corsets are evil, actually.... in my opinion 🙄 

It's interesting that corsets can give such different experiences to different people, even those who have the same bodily issues. I also have pretty severe scoliosis and corsets (which I make for myself) are one of the main ways that I cope on bad pain days. The support and gentle compression they give my back just works for some reason. It just goes to show that we can't know what someone's experience is going to be based on our own and that it's really important not to shame people for telling you that they're uncomfortable with something that you view as helpful and good. I'm really sorry that corsets give you pain and that people who should know better by now are rude to you about it.

Gotta love people who lack the ability to distinguish between "Corsets are painful and uncomfortable for me because of xyz." and " Corsets are painful and uncomfortable."

As someone with a huge chest who had to switch to wearing corsets as a daily bra replacement a few years ago because the weight of my breasts pulling on the strap gave me a significant and excruciating shoulder injury, I really sympathize with your frustrations in the start of this video. The number of people who’ve tried to tell me that Oh But I Just Need A Bra That FITS…. No! What *I* need is something that puts zero weight on my shoulders! Not every bust support method is going to work for every body, and that’s f i n e, and I wish people would stop telling me that I should just go spend money I don’t have on something that has a high chance of just further injuring me.

I think people need to just accept that they way they feel in a garment isn't the way everyone will feel. There is no reason that everyone must love corsets or be comfortable in them. It really did turn out looking great though. I hope you get to enjoy the results of all your hard work.

This is so important, perhaps especially the parts where you point out how the corset and wheelchair aren't compatible. Thank you!

I am also a wheelchair user, and I do corsetry as my bust is... somewhat overly generous, so bras hurt. I had a lot of similar issues with my first few corsets, but here are some tips I've learned that really improve comfort: 1) Lower the bottom of the bust gore by a lot, and make yourself little under-boob pillows, like you put into early edwardian corsets. This will stop anything digging into your ribs, and also provides extra bust support without having to add any extra boning. I find this means the pillow molds around my sticky-out rib so the corset doesn't have to. 2) Give yourself a little extra hip spring, right at the top of the hip, and put horizontal cording into that area. I find this takes the weight of the skirts better. You can also stuff a pad under the corset at the hips, but that makes the silhouette a bit later. 3) Bring the bottom of the corset up, particularly directly over the front of the thighs. It'll all be hidden under the skirts anyway in that era, so if it's not the correct silhouette, eh. 4) Less flat steel boning. The only place I use flat steel is on either side of the grommets. I use spiral steel at the side and up the bust (but for most figures, up the bust is possibly unnecessary) and synthetic whalebone (plastic) or cording everywhere else. 5) Shorten the busk. It'll be mostly hidden under the skirts, and if you need a bit of extra length you can add up to around three hooks and eyes below the busk, and one above. I like my busk to end about 1/2" above the the bottom of my tummy. Yes, that's super short by busk standards, but I assume most historical corset designers weren't wheelchair users so I pick the option that works for me, not the option that is the most historically accurate 6) Add a petticoat hook to tie it under. Like you, I find it easier and more comfortable to tie it in front, but if you shorten the busk at the bottom, you can't hook the laces under there. So, tie it under a petticoat hook instead 7) I do not do the back seams where the grommets sit straight, I curve it so the flat steel bones already sit bent in the correct shape for my spine. I always found that straight-edged back panels would try and pull my back straight, and my back just doesn't like to do that. I also pre-shape the bones as much as possible. My back panels follow a swayback shape, but yours should follow your particular spine. If your scapula wing at all, you'll need to dip down the top of the back. I also like to dip down the bottom at the back so that when I lean forward, it pulls back at the top and gives my scapula more room. The end result means that the actual corset is only skin tight at the waist, upper back, and mid-bust up. the rest is sitting away from my body with enough padding underneath to stop it from wiggling about. For eras with bustle pads, I tend to do the under-corset version (well, sometimes both if I really want that booty). It also goes up at the front and down at the back, so even if I wasn't aiming for an Edwardian silhouette, it can look quite Edwardian anyway.

I also have ME and from what I have seen I totally agree, sometimes people go too far in the opposite direction when they try to combat the misinformation. People make it seem that in the past everybody in western dress wore a corset and everybody thought they were comfortable, and to prove this they say “even working women wore corsets”. Well an able bodied working woman might easily find a corset more comfortable than a lot of disabled people of any class, that and also that people in general did not always want to wear corsets is why softer garments have also existed among people wearing city and aristocratic dress. People also seem to miss the huge variation in European folk dress where what is sometimes called a corset in some regions/languages is called a bodice in others as it is worn on the outside of the shirt, and they are in my opinion in general substantially different garments from the types of corsets talked about on RU-vid

The Worst Thing You Ever Made is still a lot better than many of us could do. Two other YT sewists have done vids about the perils of perfection this week (V of Snappy Dragon And Shannon Makes) and I've mentioned your Good Better Best,... It's an important topic! I think you found the perfect blend of getting it done and meeting your needs.

