Lara Corsets & Gowns
Historically Accurate & Inspired Garments for Women
Lara's Links and Recommendations
Corset making & Sewing supplies
Farthingales: http://www.farthingales.on.ca/indexpage.htm
Farthingales sells everything you need for corsetmaking. Located in Canada.
Corsetmaking.com : http://www.corsetmaking.com/
This site is most recommended by all my US corset making friends
Vena Cava Design: http://www.venacavadesign.co.uk
Located in England. Busks and corset making supplies.
Sewing Chest:
http://www.sewingchest.co.uk
Located in England. Bra and
corset making supplies
My corsetmaking friends say they are very fast and friendly.
Atlanta Thread & Supply: http://www.atlantathread.com/
An old favorite of mine for sewing supplies, I've been buying from them for 14 years.
Greenberg & Hammer: http://www.greenberg-hammer.com/
My favorite local sewing supply shop in NYC. Love them!
Richard the Thread: http://www.richardthethread.com/index.html
They have hard to find items and unusual corset fabrics.
Lacis: http://www.lacis.com/catalog/data/descn_s.html
They've got lots of corset making tools and notions and busks
Can you tell me how to make a corset?
This question frustrates me greatly, please don't ask me. It is not a simple answer. I have spent nearly 20 years making corsets and I am still learning new things. You will not magically make a perfect corset your first time. You will have to research and experiment. There is no perfect pattern guaranteed to fit everyone perfectly. Everyone's body and measurements are different, patterns will need to be altered with mock-ups and fittings. Corsetmaking is not easy, you will get frustrated, you will make mistakes. It is a skill acquired only with determination and practice.
That said here's the book and patterns I most recommend to help give you a head start:
The Basics of Corset Building, by Linda Sparks
http://www.farthingales.on.ca/books.php
The Truly Victorian corset pattern, TV110
http://trulyvictorian.netfirms.com/catalog/110.html
This is my favorite pattern company and this is a great corset pattern
The Laughing Moon corset pattern
http://www.lafnmoon.com/victunder.htm
This is an excellent pattern with great instructions and a instructional DVD you can buy as well
Reproduction sewing patterns
Truly Victorian: http://trulyvictorian.netfirms.com/
Reproduction patterns from the 1840s to the 1890s.
I have been very happy with the results of their patterns and most highly recommend them.
The Laughing Moon corset pattern: http://www.lafnmoon.com/victunder.htm
I used the Laughing Moon pattern for this corset: Pink Ribbon Embroidered Corset
And as the foundation of this corset as well: Lace Appliqué Corset
I made a fabric mock-up of the pattern, extended and re-shaped the top and bottom
edges and took in the waist a bit. (I alter nearly all patterns to suit my needs.) This is an
excellent pattern with great instructions and a instructional DVD you can buy as well.
The Vintage Pattern Lending Library: http://www.vpll.org
A huge collection of antique patterns of all types and eras!
Rebecca's Reproductions: http://www.rebeccasreproductions.com/patterns.htm
Reproduction patterns from many companies
James County Mercantile: http://www.jamescountry.com
Reproduction patterns from many companies
Simplicity Patterns: http://www.simplicity.com/
See patterns #9769, 9764 and 5726
Atlanta History Center: http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com
Reproductions patterns of garments within the museum collection
Vintage sewing patterns (the originals, not reproductions)
Vintage Cat: http://www.vintagecat.com/vintfash.htm
Woodland Farms Antiques: http://www.woodlandfarmsantiques.com/patterns/index.html
The Blue Gardenia: http://www.thebluegardenia.com/
Don't forget E-Bay: e-bay/collectibles/vintage sewing/patterns
Books with great corset & costume patterns
Corsets and Crinolines - by Norah Waugh ISBN 0878305262
Waisted Efforts - by Robert Doyle ISBN 0968303900
The Cut of Women's Clothes, 1600-1930 - by Norah Waugh ISBN 0878300260
Patterns of Fashion: 1560-1620 by Janet Arnold ISBN 0896760839
Patterns of Fashion: 1660-1860 by Janet Arnold ISBN 089676026X
Patterns of Fashion 2: 1860-1940 by Janet Arnold ISBN 0896760278
