Corsets for Nerds

Well, I told you I was going to do it: I wore a corset to work. And nobody even noticed. Actually I did wear it with the jacket on all day, which at least partially explains the lack of comment or inquiry, but I still maintain that nothing I wear fazes my coworkers anymore.

I was a bit concerned with how comfortable it would be to wear a corset for a full day at work, but I was pleasantly surprised. By the end of the day I was definitely ready to take it off, but on the whole it really wasn't any less comfortable than any other form-fitting outfit I've worn. I've included some photos of what the outfit looked like without the jacket; I actually liked it a lot better that way, but felt it was a little much to show the entire corset at work. However, I would certainly wear it this way to a non-work event. The mixture of black and brown makes this corset very versatile, and because it's not a shiny silk fabric, I can easily dress it down. From a purely utilitarian perspective, the brass D-rings were a perfect attachment point for my security access badge. Perhaps the company who made it should be called Corsets for Nerds.

I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who are thinking, "I could never wear a corset at all, let alone at work all day." But I feel like I need to sing their praises a little, because just look at what this one did for my figure! A tiny waist, a flat stomach, and an accentuated bust and hips, all accomplished with one little garment! And honestly, you really do get used to it once you've had it on for awhile. I've also heard tell that the more you wear a corset the more natural it feels, which is a theory I will certainly test myself, now that I've gotten over the hurdle of wearing one out for a day. There are plenty of online resources for how to shop for and wear a corset, but I feel like I should share my own advice as well.

Audi's Tips for Successful Corset-Wearing:

Invest in a good corset. Those cheap-o ones that don't have metal stays and busks really aren't worth it. They double over when you bend at the waist and don't accomplish anything other than making you uncomfortable. A good corset requires a lot of time and materials to produce, and is worth the money. Expect to pay at least $200 for even the most basic model.

Don't half-ass it; lace that sucker up as tight as it goes. Corsets are designed to hold the body in place via their metal stays, so the bigger the gap you leave in the laces, the more you'll spread those back stays apart and prevent the corset from doing its job. This can actually lead to pain, so make sure you've laced the corset properly.

Your corset gently requests that you maintain good posture and keep your midsection tight; don't make it have to get nasty. In other words, don't fight against the corset, but rather adjust yourself into the position it's trying to get you to adopt. A straight back and sucked in stomach will be the most comfortable position, so try to maintain that. You can actually relax into the corset and let it guide the way you sit and stand, but make sure you don't relax so much that you counteract what it's designed to do.

Breathe "upwards." That's the only way I can describe it. With a corset on you have no stretch around your chest; this is particularly true of the over-bust styles. So rather than swelling your chest and abdomen when you breathe in and out, you need to lift your ribcage and bust. Try doing this without a corset on, and you'll find that right away your posture improves and your stomach stays nice and tight. Think about having a corset on as a constant reminder, and you can imagine the benefit that comes from wearing one. Good posture looks great anyway, but good posture combined with a tiny waist and flat stomach looks even better.

So what about all of you? Do you own a corset? Would you ever consider wearing one?

Jacket: Victoria M. Ortiz
Necklace: Rapsodia
Top: Noa Noa
Corset: Xcentricities
Skirt: All Saints
Shoes: John Fluevog

Weekend Wear: Daytime College Reunion

Over the weekend Mark and I attended his college theater reunion, and this is what we wore. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the two of us together, but this is the next best thing. I like how we sort of match but not quite.

I just loved this outfit on Mark. The combination of the vintage blazer, the tuxedo-stripe jeans by Heathen, and the funky John Fluevog shoes looked so modern and imaginitive. He thrifted this blazer for a few bucks, and I think it looks great on him.

I'm wearing another new dress from All Saints, which is making its first appearance on the blog today. The print on this dress is stunning; a delicate and very detailed collage of snakes, skulls, and various flora in shaded blue, gray, and black. It's called the Seven Curses dress and it sort of reminds me of a cross between old tattoos and black magic voodoo imagery. The fabric of the dress is fairly sheer, so I wore it over a short tulle skirt, which I actually had to pull down quite low over my hips in order to make it peek out at the hem. The leggings gave the elastic band of the skirt something to stick to and stay in place.

I topped off the outfit with my newly-customized military jacket, which has quickly become a staple in my wardrobe. This time of year it's great for taking the chill off without being cumbersome to carry around while I'm inside. Expect to see more of this jacket soon; I also included it in a work outfit last week that still has yet to be posted.

My outfit:

T-shirt: H&M

Dress: All Saints

Belt: Red Dress Shoppe

Skirt: Forever 21

Leggings: Kersh

Boots: Dr. Martens

Jacket: Forever 21

Madcap Stripes

I saw this skirt on Gilt Groupe and immediately fell in love with it. The buckles, the zippers, and the quirky color combo are just perfect for my style, and it's unlike anything else in my wardrobe. And then it's called the Madcap Stripes skirt, which made me want it even more. Look how the stripes match my hair! Truly it was meant to be. The skirt is solidly constructed, the fit is perfect, and the zippers are functional, which means I could potentially wear something else underneath (pettipants maybe, with a ruffled hem?) and partially unzip the front panel to reveal the lower layer.

Because the raspberry stripes in the skirt are fairly bright, I decided to bring more olive and black into the rest of the outfit, and keep my jewelery to a minimum. The tights are actually 2 pairs layered together: a pair of solid olive green cotton leggings with a pair of black lace tights on top. It was just too chilly that day for the black ones alone, and I thought the green background helped to tone down the busy lace pattern a little.

This top by itself is actually very unflattering, as it flares out under the bust and looks like a big tent on me. But the little puff sleeves and the ruched bodice appealed to me, so I bought it knowing that it would always be a bottom layer, and it was cheap enough that I didn't care.

Necklace and ring: Manu Lizzaralde
Top: H&M
Waistcoat: Heathen
Skirt: Marc by Marc Jacobs
Olive tights: Foot Traffic
Black tights: Biella
Boots: All Black

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