Even though I don't really know you, I kind of felt really proud of your decision to just work with what you've got and go for the 'good' option instead of better or best. As someone with ME who also struggles with perfectionism this was actually really inspiring!

It is so incredibly validating to see a more accessible approach to “some times done is good enough” as well as a “hey its all well and good to break down myths about historical fashion but lets also remember that disabled bodies aren’t always included in that rhetoric and it’s okay that I, a disabled person, have a different relationship to x than someone who is able/disabled in a way that doesn’t change their relationship to that thing” ❤

There is this narrative in vintage sewing that opposes modern neuroses about fashion with an idealized, more sensible past. It's pure nostalgia. Perhaps admitting that people in the past were willing to make themselves uncomfortable to be fashionable gets in the way of that nostalgia.

I have the sneaking suspicion that 'natural form' is about as natural as the 'natural makeup look'. One of the first Bernadette banner videos I watched was when she created a corset for herself for the 'appropriate figure' for 1890s without the reduction aspects. The version where she followed the 'done thing' corset making wise was the very worst for her scoliosis. It was her first corset, and migth or migth not be of use to you. Also the wheelchair section reminded me of the riding corset things I have seen where they simple have removed those obstructive things.

"I don't care what it looks like, nobody's going to see it, I'm taking a bunch of short cuts and forgetting to do things, but I don't care because I need a corset and I need it now because I'VE GOT GOWNS AND PETTICOATS TO MAKE AND OMG THE EVENT IS LITERALLY BREATHING DOWN MY NECK" is probably the most "historically accurate to actual in-period lived experience" corset making hot take that I've seen on CosTube.

Yes! Yes! I'm here for your rants. Calling out ableism irl, not to mention online, is EXHAUSTING. And you are truly amazing for being here, and have my unyielding support.

This corset seems like the emotional equivalent of that one bra that’s basically worn out and no longer looks any good because it works and you can’t be bothered to deal with getting a new one, and honestly, that’s fine. In both cases, actually, because they’re both undergarments and by nature their point is to be underneath other clothes, unseen. It fulfils its function and is, therefore, fine. Hopefully this did the job well enough and you don’t have to think about corsetry again for a good while. I also really appreciated the whole rant about the ‘you’re not wearing the right corset if it’s uncomfortable!’ rallying cry because yeah, some people are never going to get along with some garments and it helps no one to silence that viewpoint. It feels very similar to the social model of disability and how it excludes those for whom part of the inaccessibility of the world IS due to our bodies/minds/both and not the way the world is built, and how the mixed model is a more useful) in my opinion) way to conceptualise disability. It was just good to see in a video when there are already so many for the other side.

I think those people who are campaigning on behalf of corset comfort are full of it. I can’t bear to wear a bra-and yes I’ve been fitted and even bought a couple of custom ones. Misery. The thought of wearing a corset gives me a weird feeling of claustrophobia. I panic thinking I can’t get out. I think it’s because I have arthritis in my neck and shoulders and twisting about hurts like hell. I said all this to say, that like most things, people go too far in the opposite direction. Were corsets the torture devices that many of us thought them to be? Probably not. But like many fashionable things over the years they weren’t designed with comfort in mind. Acknowledging this should not trigger outrage. It simply is what it is.

What a feat of engineering!!! I say A+ for persistence and perseverance and good job navigating so many obstacles! In terms of pass/fail, it passes; and it looks very convincing! ❤

I loooooved this video Claude! It’s so relieving to see a professional sewist/costumier bemoan corsets! I’m also super proud of you for doing what you needed to do to make something wearable that was good enough. I employ your good-better-best model all the time in my crafting and it’s one of my favourite tips I’ve ever learned. Thank you! ❤

How refreshing to have someone be so pragmatic and just do what works to get it done. I constantly struggle with the desire to have perfect but then I end up taking ages. I don’t know know why people feel the need to say “you just need…..” when clearly you are experienced enough to have tried all those things for yourself.

I don't sew (I knit and crochet) but I watch your sewing videos because I enjoy watching your creative problem solving and I always either learn something new or just feel pumped to work on challenging projects. This is the best one yet.