Period Costume for Stage & Screen: Medieval-1500 by Jean Hunnisett ISBN 0887346537
Period Costume for Stage & Screen: 1500-1800 by Jean Hunnisett ISBN 0887346103
Period Costume for Stage & Screen: 1500-1800 (Practical Period Costume)
by Jean Hunnisett ISBN: 0713526602
Period Costume for Stage & Screen: 1800-1909 by Jean Hunnisett ISBN: 088734609X
My favorite costume history reference books
The most helpful book to read if you are researching corset history is:
The Corset: A Cultural History - by Valerie Steele ISBN: 0300090714
Revolution in Fashion: European Clothing, 1715-1815 - by Jean Starobinski, Philippe Duboy ISBN: 1558590722
Costume in Detail: 1730-1930 - by Nancy Bradfield ISBN: 0896762173
The Cut of Women's Clothes, 1600-1930
- by
Norah Waugh
ISBN: 0878300260
The History of Underclothes - by C. Willett Cunnington, Phillis Cunnington ISBN: 0486271242
History, Research & Museum Web Sites
The Symington Collection of Corsetry: http://museums.leics.gov.uk/collections-on-line/BrowseCollection.do?key=68&groupOrCollection=BROWSE_COLLECTION
The Antique Corset Gallery: http://www.antiquecorsetgallery.com/index.php
The Victoria and Albert Museum: http://www.vam.ac.uk/
Online seminar on corset history: http://www.fathom.com/course/21701726/index.html
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: http://www.metmuseum.org/
Costume Institute: http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art
Museum of Costume, Bath: http://www.museumofcostume.co.uk/
Kent State University Museum: http://dept.kent.edu/museum/costume/index.asp
The Connecticut Historical Society: http://www.chs.org/textiles/found_acc.htm
The Costumer's Manifesto: http://www.costumes.org/
La Couturiere Parisienne: http://www.marquise.de/
Antique corset patents: http://haabet.dk/patent/index.html
(Though anti-corset biased this site is quite interesting.
I do question the accuracy of some comments on corset history, so beware.)
European Corset Society: http://www.eucosy.org/uk/corset/history/
The Zen of spiral lacing: http://www.festiveattyre.com/research/lacing/lacing.html
(This site is great for explaining how it works!)
Fabrics and Trims
Great source for natural fiber fabrics, perfect for period accurate garments!
I buy most of my linen from them.
http://www.reproductionfabrics.com/
Cotton reproduction fabrics of time periods 1775-1950, as well as indigo-dyed prints
Cheep Trims: http://www.cheeptrims.com/
Great prices and selection! Beware, you'll want to buy too much.
Denver Fabric: http://www.denverfabrics.com/pages/static/renaissance/medieval-renaissance.htm
This is a great site to look through for all kinds of notions, patterns and fabrics.
They have sections devoted to corset supplies and Renaissance costume making as well.
C&J Textile in NYC: http://www.cjtextile.com/product/main.htm
I buy most of my silks from them. Prices are fair and quality is impeccable.
Renaissance Fabrics : http://www.renaissancefabrics.net/
I found some great fabrics in her online shop.
If you are in NYC take the time to loose yourself in the Garment District's fabric shops.
Many are on 39th and 40th streets between 8th and 9th Avenues.
Period/Costume Shoes & Boots
Dyeable shoes & Boots, Manufacturer's web sites:
Dyeable shoes & Boots, Available online at:
http://www.dyeableshoestore.com/
http://www.dyeableshoecompany.com/
http://www.dyeableshoesetc.com/
http://www.gownsbysimpleelegance.com/page/SE/CTGY/CBridalBoots
Costume rentals
(I do not do rentals, sorry)
http://www.creativecostume.com/
http://www.westerncostume.com/
http://www.costumerentalscorp.com/
Odds Costume Rental - 231 W. 29th St. New York, NY 10001 (212) 268-6227
Early Halloween - 130 W. 25th St. New York, NY 10001 (212) 691-2933
Fashion Design Resource - 114 E. 25th St. New York, NY 10010 (212) 673-8228
Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing - 345 W. 37th St. New York, NY 10018 (212) 594-7440
Charities and Organizations I recommend and support
(These have nothing to do with corsets or costumes)
The Shark Research Institute (SRI)
(Please help save the Whale Sharks!)
Honestly, this web site is a bit expensive.
If you would like to help even a little I would greatly appreciate it.
© 2007 Lara Corsets LLC. All rights reserved.