Kids in corsets or bodice?

[Rani Zemirah]

Just trying to nudge the thread back to the original subject, Anna!    I'm far too guilty of tearing off on a tangent to not see it coming...   



Personally, I think the realm of Faery wear is far more open to interpretation than anything even remotely H/A... and even Tinkerbell wears a corset!  She was one of the very first Faeries I was ever introduced to, and I don't think I would even recognize her in some other outfit. 

[raevyncait]

Anna, no worries, I wasn't feeling particularly judged.

As I have no children of my own, and the only children I've ever had a real hand in dressing for faire are boys, I can't really offer a whole lot of advice on girls, but I think I would be tempted to start her off in something not steel boned. It seems to me that there are lots of fairy options, even gypsyish ones, that have a bodice or corset, but they are not boned, and more for show than any sort of support. I would probably start with something like that, and then allow her to try on boned/supportive ones at faire, to let her get a feel for how they feel on.  Make sure, though, that in that shoppe, while she's all laced in, she tries to bend in all directions that she might usually bend at the waist, so that before you invest in something, she knows if it's going to cause her pain or enough discomfort that she won't want to wear it.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

On Ebay, there is a seller called faireladydesigns.  Her bodices are a very fair price.  I bought 2 to wear in the summer when it's really hot and I can't stand to wear a regular bodice.  I'm not good at links, so you could go on Ebay & either search for the seller, or type in "renaissance bodice" and they will be in the list.

Although the pictures show a lot of "oomph," I can tell you that there is no boning in them at all and my two bodices don't fit like the picture.  They are both reversible, so you get 2 variations for the price of 1.

Bristol the past 2 summers has been unbearably hot for me, so I wore them quite often and they have held up well.  They're cotton, so I throw them in the washing machine if I need to. 

They are very plain, made from cotton, but if she wants to go a little fancier, maybe a patterned skirt could dress it up a bit.

Also, the price was under $40 plus shipping, and really, you get 2 bodices for the price of 1 since they are reversible.  The seller was good, too.  They are well made and shipped quickly.

[Anna Iram]

I searched "renaissance  fairy pictures" and got tons of pics. Might help to give you more ideas. Some are more mature styles than others.

As others have said, a boned victorian style corset may be not the thing just yet. They are designed
to train the waist to cinch smaller and smaller. If you do decide to go with a fully boned corset, after measuring deduct 2 to 4 nches from the waist measurement to get a proper fit. So if your waist is 30 inches a size 27 would be a good fit to allow room to cinch. Certainly contact the manufacturer for specifics to their garment, but that's how I was instructed when I purchased mine.

*edit* I took another look at the green corset, Sheri. Ad it's plastic boning and not steel it wouldn't cinch as tight as a true victorian corset, so that's a good thing, though it still looks pretty confining.



As for room to grow, you can get away with several inches of gap and it will still look fine.

I found this site.

http://www.damseldress.com/store/display/2109/44/cropped-fairy-corset

It's just another look to consider. I think you could certainly recreate this look on your own as this site is kind of pricy. With just a few bones in the "waist cincher" and bodice to help them keep their shape it looks comfy.  Plenty of help in our sewing threads for advice with patterns and fit. Anyway I think this is way cute, fun and a little saucy, yet everything is covered.

Good luck with your search and most importantly have fun!.

[Sheri]

Hmmm... this is sounding more and more like the thread about how to avoid unwanted male attention for underage participants, instead of the question thread it started out as... and some of the posts are sounding a bit judgmental, as well.   


Anyone else notice the original poster hasn't replied to anything that didn't have to do with garb options and ideas?  Just a thought...

hehehe  No, more like Original Poster forgot about the thread and just made it back.  Honestly, I love the back and forth suggestions.   However, most of them I've been reading for years so have an idea on what I will and won't allow her to do, and what to be on the watch out for when she does finally get to wear something of her own choosing.  I found the whole Dungeon Bait thread that was going around a while back extremely interesting.

And watching out for her is something we've had to do since she was a baby.   This is the child that will talk to anyone at any time, any where.  So she's grown up with us having to watch her.  Professional Flirt would be her pin if she got to wear one!

We still haven't decided what she can wear, I suggested she draw what she envisions but she's been to busy reading some Manga comic she found online to put pen to tablet.  Hopefully she'll get on the ball soon as the Faire in Rogersville, TN isn't that far away if she's aiming for something detailed.

[Sheri]

Thank you Lady Renee and Anna, I'll give both those sites a peek!

[operafantomet]

Specifically an almost 13yo girl. While at the Carolina Ren Faire this past October we once again found ourselves in the clothing shop near the Jousting field, which unfortunately I can not remember the name of.   However, inside we found an adorable corset in purple that she wanted to get.  I was all for it, however her dad was not impressed with the $95 price tag for a child that will probably grow out of it quickly.   At 5'7" I doubt she has very much growing left, but as she's only 12 we could see several more inches, so I can understand his reluctance.

I can make her one, but I know it won't turn out as beautiful as the purple one she found.   So I took to the web to find examples that I thought she'd like, and came across this one at GoodGoth.com  http://goodgoth.com/vampirella-dress-green.htm  A great price, and I don't have to sew it!  While I can sew and have made most of our outfits, if I can find something for a great price I'd rather do that.  So when I saw this one I could just picture her with some cellophane wings at the back along with some funky shoes, rocking that punk pixie to her hearts content. 