I don't know anything about sewing (I'm here for the. knitting) but this video was amazing! Just loved to hear you talk it all out, all the problems and how or if to fix them! I know I really need that mind shift, starting with asking myself IF there is a real problem that actually needs to be fixed? Thank you for another great video! 💜

I never cease to be astonished at the rude, obviously uneducated, opinionated people who seem to spend their pitiful existence berating strangers who have differing outlooks to them. So sorry you are a recipient of such codswallop - if that's a word. They come under the description MANGLED WORTS ❤

I live in a 1840s historical museum town. Often am called as cast in a period drama. My corset is very rough made. Very lightly boned. Most were corded corsets. Center front solid busk in early 1840s. Split busk not until 1847. No bloomers. Those are later. So chemise then corset then petticoats then dress. Typical are 2-3 petticoats. Very puffy and heavy. I have no issues sitting in my corset as it buckles except center which can be as long or short to get job done. I have to sit often too. Extremely fatigued as well. But a wheelchair is a whole different thing. 1850s short corset would suit you. Or back into 1820s long line. When Crinoline cages support the weight of everything too makes walking and standing easier. I think you did just fine. Maybe just design something that suits a wheelchair use and call it good enough. No one cares how symmetrical or rough corsets are. They are like us. Rough, asymmetrical, barely sewn on the inside while our outer selves look ‘put together’.

People who don't experience body discomfort from chronic conditions have no authority to make comments on the trials of fitting and wearing close fitting garments. Thank you for sharing all your problem solving and finding the quilted style. That's exciting to know. And, as you say, balance is the key.

One of my favourite hobbies is talking smack about corsets (and modern day bras) so I automatically love this video lol. I like how your final corset turned out, the quilting makes it look almost cozy!

This is such a great video. I really think the whole 'one size fits all' mindset that assumes all bodies and needs and solutions are the same is.... frankly illogical. And also, it's like jumping between two extremes ' corsets are perfect and wonderful for everyone' and 'corsets are painful and harmful for everyone'. Neither is true, nothing works for everyone, and we don't say the same about modern bras. Some things can be fixed with fitting or lacing or whatever, but sometimes, bodies are just not gonna work. I really appreciated the wheelchair segment at the end as well.

YES! It took me the longest time to realize that I'm never going to be comfy in a corset because I just don't like the feeling of being *gently squeezed*. The silhouette looked so 1830s/40s as soon as you put it on! Love this era! Super excited to see the dress! (P.S. I'm sure you've already done this, but look at some daguerreotype portraits if you haven't! Real people in the 1840s look A LOT different from 1840s fashion plates, and some are a real testament to what creative stripe placement can do.)

I loved this video! it's weirdly freshing and inspiring to see you embrace the 'lets just be done with this thing' vibe, as much as it's impressive to watch someone perfectly handsew an entire garment it's also intimidating! Thanks for sharing your process, I hope the corset wasn't too uncomfortable when you ended up wearing it for the event

My comment: very few have a "standard" body. I am a seamstress and have learned so well. You can only do you. 💚💚💚 Your theatrical opening is precious. Have you seen the video of seamstress gymnastics that Bernadette Banner went through for her malformed body due to scoliosis?

I actually have similar issues with fitting corsets as you, with the scoliosis and the

It’s not laziness it’s optimization! Thanks for being you 🙂

I absolutely love your attitude to getting it done. It does look good to someone who has an untrained eye in corset making. I’m still aiming to make my own Victorian Mc Hammer trousers x

Love this video! I cannot wear corsets I end up being in excruciating pain if I even wear a bra with wires. So I really appreciate your commentary on this! Thank you Claude

I think it looks amazing! You are SO talented. As someone with scoliosis, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, and other fatigue/pain causing diagnoses, I completely understand the struggle with doing what’s comfortable v. what looks good. I always love watching your videos and I so appreciate your honest attitude. I hope your corset journey is one day successful. And if it isn’t, that’s okay too. ❤

Yeah there is definitely a middle ground that needs to be recognised that while a lot of rhetoric around corsetry is misogynistic and terrible, they are also not garments that are perfect and comfortable and do no harm for every body and every person in every situation. I am fat and have found that corsets generally push my tummy down, which exacerbates the busk situation and make it really hard to sit, which I need to do a lot because I have orthostatic intolerance because of EDS You've done a really great job finding the best solutions for your situation, and I think it creates the silhouette really successfully

I love your general approach to costuming and sewing. It's refreshing to see someone not feel this need to do things the perfect way and to acknowledge that there are super important changes some people have to make to allow them to participate in these hobbies. I feel sometimes the way sewing or costuming (especially historical) is presented is very unfriendly to certain groups of people, like the disabled or poor, or even just for beginners. Your videos are honestly such a breath of fresh air in this community.

I get exactly the same reaction when I say I can't wear bras: "You just haven't been fitted properly!", "You need to use a smaller band", "You just need to buy a better quality" NO!!! THEY HURT, I CAN'T BREATHE, I DON'T LIKE THEM. OTOH, I actually wore my first home made mock-up of a corset for 12 hours yesterday - it gives ME much less trouble than a normal bra.

