Corsetry
Good news and bad news! The bad news is that I will not be freelancing corsetry at this time. The reason for this is the good news. Due to my association with Dark Garden Unique Corsetry, obviously it constitutes a conflict of interest for me to maitain a separate line of corsets while working there. Therefore, in fabulous "everybody wins" fashion, after I have completed my MFA in Fashion Design, POP Antique will launch its corsetry line through Dark Garden. I will develop all the patterns myself and select the fabrications. Construction will go through the Dark Garden Atelier. The line will be launching in 2012, and I will continue to update this page with my development.
POP Antique corsets combine the playfulness of ready-to-wear fashion with the quality of construction of a "real" corset. I always use a strength layer, waist tape, two-part grommets, and steel bones and busk. My own preference is to bone throughout the body with sprial boning, reserving flat steels for the center front and back. I also draft my corsets to compress only the waist, leaving the ribs unconstrained. This not only keeps your corset comfortable even after hours of wear, but allows for a bigger reduction, faster. I test my corset patterns on myself to ensure their comfort.
I am pleased to say that I am starting development of patterns for eight different styles of ready-to-wear corsets. The standard sizes will run from 16 to 40 (sized by the waist of the corset).
The styles I have planned include a classic victorian overbust and midbust, as well as an updated sweetheart style, a standard underbust, a ribbon style pointed underbust, and on the low end, a belt-like waist cincher (with true cinching power), and a moderately boned economy sweetheart.
The plan is for these styles to also be available in semi-custom (up to two measurement changes from the standard chart) and fully custom patterns. Follow the links at the bottom of the page for information regarding standard sizing.
Tressa wears the prototype of the POP Antique "economy" corset. Lightly boned and available only in standard sizing, this corset still delivers a sharp hip spring and also features a well shaped bust. The low back and sweetheart neckline make this a versatile fashion corset which is made from the same high-quality materials as the other styles.
Shown above is the first sample of the standard underbust, made to the "curvy" rather than standard measurements (for those with more dramatic natural hourglass or prior experience corseting). The pattern cups, rather than compresses, the rib cage. The final version of this style will be longer than that shown here.
Two prototype knit corsets. The first corset has a fashion layer of machine-knit silk blend yarn; the second corset is a bulky hand-knit wool. The knit layers of these corsets were created by Claire Kim, and all assembly was done by myself. The construction of the strength layer is of the same quality found in my other corsets. Close-up shots have been provided to show off the texture provided by Claire's knits. Further development of knit corsetry (including jersey fabrics) will take place in 2011 in the course of my thesis.
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Contact Marianne Faulkner:
marianne (at) popantique (dot) com
All designs, illustrations, and other content are © Marianne Faulkner unless otherwise noted.