Pop Antique "Swimming Corset" | Model: Victoria Dagger | Photo © Alyx Ryan | Modesto, CA

Introducing: Pop Antique's Swimming Corset

August 4, 2017

I have an annual tradition of going to renting a historic mansion in an out of the way California town for a weekend retreat/birthday party. Crow Mansion is not just a beautiful place to spend a couple days with my favorite people – it's a beautiful Victorian mansion with a pool.

Part of my tradition is to also do a photoshoot with my close friend and frequent collaborator, Alyx Ryan. I try to make myself a new corset (or two) for the occasion. This year, whimsy struck me, and I knew what I wanted to make was a swimming corset – my first such prototype.

A recent commission called for both heavy duty powermesh and synthetic whalebone – perfect materials for experimental construction. I wanted to balance a moderate waist reduction, even higher mobility than my standard supple approach, and of course, minimize the risk of rust or other water damage.

The resulting corset is an underbust in two layers of heavy powermesh with no waist tape and boned with synthetic whalebone. I estimate that the waist stretched about 2" during wear, but I didn't want a waist tape that would inhibit swimming or create a bulge above and below the waist due to sudden variances in compression. Instead of a busk I used a heavy duty plastic zipper. I minimized the use of metal parts to reduce the chances of rusting. There is a heavily coated steel underbusk and the usual metal grommets – these are the only metal components.

Of course, I have several ideas for how I want to take the idea from here! Possible future variations include: single layer, elastic waist tape, solid fabric overlay to stabilize waist, more playing with patterning techniques to optimize the shaping for the unorthodox material. I may offer an intro special while I work out these elements, though my queue is closed until the fall.

If you're interested in ordering a swimming corset, the price range would be based on my usual made to order, plus an add-on rate – likely $100 added to the base price of the corset. I would probably recommend a Demoiselle base and pair it with the bathing suit or bikini of your choice!

L1361530 Pop Antique Swimming Corset Victoria Dagger Alyx Ryan.jpg

Pop Antique "Swimming Corset" | Model: Victoria Dagger | Photo © Alyx Ryan | Modesto, CA

Pop Antique "Gibson Girl" waist training corset | Model: Victoria Dagger | Photo © John Carey | Hair by Vanessa Joy at Vim and Vigor salon

Pop Spotlight: The Gibson Girl Underbust Corset

July 11, 2015

Today I'd like to highlight one of my most popular styles. I originally designed the Gibson Girl as a personal waist training corset for myself and named it for its Edwardian lines. Soon, I received requests for it and thus released it as a Special Edition made-to-order corset. That was clearly the right choice as it immediately turned into a bestseller, and I have jokingly given it the in-house nickname of "The Corset of the Year" for 2014.

The original Gibson Girl was designed as a "light-lacing" corset for me. Each made-to-order Gibson Girl is sized based on the proportions of the original custom. Which is to say, a moderate waist reduction, and a larger hip and slightly smaller rib than my ready-to-wear size chart. I am naturally long-waisted (despite my petite height of 5'3"), so there's also a sharp hip spring that allows me to settle the corset low on my waistline for maximum reduction.

What makes the Gibson Girl unique is that its variances in height allow it to flex to accommodate more dramatic proportions. This happens both naturally as the fibers relax, but also on a day-to-day basis. The gap remains even and parallel, whether you lace it to 1" or 3", because once it's broken in, the hip points flex lightly apart to accommodate your hip spring on a tighter reduction. As you can see in the picture below, I can also alter the Gibson Girl to a standard smooth hipline if that is your preference, but it does change some of the inherent functionality of the style. Above the waist, the low front and high back allows for high mobility and back support. The slightly raised back also creates a smooth line around the bra band level. Of course, there's no single wonder corset for all people, but for me, the Gibson Girl is a supremely comfortable and supportive style that I can wear comfortably on long days, virtually every day.

black and white Gibson Girl corset Pop Antique.jpg

grey and pink Gibson Girl corset Pop Antique.jpg

black sheer Gibson Girl corset Pop Antique.jpg

black hemp herringbone altered Gibson Girl corset back Pop Antique.jpg

And, if you haven't already noticed... not only does the Gibson Girl have a highly functional shape, but its lines are gorgeous. The front seams angle elegantly in swooping curves, and the lines of the hip and back shaping form graceful arches.