This video is so great. You make me feel so good about adjusting my sewing practice to suit my disability. I am so grateful to you 💚💚

Love to you for your wonderful honesty about how “it really…hurts”. For various health reasons I panic in certain garments if they’re too fitted, restricting or press on my breastbones in any way. Discomfort and sometimes pain has led me to literally tear myself out of a garment. Funny how some people ‘know’ that my body will get used to it if I just try harder. Because that’s a thing… But your corset’s quilting works so well and is so sensible. And yes, very cute too. Bring on the silk!

Thank you so much for sharing this. It's really frustrating how so many people just assume that everyone's bodies and minds are basically the same and that therefore everyone experiences things in the same way.

This made me feel so seen!! I share some of your health issues and other health issues of my own and even just elastic waistbands on a skirt feel like death and give me a mix of bowel spasms and acid reflux and well pelvic pain. Same goes for any kind of bra, or bralette whatever. Elastics are the devil and I never tried boning but I assume it would be very bad as well because I spend most of my time in bed or sitting. I feel a bit alone with this in the community as well when people are like look! this great pattern with a set in bralette to support your breast without the discomfort of a bra! and I’m like yep this also feels like a torture device to me 😭. I really enjoyed watching this video because I really struggle with making compromises when it comes to my sewing and honestly for a « lets make it shitty yet functional » process I think your corset looks kinda nice! but yeah propelling a wheelchair is enough work as is 🫣 Another question: how do you navigate the lack of covid precautions taken by the sewing community which also leads to spaces being massively inaccessible? I feel like this is such a massive non thought or afterthought in sewing spaces as well which is terrible when you know what it can do to our already fragile bodies 😔

In regards to making a very lightweight petticoat SnappyDragon has a video ‘A Victorian hoop skirt without hoops Making a corded petticoat’ in which she uses a kind of foam string to make the petticoat a lot lighter than cotton cord. She also has a chronic pain condition that is aggravated by heavy skirts, so you may find it helpful for the next project

Thank you! The corset police harp on about how there's no such thing as an uncomfortable/ill fitting corset but the reality is that like bras, some corsets genuinely were uncomfortable or poorly designed. First example that comes to mind is modern wired bras and all the info out there on how bad they are for support. I hate wired bras because they hurt and make my back pain worse. How am I supposed to believe that corsets were never harmful for some people when I can't even stand wearing bras due to the discomfort they cause me? Idk who started the "no such thing as a bad corset" trend but any time someone has a different opinion they get bombarded with the same regurgitated phrases. Corsets and bras just don't agree with my kyphosised spine

I hate when people act like they know everything. I have double scoliosis, sway back, uneven amount of ribs and it fucking hurts. I also have issues with nerves from it. Weirdly I feel more comfy in corset than in a bra, because no matter how well fitting bra I have they're always painful to me, mostly because there's pressure in one place. With corset it's more dispersed. However I think that if you are not comfortable wearing something, it's your choice if you wear it or not and it's no ones business. It's your damn body and you are the one feeling pain, not the people who seem to know it better than you. They won't lay in bed for 3 days in pain because of it so it's easy to say stuff like that.

This is such a relief after so many years of watching "dress historians" acting as corset weirdos. I was a goth, I wore a lot of corsets, I don't have scoliosis, but I do have various aches and pains. I made my own. I bought expensive ones, I bought cheap ones...they still sucked. Looking back the amount of pain I just accepted for years for what? Uncomfortable shoes, corsets, tight clothes...why?

Every-time I watch one of your videos I learn so much - thank you for sharing your whole process with us. Seeing your rough-and-ready version and making something that works for you is so helpful. Even though you knew that you may be inviting unhelpful comments sharing your hatred of corsets and your experience on why they are painful, it is wonderful that you did. There are many who I see in the comments who seemed cautious to chat about similar experiences, and it is great to open up the conversation and share ideas/experiences.

I kinda feel you. I do love corsets, and even a shitty off the rack underbust one can actually make me feel a lot more comfortable while sitting (why is it impossible to find a seat with a straight, non reclined back these days), but I have similar issues with *bras* instead, as well as plenty of modern "normal" garments. I think I got lucky on the corset front due to being Very Squishy, but on the other hand, being plus size and dramatically hourglass means... It's basically impossible to find ready made ones that actually fit. And like you said, the alternatives are very inaccessible (especially when disabled!) As a fellow wheelchair user (power, thankfully), I've been thinking for a long time about what I could do to make a corset that would actually be adapted to that kind of situation. Riding or "sports" corsets seem like a start? Maybe with a shorter busk and then quilted lower front sections that can be fastened or not, to smooth things out a little without putting pressure on the crotch/legs and spine. Potentially having the back lace in two portions too, one structural and then a looser lower section. (This is just brainstorming in case it helps anyone with ideas. I know you have a lot more experience than I do LOL) Of course then comes the usual problem of sewing a complex garment while disabled LOL Anyway, congrats on getting it finished, and I hope you can find a comfortable option to wear whatever era you desire.

