I've made a couple of overbusts recently but never got around to posting pics of them.

The first one was for a hairdresser friend of mine who was entering a competition for an avant-garde hairstyle.  She had to submit one photograph of her model wearing the wig she'd created, so she wanted a pretty fabulous outfit for her.  I haven't seen the photos yet but I'll post them when I get them!

This one was a bit of an experiment for me as I normally create shaped cups.  Rachel wanted her model to have lots of lovely cleavage though, so I drafted straight bust lines and just used sprung steel rather than spiral.  It's quite long over the hips with a nice wavy line.  There are little suspender tabs inside (3 on each side) for suspenders to hook into also.

It is made from black delustered satin, is bound in the same and has black size 00 grommets.

This corset will have more life after its photoshoot as Rachel selected a model with a similar size to herself so that she could run away with it afterwards.





The second one was for a client who didn't have much of an idea of what she wanted when she came in, but together we worked out a design that she is very happy with!  She wanted it to be mainly black but also have a feature colour of blue.   It fits much better on a real body than on my mannequin!  My client is planning on loosing a bit of weight so I designed it with a 10cm gap at the back so it can be closed down further.  She has two different removable modesty panels depending on how tight she is able to lace it.

This is a more traditional overbust shape for me, having shaped cups and a medium sweetheart neckline.

It is made from black silk dupion except the 2nd panels which are blue dupion and have a lace overlay. The binding and modesty panel are black dupion also. Lattice weave trim has been stitched to the top binding and a thin blue ribbon woven through.  It's left loose at the ends so that my client can reweave it or swap it out for different colours in the future. Thick blue dupion piping is stitched into the bottom binding and snaps have been attached for the removable black lace trim. It has black size 00 grommets and standard corset lacing.

The piping along the bottom came out a lot thicker than I had intended, but in the end it worked out well as at its original height it would have been masked by the lace trim.

Here's another corset recently completed.  My client wanted to wear something special to her Moulin Rouge-themed 21st that incorporated the theme colours of black, cream and gold, but that she could also wear again.

She decided the main fabric should be black duchess satin and wanted to incorporate a gorgeous cream diamond brocade that I have had sitting around for a while.  We ended up using this brocade in the form of contrast boning channels, cut so that the crosses ran down the centre of the channel, hinting at the romantic Xs used as kisses.  She really wanted a ruffled lace trim too, but wasn't sure if this would make the corset too unwearable for the future.  The solution?  Removable, of course!  The lace is sewn to double-satin ribbon and is attached with tiny black snaps next to each contrast boning channel.  It is all topped off with an attached back modesty panel and luscious cream ribbon lacing.

 

( More pics under the cut )

Recently I completed a corset for a girl to wear to her school ball.  My client has E-cup breasts though, so this provided a small challenge to ensure that she was well supported, but didn't look obscene!

She had a reasonably good idea of what she wanted, in that she wanted some sort of shoulder wrap, a main colour of  the greeney-goldey satin she had and an incorporation of blue shimmery organza.  She also didn't want boobs up to her chin.

I did a number of designs and she decided on one using the blue organza as an overlay on the side panels and as a shoulder wrap with a diamante slider.  In case she decides to wear the corset again and doesn't want the wrap, I made this removable by using clear nylon snaps on the back for the two satin loops and by attaching the slider to a strip of interfaced satin that attaches by a snap on the inside of the top of the busk.

I normally design 12-panel corsets (6 panels per side) with a single seam down the centre of the bust.  Due to the size of her bust though, I wanted it to sit more naturally and rounded and to have some extra boning support, so I opted for a double princess seam down the front.  This was a fiddly little bastard to get right and it took 3 mockups before it was all sitting perfectly, but the end result was just right.  Her bust was sitting nice and high, but without being pushed up at all.  There was no back-fat at all and the wrap sat beautifully around her shoulders.  I hope I get some pictures from her ball! 

This is a victorian-style overbust with shaped cups and a sweetheart neckline. It has a uniquely shaped bottom that sits low over the hips before rising up and plunging to a low point at the centre back. It features a floating modesty panel with vertical boning to keep it straight as the corset is laced (this was not yet complete when my client picked up the corset so was not photographed in the corset).

It is made from black duchess delustered satin with centre-front and centre-back panels of client-supplied floral brocade, including pattern matching on the centre-front panels. It is bound with black satin, has antique brass size 00 grommets and is laced with black satin ribbon.

 

( Click here for pictures )

 

I also realised that I never posted pictures of an overbust I finished last year.  This is made from client-supplied black and green striped dupion and has black dupion binding. There is one layer of fusible interfacing, two strength layers and one loose lining layer.  It also has a floating back modesty panel that has vertical and horizontal boning.  Unfortunately it is far too long to fit on my dummy so I had to photograph it laying flat.

( Pictures after the cut )

I am selling off a bunch of sample corsets that I've made recently. I am boycotting ebay for being evil bastards, so if you would like to buy something, please email me at info AT volancia DOT com. First in first served!

