Corsetmaker

Corsetmakers are tailors with knowledge of anatomy that enables them to construct well-fitting, corsets. Corsetmakers who reproduce historical styles must be familiar with historical fashions and costumes that span centuries of history. Individual corsetmakers often favour a certain style, and frequently have differing theories and opinions about the physical impact and benefits of various corsets, thereby influencing their corset design and creation^[1].

The main consideration of corset design is duration of use. For short-term use, e.g. used for a special event such as a wedding, a corset will be worn briefly and so is not subject to wear, therefore need not be of the highest quality of construction. For long-term use, e.g., by tightlacing or waist training, corsets must be made to exact standards and are best custom-fitted and designed for the individual wearer. Single weakness or flaws tend to be visible. Some custom-made gowns have corsets built into the design; a talented dressmaker may also be a skilled corset-maker^[2].

Several companies employed travelling saleswomen, known as corsetières, who took orders for tailored corsets. Well-known are Spirella (1904–1989), Barcley, and Spenser.

• Roxey Ann Caplin (1793–1888), British writer and inventor^[3]
• Catherine Allsop Griswold (fl. 1870s), a Connecticut corsetmaker who held 30 patents, the most of any woman in America at the time.^[4][5]
• Mr. Pearl (born 1962), South African corsetmaker to celebrities and collaborator with Vivienne Westwood^[6]
• Michaela Stark (born 1994), Australian corsetière, artist, and plus-size model^[7]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Corsetiere.

• Corset
• History of corsets
• Hourglass corset
• Tightlacing