Considering there certainly were, historically, pieces of advice on "invalid's corsets" that are much lighter (or something to that effect), it actually makes a lot of sense that no, corsets aren't for everyone... thanks for the food for thought.

I have been listening for years from my family about how I always tuck in my blouse or wear a dress. I'm accused of showing off my small waist. When I explain that the skin around my waist is so tender I can't stand being squeezed there, I get eye rolls . Boy, this video is going to bring out all us disabled folks' most annoying "misunderstanding " !

Not lazy, practical. I feel like the result looks more real and lived in, like the homemade versions you described and showed rather that the pristine museum recreations that a lot of other people make (that only the wealthiest would've had access to anyway)

Well said regarding corsets. I’ve got fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis in my spine, and my whole spine is fusing together as my discs have disintegrated. Corsets have become popular I think is because of the Kardashian’s. I would never want to wear one again.

I love how you made it work. Like you, I have scoliosis. I rather use body shapers. I know it doesn't have the same effect, but they're definitely far more comfortable.

I kinda like the rustic look of the corset but I do have a weird love of calico fabric 😂. I admire your efforts for trying, I think I would have stuck with some short stays or jumps and be done with it. Also on the note of disability in the creative RU-vid community, I always get the same narrow minded comments on my videos. I use a knitting machine and all the time I get hand knitters commenting on how it’s not actually knitting or “faster”, like speed is the only reason one uses as knitting machine and totally ignoring the fact that not everyone has the finger dexterity to knit by hand. Of course the lovely comments from the RA community make me feel my efforts are worth the abuse. And while I don’t have ME I appreciate your videos and they comfort me when my hands just won’t let me do thing.

Congrats on finishing a piece you hated. ❤ Thank you for the last bit of demonstration. I hadn't really thought of the extra pain being in a wheelchair brings in a corset. That sucks! I'm often sitting due to my limitations, so I will take this information to heart if I ever complete a historical gown.

Hi! Great work!!! You're not stupid. You're a human being with your own particular body, condition and personal needs just like everyone else. I for example made myself a few corsets and some of them are - doesn't matter that those were tailored to my body - simply a pain to wear. I think it's because of the seams, the structure, or the overall style just simply not a match for my body. We're all different individuals and it's okay! Those who throw nastiness towards people with different taste or needs, are just simply too enclosed in their own worlds to be able to understand that people wear what they feel comfortable in and there's absolutely no bloody reason to whine about it. I love the shape your corset creates as you're wearing it, but at the end of the day what matters is your well-being and comfort. Who the hell cares what others get to say when you're feeling good..?? :) In situations when people are being mean while voicing their opinions about my outfit I laugh and usually say: "The permission to look in another direction was always granted to them. Not my fault they din't grab the opportunity to do so." ☺ Once again, great work, great silhouette, the attitude of getting it done while not enjoying the process is amazing, so at the and of the day there are a lot of so called dress historians, youtubers and other creators who should learn from you about being authentic, entertaining and efficient at the same time. Thank you for this video!

Loving the application of Good-Better-Best for this project, particularly because so many makers are talking about perfectionism this week! Part of the reason I love corsets is because they alter my posture, so I can fully understand you would hate them for exactly the same reason. I'm glad you found a solution that does what you need it to do. I learn so much from you every video. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thank you for this video. You definitely looked good. This has solidified that victorian corsets are not for me. Or any corset/ stays/ support garment that is longer than waist length. As a wheelie with an electric chair and plus sized that is very squishy from the waist down. I have been trying to figure out a style that I could possibly wear without too many issues. Nothing worked. Anything longer than waist level just rose up when I was sat down and the bottom of the busk jabbed in my belly as the squishiness compressed up and out. My underbust corsets became overbust and more uncomfortable. I love the clothing of the victorian period and of several other periods. All have to be adapted due to the chair. Skirts have to be calf length so wont get entangled in my wheels. Anything with bustles or hoops has to be avoided. I'll never have the "fashionable silhouette" of any time period except possibly pre 1100's or early tudor. Don't really care by this point. I like the clothes. If i manage to make it I'll damn well wear it. Doubt anyone would be able to tell. If they even notice. Cos once I'm in the chair I seem to have an invisibility cloak on.

I am literally 3 minutes in and wanted to pop in here to say that YES, people experience garments differently because every body is different! Honestly, I cannot STAND underwire bras. I find them so uncomfortable, they just don't work for my body, they hurt, and its not worth it. Cross back bras give me migraines. I also have bunions, which means I don't care how "comfortable" and "ergonomic" a company's high heels are, they will cause me pain. Sometimes, like for attending a wedding, I pick the most comfy pair of heels I have and just choose to suck it up for a night, but normally, its flat shoes galore. I hope that more people start to embrace the "this is what works and is comfortable for my body" approach! Beginner question here: is there a softer boning material, like zip ties or cording, that can walk the difference between supporting the skirts and keeping the silhouette but are more flexible/put less pressure on the body?

