18TH CENTURY CORSETS ..... Chantal Mallett - www.18thcenturycorsets.com

	What is an 18th century corset? A corset is described, by the Oxford Dictionary, as a "closely-fitting undergarment worn to shape the body". The corsets I create are based on the way the corsets of the 18th century shaped women's figures - the breasts were pushed up & together & pressed flat against the chest. Unlike some corset makers who adapt original patterns from the period, I apply the principles of the 18th century cut but have drafted my own patterns for women's figures of the 21st century. Like the original corsets mine are heavily boned to sculpt the figure, are made up of several layers of fabrics, involve many hours of hand sewing & have back lacing. However, as you can see from these sketches & the images in my gown portfolio, I do not restrict the way I incorporate corsets into my designs to a purely 18th century look - think Madame de Pompadour & Marie Antoinette. By playing with the structure, necklines, straps, seam lines & decoration, I have created bridal gowns with many different looks, from many different centuries & with styling as diverse as Medieval & Asian, Hollywood Diva & Elizabethan Courtesan.
Chantal Mallett corsets & your figure: A well made, 18th century style, corset should create a cleavage & hold it in the right place- up high & squeezed together. It will make the wearer look shapely & will sit against her body properly. This kind of corset creates a cleavage for even the smallest busted women & helps create a more pleasing silhouette & breathtaking cleavage for large busted women, who find other styles can make them look frumpy & matronly. Wearing a corset instantly improves posture - brides stand straighter & will automatically raise their chins making them look & feel more elegant. It amazes me that bridal magazines will, so often, advise readers with very large or small busts to wear high or unflattering necklines to disguise & draw attention away from their busts. Small busted women are steered towards gowns that make them look shapeless & childlike when a corset & the right silhouette could give them a more curvaceous figure. Large busted women are told to cover up their busts with lots of fabric & are made to feel ashamed of their curves. Most of the women I see want to look sexy, the magazines still have a lot of catching up to do.
	Are corsets comfortable? When you are wearing a corset that is made for you, it should give you the feeling of being held & supported. It should not feel unbearably tight. Can they make my waist slimmer? My corsets normally slim a waist down by around 2" (I am not an advocate of extreme body modification & will not make a corset to create an extreme waist reduction). To create the tiny waists of the Victorian & Edwardian ladies, you would need to have 'trained' your body in corsets. A great corset will sculpt your body & slim it slightly & will make you appear slimmer & more curvy but I believe without dedicated waist training (see the 13/5/06 entry from my diary) women's bodies can not cope with more & certainly not for a whole day. Some corset makers will offer to reduce your waist by 8 + inches, I strongly advise bride's not to be tempted to do this for their wedding - fainting in the middle of saying your vows is guaranteed to spoil your day!
Why a Chantal Mallett corseted gown? When you know what you are doing, the secrets to the perfect corset are simple- cut, fit & care & skill in production. I have always specialised in combining 18th century corsets with my bridal wear designs & really know my craft. My 18th century corsets are very well cut, will fit you like a glove & give you a fantastic cleavage & sculpted figure whilst never being uncomfortably tight around the rib cage & waist. This combined with fabulous & unusual designs ensures that if you are a bride-to-be who wants an 18th century corset & to die for silhouette, there is no one better to create it for you. Copyright: The corset sketches shown are Chantal Mallett original designs & are copyrighted to Chantal Mallett.