of work, both the piece and the Instructable. Well done !

[czintx]

so so pretty! Love it

[ladyk5dragon]

Where do you get coutil?? I understood that the only factory making it in the US burned down some 5 years ago and now it's as rare as hen's teeth.

[ladyk5dragon]

You are my hero!!!! love corset instructables, keep them coming!!!!

[scoochmaroo]

I have successfully used mattress ticking ordered from Denver Mattress company. They actually have some beautiful patterns and it takes dye beautifully if you are so inclined.

[lw119]

It is hard to find. I purchased two rolls a couple years ago and have hardly made a dent in it. I found a coutil substitute for $8 / yard at www.voguefabricsstore.com. They have everything else you would need too.

[lw119]

I will have to try that. Thanks for the tip.

[sunshiine]

You did such an amazing job on this and your ible. Beautiful!

[amberella1964]

I make corsets and underbust corsets....and I am in love with this one! absolutely stunning!!! Thank you.

[sbarker2]

Bugger it ! Im making it anyway...even if i cant wear it to work :D

[hohum]

very nice

[lauralee19780]

I can definitely see this with a business jacket over it. And if you sit at a computer all day, the back support would be fabulous. An over bust corset might be better for someone in a more "modest" workplace. I love the shoulder straps because then you wouldn't keep feeling like it might slide down and look strange. I definitely want to make this one! I have been looking for a corset pattern with shoulder straps. Thanks for sharing this!!!!!!!!!

[desya]

I so love corsets but I have a sit down desk job...nothing but ouch.....stays and boning and a sit down job don't mix .... any suggestions

[lw119]

A custom fit seems to make all the difference. You should not be able to feel the boning if a well made corset.

Off the shelf corsets are generally made to an unrealistic ideal miss size chart whereas most woman are one size at the bust area and another at the waist and hips. This causes the pressure of the corset to be distributed unevenly which can lead to considerable discomfort after a short time. In contrast, a bespoke corset can generally be worn for up to 8 hours and remain relatively comfortable.

[lauralee19780]

Definitely custom fit is important! I wear corsets that I make myself rather than wear one that is ready made. I am way smaller on top than on bottom and my waist is short. So a ready made one would be too big on top or too small on the bottom and the bones would cut into my waist because they would be too long for my short waist. I make mine long line also because I need to accentuate the small bosom and cover the belly roll. Most ready made corsets emphasize the belly roll because they stop too short. But if the bones are in the wrong place in a long corset, they will definitely cut into your waist. Custom made corsets are very expensive but worth it if you want one to support a tired back!

[yelenas]

I would actually BUY one of these from you! It looks absolutely amazing!

[TerriMcD]

I got coutil from www.tutu.com. Runs about $9.80 per yard. (under fabrics/lining) They also sell steel boning at good prices. A little old fashioned site, but service has been friendly.

[zapan]

Your instructable is currently being translated in french, to be featured on the creative LARP community Trollcalibur.com ; the translated article will of course display a link to the original instructable and will comply with the Creative Commons conditions. If you are opposed to the translation, please notify us so we can remove the article on our website. Thank you !

[lw119]

That's great! Thanks for helping my project reach a wider audience.

[zapan]

Thank you for your awesome tutorial, i'll add a link to the article when the translation is complete.

[jmitrovic]

Wooooooow!!!! I am a corset collector, i take pride in each and every one of them and none are business appropriate, I would loooove if you could make one more of them for me :) Jenna Mitrovic

[katjoy]

While this may be a very nice piece of clothing. I really can't see wearing it in any type of business setting that isn't in retail slanted towards the "adult trade", or as a musician, or some other independent type of work. What is your reasoning behind being able to wear this item that is obviously accentuating the model's ample bosom?

[lw119]

I created this corset as my entry into a fashion design contest. Perhaps you have seen a fashion show on TV at some point and said to yourself “I would never wear that” when you saw a particular model strutting down the runway. The point is to be inventive and bring something new to the table. Corsets are a growing fashion trend and mine was an attempt to merge a corset with a woman’s business vests (Google the term and you will immediately see what I mean). So please try to look at it through that lens.

Whether it is suitable for your work environment is up to you and I am certainly making no statement about how woman should dress. Some work environments, particularly more liberal locations such as here in Las Vegas, permit woman to deviate to some degree from what would traditionally be considered business attire. Fashion is something that is constantly evolving; around 50 years ago, it would have been frowned upon for a woman to wear pants to work.

I am not sure I answered your question. It seems you are asking me to make an argument defining what women should be allowed to wear to work, not going to, sorry.

[katjoy]

Please forgive me if I came off rude or brash. That's really not my intention.
I am basically saying I would never want my boss looking at me in any sexual way, and this piece just might do that. It is an excellent piece of work. You obviously have very exacting sewing skills. Knowing you live in Las Vegas says a lot about the leniency in dress code. I live in the Midwest. While not prudish, I definitely can say that if I saw this item on a coworker, I would assuredly not be the only one wondering why this person thought it was an appropriate piece to wear to work.
Now, if you were to wear it in just about any other setting, and could take the interested looks you may receive from others, then go ahead and flaunt the goods.

[danvilleman]

Now I want to see the "business environment appropriate" bikini.

[reinlar]

Beautiful work ! But, are you really going to send your wife to work in this??? You have to be the most secure, trusting husband (or fool) in the world! Way, way, waaaaaay too sexy for the work environment, unless she works at a strip club. Even worn over a shirt, it's tooo HOT! I want to order three for the ladies in our office!

[Mr. Potato Head]

I can't help wondering just what sort of "business" she's in...

[cofosho]

Agreed. This is a fantastic project with a very cool outcome, but that wouldn't really fly anywhere I've worked.

[cloudifornia]

Well said.

[Mr. Potato Head]

Certainly wouldn't fly if I were wearing it, but it looks kinda nice on the mannequin.

[cloudifornia]

You'd be Mr Mashed Potato Head! :-O)

[kevinhannan]

wow! what a great 'ible!

I'd be a bit worried if my boss/colleague/worker came in wearing *that*! But great for a "special night in"!

Brilliant work, this is a show piece example of a great 'ible - thanks for sharing!

[skaar]

so, the outer fabric is folded over the coutil to hold the busk? so, it'd have to be a pretty strong fabric... or, what? the lining... in the text... um, do you have the pictures out of order?

[lw119]

The pictures are in the correct order. The outer fabric and the coutil were bound together in step 3 such that they are in step 5 treated as a single piece of fabric.

The busk is slid into pocket formed in the seam between the outer fabric (coutil + outer fabric prior to step 3) and the lining. When you fold the lining over and stitch the busk in place. It ends up sandwiched between a double layer of the outer fabric (coutil + outer fabric prior to step 3) and a double layer of the lining fabric. In step 7 in my other corset instructable here there is a photo of the busk insertion from another angle that might clear things up.

If you were adding a significant reduction (probably not a good idea if you are wearing it to work) a second layer of coutil in place of the lining might be prudent. However the intent of this corset is to emphasize your current shape not give you a new one.

Thanks for the question. Please let know if this did not clear things up.

[skaar]

just before the page reload, i thought i had it... allowance in the coutil, all the layers folded sewn together, the coutil folded over, taking the other layers with it to make the pocket. i'll get it eventually, been wanting to make a gross of corsets for friends... mostly as gifts for them.

i guess cutting the holes in the coutil for the hooks to go through would weaken it?