But it all ties into not knowing what size to get.  Do I get one that fits now, but than how far can I realistically let out the sides and still have it look good.  Oh, and by the way she WILL have a chemise on under it.  I may let her rock a corset, but I'm not letting her go bare skinned just yet.  13 (by Faires time) is a little young to be showing some skin, it's also why she still hasn't gotten the tail she wants.

Or do I get the next size up?   Will it fit fully tightened?  Or will there be some overlap in order to make it fit?   I'm not quite sure how it works, when you order online is the size with it tightened all the way, or with a gap between seams?

I would love to get her one of the corsets from MayFaire, but not willing just yet to invest that type of money into something she's just starting to be interested in, not to mention she could grow right on out of it!  Or as what's happened in the past she gets annoyed with pieces of her garb and takes things off, then of course I end up carrying stuff! 

I know I'm late to the party here, and that you've gotten tons of feedback already. Just wanted to add my two cents.

For a girl still growing, I would consider getting a bodice/corset/whatever with lacing both in front and in back. This means you can alter the size quite a bit, and you can fit it to her size rather than squeeze her into it.

Also, consider natural fibres. No polyester, nylon or other synthetic materials. Worst case scenario, it will feel like wearing a plastic bag on a hot day. If the lining is natural fiber, and the outer material synthetic, it'll probably be OK, but synthetic material towards the skin can be brutal.

This one is far from the one you linked to, but seems to have functionable lacing in both front and back, and they claim it's made of 100% cotton:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ELEGANT-GOTHIC-LOLITA-BLACK-COTTON-RUFFLE-BODICE-LACE-UP-TOP-SZ-MEDIUM-EGL-/230550933365?pt=US_Corsets_Bustiers&hash=item35ade80f75#ht_911wt_878

A flamenco styled skirt could be a cool addition, or just a plain one with a cool hem. And you could change the colour of the lacing, and add trims and appliqués to pimp it up. Black and tons of silver and/or crystals would maybe be cool to a pair of glittering wings?

[Trillium]

My niece has been attending faire her entire life and for the early years just wore store bought halloween costumes.  As she got older and always saw her aunt in "real costumes" she has slowly been yearning for better and better outfits.  Around 11 a friend of ours gave her an un-boned bodice with a chemise and skirt to go with it.  She loved wearing what others were wearing to faire and raiding my garb for accessories.  She outgrew the bodice in about 2 years and began raiding my cinchers.  2 years ago I gave her a yellow lightly boned bodice that was given to me but didn't fit right.  Its perfect on her and she loves to wear it.  This spring she will graduate HS and return to TX.  I've promised to make her a fitted bodice once she is mostly done growing and will be close long enough for us to make it together.  She is a beautiful girl and is always appropriate with her garb.  I see no problem with a bodice for your daughter.  The only issue I have with the corset is if it would really fit comfortably. 

[Rennigirl]

I realize that this is a bit old - but, I do have something to contribute!  Really!! 

My 13 yo was going through the same thing - finally wanting a corset/bodice type thing and I was not really comfy with the idea.  She's not one to show off too much skin, so did not really feel comfy in a traditional 'wench' style. 

What we ended up doing it taking garb cues from Jasmine Becket Griffith and her goth fairy collection of paintings  http://www.strangeling.com/fairyart1.html

Love, love, love and stuff that can be adapted to a 13 year old. 

[Rowan MacD]

   That will be sooo cute!   Never heard of the artist before, but I'm bookmarking that.

[Lady Aldyth]

Hope I am not too late. Looks like you are going for the non-historical type:

THAT DRESS IS $36 at http://www.corset-story.com/!!!!!

If you look on the COTD (corset of the day) section http://www.corset-story.com/corset-of-the-day.html... the prices are AMAZING!

I have a 16yo... so I know your pain! She stopped growing, but weighs 20 pounds less during cheerleading season! A good portion of the corsets on the site I listed have 6 inch privacy panels... which gives you quite a bit of leeway!

They have a lot of the corset dresses too (many do NOT have privacy panel... so read descriptions!) http://www.corset-story.com/fashion/corset-outfits.html

I have ordered from them multiple times... GREAT SERVICE!!!!!

[Nailin]

thanks lady aldyth i was looking for feed back on corset-story.com

[Sheri]

Thought I'd come back and let you guys know how my issue with the corset went.   I didn't feel up to making a corset, and when I saw the prices at CorsetDeal.com I just couldn't pass it up. I could buy her one with a lot less hassle than making one, not to mention getting her to stand still so I could fit it to her better, so I went with that option.  Had no problems ordering from them and as far as a beginner corset goes, it's a purchase I'll make again.  And I can use it as a template to make her another one without causing havoc to mine.  The one we choose had the zipper on the side, so I could lace it up once and than not have to deal with it again.   A Large is big enough that the back could touch and she still said it had wiggle room.  Needless to say I loosened it while still leaving it comfortable.  So she has a while she can wear it.

[Rani Zemirah]

Oh, how fun!  And she looks adorable!  Glad you found something that worked for you both! 

[Margaret]

She looks adorable!

Hope she had a great time!!!