This video is great! I have no physical disabilities, but I am both short and very short waisted, so any corset that is meant to give a smaller looking waist is basically compressing my ribs. I'm glad such things work for other people, and I'm glad that you've questioned the current enthusiasm for corsets among the historical costume community with your totally valid personal experience.

Very sensible looking corset. NOTHING matters more than being as comfortable as possible. Pain sucks and there is too much of it that is unavoidable to be suffering unnecessarily as well. I would be doing the barest minimum to achieve something approaching the desired silhouette. Do you absolutely have to have a busk? Does it have to be so long? If bits stick into you can you cut them off or shorten them? The corset is there for your benefit, not you for it. You need a smooth shape and help supporting the weight of your skirts, what it looks like is irrelevant. Be ruthless. Good luck!

You do look really cute! Your wheelchair looks handy dandy. Hope it maneuvers as nicely as it looks like it does. Wish people could learn to accept that not everyone is the same. It’s perfectly ok to need different kinds of clothes etc. for different bodies. Like, just let people live.

Watched this on the tv and my uncle came in. He was super impressed with even the first mock up 😂. Paused the video several times to give him your background and explain why I love your channel so much and how I always learn something and gain a new perspective when watching.

I'm so relieved to see someone making a just okay garment. Usually in this type of videos every single little mistake is pain takingly corrected even if it takes a very long time to do that. I'm not saying that it is wrong to do so, but it is very relatable to see that not everyone does it with every single project. That said, I think that your corset turned out very cute, especially when combined with the proper undergarments. ❤

I have 'slight scoliosis' per my pediatrician growing up.. but it has never caused me any issues (they just told me to use both straps when carrying my backpack 🙄🤣) but I am incredibly shortwaisted and run into the same fit issues.

Interesting process! I'm a weird shape and haven't manage to find a pattern that could be a good starting base for my body (very large bust, very short waist, curved back), so it's always interesting to see people with even more trouble managing to get a good result.

Even wearing a custom corset my stomach is in extreme pain not tight laced or anything just that amount of pressure on a part of my body that’s already in pain really hurts. I’m considering costuming without one

This looks functional and that's enough! Still, might a wheelchair-suitable cut and cording/quilting/buttons/lacing/zipper instead of bones and busk be the way to go for any future corsets? True, it will be harder to get a period silhouette for some periods, but maybe an optical illusion (and/or padding, if appropriate) could be used to invoke the overall feel than going for a replica? As a theatre person, you probably know more about that approach than I do! Of course, sometimes the fun is in making a relatively faithful reproduction, and it may limit the weight of the whole ensemble, but your health and comfort is more important than "accuracy", IMO. (I don't have scoliosis but I do have protruding ribs, and some types of corset will therefore never be comfortable.)

I've never seen anyone mention the boning rubbing pain before! I quite like the pressure of a corset *except* over my back, where the straight steels for the boning channels just feel like they're burrowing into my hips and spine. I'm actually part way through making a new corset right now, and I might use your idea of just having a larger lacing gap (maybe with a quilted modesty panel to cushion it further)

Would a button front instead of a busk work? 'Reform bodices' have them (as I'm sure you already know!) It would be softer and not pokey.❤

Short waisted!! Yes-thank you. You thoughts on that were really helpful. ✨🧵I think all shapes feel too long when I sit. With full skirts over them, I think the long front of the corset is hard to justify. 🤷‍♀️

Anyone who tells you your subjective experience is wrong isn't worth listening to. I don't do any costuming or anything but have a fancy for trying to make a corset one day, but I need to sit down a lot, get intense pain in my stomach from even the slightest pressure and sometimes panic when feeling restricted by clothing, so chances are they are not for me. It's become as much the trend for people to complain about actresses saying corsets are painful as it is for said actresses to complain about the corsets. Respect to you for unapologetically sharing the unpopular opinion

Amazing video! Corsets can be beautiful but do not work for everyone. And we should validate others when they say corsets hurt! Comfort is way more important that historical accuracy. I wonder if there’s a way to achieve the look of a corset with knit fabric and using cording instead of boning. So it has the smoothing effect but can still stretch for different positions. You don’t have to just sew decades that don’t use corsets. You should wear whatever you want whenever you want to! Fantastic job Claude ❤❤

You're right. Corsets are personal. Your body demands what it does and everyone can just shut up!

Even Bernadette Banner has discussed how much corsets hurt and how hard it is for her to custom make one for herself, despite all the experience she has. Even after consulting the people who wrote Patterns of Fashion 5, she STILL had to pad it to make it remotely comfortable. For someone who is disabled and cannot get on the floor like she does, someone who cannot spend the money she does on high quality materials and someone who doesn't have the personal connections that she does, they would likely find getting a comfortable corset almost impossible.