I'm just going to post some small pictures and the basics of the corsets here. If you would like more details, including construction information, please visit my website at www.volancia.com and click on 'Ready-Made' in the content bar.

Blue Dupion Underbust - Sample - $160

Fully closed at the back, this corset measures as follows:

Front Length - 29cm (11.5")
Underbust - 71cm (28")
Waist - 60cm (23.5")
Hip - 85cm (33.5")

This corset has been designed to have a 5cm (2") gap at the back.

( Two more images )

Black Floral Jacquard Underbust - Sample - $160

Fully closed at the back, this corset measures as follows:

Front Length - 29cm (11.5")
Underbust - 72cm (28.25")
Waist - 61cm (24")
Hip - 83cm (32.75")

This corset has been designed to have a 5cm (2") gap at the back.

( Two more images )

Chocolate and Pink Underbust With Pink Piping - Sample - $150

Fully closed at the back, this corset measures as follows:

Front Length - 26cm (10.25")
Underbust - 72cm (28.25")
Waist - 61cm (24")
Hip - 81cm (32")

This corset has been designed to have a 5cm (2") gap at the back.
( Two more images )

Also, I have reduced the price on the below sample overbust to $180. For more information, please see my website.

Fully closed at the back, this corset measures as follows:

Front Length - 32.5cm (12.75")
Bust - 89cm (35")
Waist - 60cm (23.5")
Hip - 82cm (32.25")

This corset has been designed to have a 5cm (2") gap at the back.

While in New Zealand I got some great shots of some sample corsets and a some from my own collection. All photography is by the fabulous RSJS and I was lucky enough to secure the modelling talents of a gorgeous friend of mine, Miss Bunny Brixton.

I have lots of pictures, so I'll only post a couple of each here under the cut (beware, they're kinda large).  If you want to take a look at more (or some smaller ones) please visit my website and click on either 'What's New' or 'Underbust' in the content bar.

Three of the five corsets are for sale (blue dupion, black jacquard, chocolate/pink satin).  I'll make another post after this with details of these corsets.

The blue corset and black corset are standard designs that I've developed to make it easier for clients to select a style.  When I have some time I plan to make these available for semi-custom ordering where I only take the underbust, waist and hip measurements and make a corset from these, without a mockup.  I have quite a bit on my plate at the moment though and am trying to find time to get retail stock made, so this may be a few months away.

Chocolate Satin Overbust With Cream Contrast Boning Channels - Sample

This is a sample corset that was made to test some new techniques. It has been worn only once for a photo shoot and is in excellent condition. There are a few small white marks on the front of the busk that appear to have come from the grommets while the corset was being stored. They are not very noticeable.

This corset has shaped cups and a sweetheart neckline. It has a slightly pointed front with a gentle curve down to the back. It features an attached back modesty panel with vertical boning and has been designed with a 5cm gap in mind.

It is made from chocolate duchess delustered satin with cream duchess satin contrast boning channels and chocolate satin binding. White grommets have been used, and the black lacing could be substituted for cream ribbon lacing for an additional $8.

Fully closed at the back, this corset measures as follows:

Front Length - 32.5cm (12.75")
Bust - 89cm (35")
Waist - 60cm (23.5")
Hip - 82cm (32.25")

Due to the bust shape it would best suit a DD-E cup to avoid gaping at the top.

This corset features:

• Front modesty panel behind the busk.
• Attached back modesty panel with vertical boning.
• Waist tape.
• Combination of sprung steel and spiral steel. 22 bones in total.
• Triple-stitched seams.
• Woven interfacing fused to fashion fabric for extra strength.
• Two layers of cotton drill as the strength layer and lining.
• Two-piece white grommets (size 00).
• Strong black poly-cotton lacing. ( If you would like cream satin ribbon please add $8 to the cost).

AU$220

Cream satin ribbon can replace standard black corset laces for an additional $8.

Please email me for a direct purchase.

Postage is $12 within Australia, $15-21 international, depending on destination.

You may request registered post for an extra charge.

Payment by bank deposit if in Australia, otherwise PayPal.  (For international PayPal purchases, please add 4.5% to cover their charges).

A couple of months ago I lent a corset to a make-up school student who wanted a garment to use in one of her photo-shoots

Unfortunately she put the corset on the model upside down, but I still think the photos themselves look pretty cool. I aspire to get such great photos of all my corset styles eventually!

I am selling some of my older corsets that have been hanging around. 

They will be added to my 'Ready-Made' page as I get photos of them.

The first one is a black satin underbust with red contrast stitching.

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Yup, I've been busy!  Here's another corset I just completed on Wednesday.

This was a commission for a girl whose favourite colour is blue.  When she saw the beautiful shimmery blue fabric I had, we had to figure out a way of incorporating it into the corset without overdoing it and making the corset too 'loud'.

Rachel really liked the idea of an overlay fabric to tone the colour down and blend it in with the black satin that the main corset would be made from.  We also decided to add piping under the top and bottom binding to help bring out the colour again and to tie in the coloured front and back panels.  She also loved the turquoise ribbon lacing I had on hand specifically to match that fabric, so we added that in as well.