I have to give a big shout-out to my photographer, John Carey, for the Gibson Girl photoshoot. I've gotten so many wonderful images from that one shoot, and it was all in all a lovely day. We shot a couple other looks that day but the Gibson Girl was our focus. Special thanks are also due to hair stylist Vanessa Joy at Vim and Vigor salon in San Francisco. I love how she seamlessly fused an appropriately Gibson-esque tuck with retro rolls, and actually made my wan, straight hair look like it has some volume. Truly amazing.

If you are looking for a comfortable, curvaceous, and incredibly stylish corset for waist training, the Gibson Girl just might be the corset for you! It is available in "special edition" alternate ready-to-wear proportions, based on uncorseted wearer's measurements of a 2" waist to underbust difference, and 12" waist to full hip difference. It comes standard with double boning on each seam. I particularly like it in single layer construction with petersham binding, but it's also available in standard multi-layer construction with a concealed waist tape. I even have a limited amount remaining of the black hemp/organic cotton herringbone fabric from which the original Gibson Girl was made. This amazing fabric is so supple and moldable - it breaks my heart that I can't get any more yardage. Submit an inquiry today to secure your place in the Pop Antique queue for this exclusive style.

Pop Antique corseted jersey sheath dress + pillbox bow fascinator. Model: Victoria Dagger. Location: Isotope Comics. Photo © Max Johnson.

Simple & Chic Corset Style: The Red Shoot, Featuring the Jersey Corset Dress

June 25, 2015

I've been posting pictures here and there from one of my favorite shoots from last year, but I have yet to collect them in one place. This I consider to be a ridiculous oversight! I'd like to make these photo features a regular occurrence here, showcasing the talents of my photo team and breaking down how I styled the looks.

Pop Antique corseted jersey sheath dress. Model: Victoria Dagger. Photo © Max Johnson.

Pop Antique corseted jersey sheath dress. Model: Victoria Dagger. Location: Isotope Comics. Photo © Max Johnson.

I kicked off 2014 with this shoot and I think it was particularly fine for coinciding with my goals for Pop Antique's photography. It bursts with vibrant tone-on-tone and has a fun modern-gone-retro vibe. I'm also pretty pleased with how the experimental jersey corset dress came out (eight months later, I wore it to the fancy Saturday night dinner at the Oxford Conference of Corsetry).

Corset dress & fascinators: Pop Antique
Latex bow ring: Lust Designs
Harness: Karolina Laskowska
Earrings: Kalico Delafay
Model: Victoria Dagger
Photos © Max Johnson

Special thanks to Isotope Comics, our location for the interior shots!

Pop Antique corseted jersey sheath dress. Latex bow ring by Lust Designs. Model: Victoria Dagger. Location: Isotope Comics. Photo © Max Johnson.

This dress is a prime example of my signature "Integrated Corsetry." A single layer bespoke fit corset is built into a simple long-sleeve sheath dress with a plunge neckline. (This style could also be executed with a standard fit corset.) The lacing is hidden behind a closed back and the busk is replaced with a long, extra sturdy zipper. What I love about this silhouette is that it is so pure: the construction and details are so sleek that silhouette is all you see. With bones and binding hidden, the shaping of the waist reduction and hip spring takes center stage.

Max and I were also shooting the array of fascinators I make. From the pillbox bow to the double decker, all of these fascinators feature carefully proportioned nylon horsehair, hand sewn into shape. The styles are travel friendly, lightweight, easy to wear, and versatile. Between the fascinators and oversized latex bow ring, the look takes on a modern cocktail style. The earrings shown were handmade for me as a birthday gift by my friend and talented colleague, Kalico Delafay. I love how the strappy harness (Lidia, by Karolina Laskowska) continues the line of the strong black zipper. With the neck strap loosened and the waist strap snug, the Lidia harness tailors even a simple t-shirt to a corseted shape, though this dress is, of course, already corset fit. Lastly, I wore my go-to Betsey Johnson heels with corset-back detailing.

~Marianne Faulkner
The Corsetrix, Pop Antique

The Corsetrix Is In

The Pop Antique In-House Blog

Latest at
The Daily Waist

A Day in the Life

Fresh Tweets

How very Pinteresting!