If it does the job then it's good. I've tried a couple of corsets but I don't have the natural shape for them. In the end it all looked just fine 😊

i love corsets but i know thats because i am plus size. i have plenty of natural padding that the corset can move around to make the fashionable silouete .also i have a large enough bust that carrying all that weight on my shoulders hurts where a corset moves that weight carrying to my hips in a way that is far more pleasent. Bras were made for small chests to acheive a masculine figure in the 1920s thats not an easy look for somone as big busted as i am so i would strugle to copy that style but my 40 waist and 50 hips perfectly fit a victorian hourglass. we each have different bodies and that means clothes of any sort could be uncomfotable especially when we take into account what we do in a day. no matter how much i love my corsets it can be very akward when i get into a car to drive somewhere as i get pushed so far forward by the shape i have to keep a blanket in the car i can stuff in behind me for me to rest against. to even be slightly comfotable. also wearing your corset mockup for a month before making a final edition is good as it lets the corset settle into your shape so you can really tell what needs to be adjusted before you cut the nice fabric and nooone will ever know as it is an undergarment. (with covering flat steels i find plumbers teflon tape works great)

My grandmother died at over 100 years old about 13 years ago now. She saw the end of corsets and her mother and aunts lived during corset era. They were all working class women who WORKED with their bodies every day. They fucking hated corsets lol. My grandma fucking loved bras. She loved that she didn't have to cater large events in a fucking corset like her mother did. They didn't have the time or money to learn about how to make their corsets comfy!!!

Something that you say could be the worst thing you ever made is like wizardry to me. Drafting a corset without a pattern with no help for fitting is already beyond me. You having to take into account your scoliosis and other health issues… it’s really impressive. The ableist corset police can go hang. As you say, it would be amazing to have a custom corset perfectly made for oneself by a specialist but it’s so elitist to act like that is financially and physically accessible for everyone. I think your finished corset actually looks really impressive and I got to learn quilted corsets were a thing! Thank you! ❤

Thank you for this much needed counter-narrative to the "actually corsets are great and anyone who doesn't like corsets is just dumb or can't afford a good one or is sexist (??? real argument I've heard)". I know we've been dealing with so much misinformation, but it's just oversimplifying the historical narrative in reverse to counter with "corsets are just longline bras! actually they're more comfortable! there is nothing wrong with corsets at all!" There were women in the past who went corsetless for many reasons - comfort, eccentricity, just not feeling up to it at the moment. We have women who go braless today for many reasons, even though well-fitted bras are supposed to be very comfy! Why should corsets be any different? Knowing that some women in the past chose to not wear corsets, whether due to age or comfort or just being weirdos, I would love to see more historical fashion research into what those women wore and how they compensated for not having a corset. It will probably take time for a more complex narrative around corsets to form that acknowledges both the positives and the negatives. I hope as a community in the future, we will recognize that comfort is not universal.

I'm glad you're talking about this. Since developing ME, I can't stand being squeezed by clothing at all, so I've had to change my wardrobe, and even if corsets interested me in the past, the torture of a snug garment is not bearable anymore, so it doesn't matter to me how many people like corsets and find them pleasant to wear, they will be unpleasant for me because they are snug

It's weird that people like to have opinions on how you should feel in your body! It's a very weird thing I have noticed in almost every aspect of life. Like when someone comes in to help but instead of doing what you ask for they do what they are sure they would want done if they were in this situation! It's frustrating as anything and very difficult to ignore but try to otherwise they get too much attention in your brain!

You are just forever relatable ❤ I love you so much! I will tell you, I hate making a corset. It is very difficult, and I too have scoliosis, so properly fitted is an absolute must, and also so incredibly difficult. But I don't mind wearing the ones I made to custom fit my body. I don't do the metal busk. My husband has made me a couple out of wood, but I'm perfectly fine with using large plastic zip ties. I also like to go the cording route for some of the vertical bones for the flexibility and comfort. I also also DO NOT ever go for compression when wearing, as I'd just rather not.

Thanks for a great video Claude! You've really made me think about this in more depth than I have done in the past, so thank you for that - I really wonder then how this corset would compare with the Dr Jaeger knitted one

I don’t understand our collective obsession with insisting things are either the best or the worst and everyone who disagrees is wrong. Can’t we all just like the things we like and let other people like the things they like, without feeling a need to put down other people for what they like or force other people to embrace what we like? Whether it’s corsetry or sports or TV shows or whatever, people are allowed to like OR dislike whatever they want.