I think the end result is pretty striking!

Elaine, the client for whom I made a Lissome corset recently, has sent me some utterly gorgeous images of her wearing it.

You may remember my post where I mentioned that Elaine has scoliosis and some interesting body quirks where one side of her waist is one inch higher than the other, as well as one side of her ribcage being larger than the other.  This took me a lot of thinking to get the pattern right, but the end result certainly justifies all the swearing!

I have finished another sample! The pattern is a revised version of the one used for the black corset with red stitching. I am happier with this one as it sits flatter against the stomach. I totally love the colour combination too. I have had this brocade in my fabric box for a couple of years and have been aching to use it. I am planning to get some professional photos of it, then I will be selling it.

It is made from chocolate brown duchess satin with contrast panels in pink/brown diamond brocade. It features brown satin binding with hot pink duchess satin piping. The binding is hand-finished on the inside and it has an attached modesty panel with vertical and horizontal boning to keep it flat and straight.  It has a combination of flat and spiral steel, 2-piece grommets and waist tape.  It is made from one fashion layer, one fusible interfacing layer, one strength layer and a lining layer.

I have just finished a custom Lissome corset for a client in Canada who posted to the corset_shoppe forum looking for a 'real' corset, but made from stretchy fabric.  After emailing her it turned out that she is Elaine, who I had met through mutual friends in Auckland several years before when she was over visiting.  What a kwinky-dink!

Anyway, Elaine has scoliosis and some interesting body quirks where one side of her waist is one inch higher than the other, as well as one side of her ribcage being larger than the other. The pattern had to be drafted in two halves, but luckily Elaine had recently taken detailed measurements so I had all the information at hand straight away.  Even after accommodating her differing waist height and other differences, the first mockup twisted on her.  She had told me it would do this, as it had with every other corset she'd had made, but I had been positive that if it was drafted in two correct halves it would sit straight.  So, back to the drawing board (or rather, the graph paper).

After angling the busk and lacing panels the second mockup sat where it was supposed to finally.  Now I just needed to alter some of the seam lines to maintain reasonable symmetry.  This was a little tricky too as I couldn't just remove 2cm from one panel and add it to the other, as suddenly there would be one giant curve being sewn next to a straight line, which would have done weird things.  After much banging of my head against the wall I think the final product looks pretty good and will fit her beautifully.

I have just finished my most recent commission. It is a gorgeous underbust made from red satin with a black lace overlay and has contrast boning channels. It is the same colour/fabric combination of a corset I made for myself about 18 months ago. That was the last corset I made on my domestic sewing machine and what drove me to buy an industrial machine. I am happy to say that this corset was much less stressful!

Here's another corset I completed yesterday. This is a sample of one of my standard styles that I am working on so that people can order semi-custom corsets directly from my website.

I'm really happy with how it's turned out and I have ironed out the design flaws that appeared in the Rose and Black version of this.

It is made from black duchess delustered satin with red contrast stitching. Black satin binding has been hand finished on the inside and there is an attached modesty panel with vertical and horizontal boning to keep it flat and straight.

( More pics after the cut... )

About two weeks ago I completed an underbust corset for a good friend of mine who was getting a civil union with her partner. I offered to make her a corset for under her dress as a gift.

Under the cut are some pics of it on my mannequin and one of gorgeous Arna and Josh on their special day.


The corset is made from champagne duchess delustered satin and features a back modesty panel.   I really like the design and shape - this was chosen by Arna as an amalgam of two mock-ups I sent her.

I have just completed another corset. There are a couple of wrinkles on the 2nd panel that I'll have to sort out with some pattern re-jigging, but apart from that I'm really pleased how it's turned out. I tried hand-finishing the binding on the inside and I think it looks really great. Quite soothing to do too, actually, so I think I'll be doing that on all corsets in the future.

Chris found the fabric in a pile of bolts at a clothing store that was closing down and selling all its fittings. I think it's really gorgeous, but what a bloody pain to match cotton to!!! After about 10 minutes pouring over the Gutermann thread stand I finally found a pretty good match though. I got the black lace at the clothing store too. It has a really nicely finished fishnet edge that I think looks great in the bottom binding.

( Pics under the cut )

Vital stats

Front Length - 26cm (10.25")

Fully closed:
Underbust - 73cm (28.75")
Waist - 62cm (24.5")
Hip - 90 cm (35.5")

• Front modesty panel behind the busk.


• Waist tape.


• Combination of sprung steel (around grommets and in the front) and spiral steel (around the waist). 24 bones in total.


• Triple-stitched seams.


• Woven interfacing fused to fashion fabric for extra strength.


• 100% cotton drill strength layer.


• Super soft 100% cotton drill lining.


• Two-piece grommets (size 00).


• Strong black poly-cotton lacing.

I've listed it on ebay and I hope to get $200 for it. Click here to visit the auction.