Why Corset? Fashion changes constantly. It is a responsive art form, influenced by economics, politics, technology, and, most strongly, sex. The battle to attract and hold a mate, to win the sunniest chaise lounge by the gene pool, is relentless. Visual cues are the primary weapons deployed here. For women, the basics of sexual attraction are variations of full hips to assure easy childbirth, large breasts to provide nourishment for offspring, and small waists as proof that reproductive services have not been provided to a previous mate. Nature does not distribute these ideal proportions with any sense of fairness, however. Genetics, time, and circumstance render many of us less than ideal breeding partners visually. This tyranny of the visual has created a marvelous device: the foundation garment. Against the onslaught of time, gravity, and carbohydrates, women gird themselves for the battle of the sexes. Girdles, push-up bras, & control top pantyhose. These are the bright armors that shield us as we fight for the right to reproduce. But Spandex is no match for the forces that render us average. To compete with those splendid images of feminine perfection, we need body modification: steel, canvas, & engineering, brought together in the corset. The Slippery Slope Ten years ago I was making costumes on Broadway, and thought corsets were a nasty Victorian torture. When I left New York, I discovered that Broadway, selfishly, had stayed put, and I fell into making kinky clothes for a living. Looking at other corsets, I marveled at how willing people were to put up with bad fit. I became a woman on a mission, vowing to keep people from wearing corsets that hurt and squeezed their skin into unappealing folds and lumps. Along the way, I began to get the idea that corsets weren't just fetishwear. Take away the leather and latex, and your corset will make you look more like Cinderella than Mistress LeatherBoy. Well, What Are They, Then? I think of my pieces as fashion rather than fetish. Being based on ideas that start out kinky just gives them a little more style. After all, a subversive undercurrent is what keeps fashion interesting. I like the idea of people responding to the beauty and elegance of a garment before they realize that it breaks one of their taboos. I also love the idea of temporary beauty. I'm a relaxed-fit kind of gal, with two kids and a passion for cake. But I have another woman, and she lives in my closet. She's hourglass-shaped, removable, and much simpler to deal with than the high-maintenance body she replaces. But Will I Like Them? Since our corsets are made to order from your measurements, they're going to feel nice and fit properly. There's a range of colors, fabrics, and style options, so you can create the piece that's guaranteed to make you happy. And because they lace, there's a certain amount of adjustment to the fit. If you feel like slouching a little, you don't have to lace all the way down. A well made corset is more comfortable than the squeezing, binding wads of spandex that make up control top pantyhose or cheaply manufactured bustiers. Still, it's important to remember these are not gym clothes. Your corset will make you sit up straight, and you won't be able to pack in the pasta while wearing one. In general, your corset will make you more aware of your body. This isn't necessarily a bad thing; moving with more awareness of your body imparts a certain grace. My goal is to give you a way to share that grace and beauty with the rest of the world. -Dorothy Jones