I do agree with the corset re-education that if it hurts then it probably is being worn wrong or is a bad fit (much like a bra) but there are always exceptions and personal preferances, every body is different

i'm so sorry that people are actually trying to tell you it's YOUR fault that corsets are uncomfortable for you, although it's good to see you find something that works at least marginally better with the wadding! in terms of the wheelchair/sitting problems, i'm sure you've considered this, but wouldn't it be an option to use a shorter busk? the center front below the waist is going to be covered by skirts and no one will see it anyway, right? just an idea. as always, thanks for the great video, i think you made a really important point!

My grandmother always said that if someone looks close enough to see the flaws you either kiss them or kick them depending on how much you like them!

Thank you for sharing your experience. Anyone who wants to make you feel bad for not wanting to wear a corset can bugger off (I hope that as an American I used this phrase correctly). I'd be so interested to see what women with disabilities actually did back in the day.

I'm totally with you working with the body you have, and not going through absolute agony trying to achieve the impossible to the detriment of your health. The ideal silhouette is just that and I don't believe for a second that "everyone" was able to achieve it Also if the chemise is over the bloomers, it's not going to be soiled when you need to go to the loo

I'm a new subscriber. I totally understand you and it's so frustrating that people think we're all alike and that their experiences equate to ours. I've had EDS and Fibro for nearly 40 years, and the simplest thing can set off my pain for days. Even wearing a different, more fitting bra, for a special occasion, means a week or so of subluxed ribs and difficulty sleeping and breathing. So you do what feels comfortable for you Clause, as only you know what your body can take. 💖💖

To me, it looks good. I think you did a good job figuring out what would work for you most of the time. I am sorry it doesn't work as well when you are in your chair. Maybe if you ever make another one, you could adapt it to be more comfortable when you're in the chair.

This video is perfect! (You should know that my partner who was next to me and listening was shocked when you said "so of course that's exactly what I did" 😂 I was less surprised) people really need to THINK about how not EVERY garment works for everybody. And honestly except for the way the final corset doesn't work with wheelchairs at all, it is great! And as always I adore your videos :)

I really appreciate you going into all the issues, especially with wearing a corset and using a wheelchair. I wonder what people with disabilities did in the past RE undergarments, although afaik self-propelling in a chair is much more recent. It might be interesting to look at the ways "invalids" were dressed. RE corsets - I cannot stand wearing bras. I find underwire excruciatingly uncomfortable. I also find those little bones they sometimes put in the sides excruciatingly uncomfortable, as well as those little clips that they have on the straps. Most of my attempts to wear a real bra have lasted about fifteen minutes before I've ripped it off in frustration and discomfort. I exclusively wear what I call "fake bras" (basically just fabric crop top things). I know there's a lot of people who preach the whole "you're wearing the wrong size bra" thing but in my case I just....can't stand real bras. I have a small chest so it's not much of an issue, but it does make me wonder if I'd also hate corsets, and I probably wouldn't enjoy them that much either, as I don't love really tight clothing and I also have some degree of scoliosis (which isn't meant to be painful according to the physiotherapists I've had, but definitely can and has caused some issues.) As a consequence I think if I wanted to historically re-enact I'd do a crossplay version ie dress as a dude, or do regency with practically no undergarments, so I could avoid the whole corsetry thing. Also my bra hate has led me to the conclusion that there probably were people in the past who *also* hated wearing corsets. Some of them probably did it anyway and just put up with it, and some of them probably just didn't, and wore less fashionable clothes as a result.

This video made me realize you are probably the second costuber I've seen make a corset that is fitted for an asymmetrical figure. It also explained why my "nasty, storebought" corset is extremely comfortable except for one spot over the ribs where my ribs are sticky-outier than on most people, and my second, very straight storebought corset is just plain unwearable, because it can't curve where I can't straighten out.

I was soo curious to see how you will approach corset making. I have problem with my back thank to scoliosis. So when I made my 1840s stays, my solution was: just one layer, adding straps and basically no boning . It work wonderfully🥳

Also, it just occured to me... I meant to add earlier. with the spring steel boning, before squishing the little metal end cap in place, I dab a tiny amount of super glue inside it to just hold it in place & with spring steel I use PTFE tape on the ends after filing them down a bit, works like a charm 😊

So, my “civil war era” corset maker offers a hook and eye closure. I highly recommend it for increased mobility while still providing structure. You can also custom shorten the corset. At the end of the day no one will see it so make it work for you.

I love all the details of the issues with the corset in your wheelchair. I wonder what women who used wheelchairs in this period did? Do you think there was a more wheelchair friendly version? Perhaps with a shorter waist and slightly cut down in the back? It would be so interesting

Your experience is your own and no one should tell you how to feel. That said, this video was a lot of fun and I think it turned out great! Thank you for posting it.

dude i would utterly fake it, make one standard shape at a size that balances your shape, then pad the hell out of it. as i dont make corsets, but want to, i am not sure it would work but the idea that you would be so covered in padding that it wouldnt rub things.