Caroline's corset blog

Musings and progress from Caroline - projects she's working on, tips and tricks, and thoughts on corsetry

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Category: Foundations Revealed contest 2019

  1. Foundations Revealed contest 2019

    Posted on

    I have decided at the last minue to try and get an entry in - the deadline is Monday so I don't have long! My fashion course theme is London Mechanic and whilst scouting London for inspiration I realised I could kill two birds as I could merge the two ideas - Architecture being the FR theme. I visited he Thames flood barrier on a lovely sunny winter's day and managed to get some good pics;

    hip fin like

    As soon as I saw these I knew I wanted to quilt a corset so ordered the batting from the visitors centre cafe - no time to lose!

    Here is the un-boned first half;

    IMG_20190129_182515_812

  2. Foundation garment complete

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    I decided on a bodysuit for the foundation garment as my intention was to create a pattern for my Patreon patrons and I hadn't made a bodysuit for a couple of years. I also like the way the bottom of the centre front is pulled downwards in these designs - a nice smooth silhouette and no 'overhang' to contend with.

    At first I made the design very high cut over the thigh but the flesh containment was insufficient so I added a hip gusset. Overall it's an unusual design - I wanted long boning channels that angle into the gusset from the bust and other angled channels that are evocative of bracing struts in building structures. A curved covering channel in the same silver leather around the hip gusset seams further adds to this effect.

    This is only the foundation of my piece but I wanted to complete it and photograph it so I can market the commercial pattern. It meant I had to line the very sheer bobbinet (double layered) at the front which presented its own problems and added more time than I would have liked, mainly be dent of the lining being seen through the bobbinet and therore having to be exacty matched with no seam allowances showing.

    Here is the garment - hopefully giving the industrial feel I was trying to achieve;

    20180920_124507

  3. Design started with the Foundations Revealed contest in mind

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    I have deliberated for months about the subject of this year's competition. The theme, architecture, covers so much. The possibiities! In the end I think I am going to focus on one of my favourite buildings from one of my favourite eras - the Chrysler building in New York.

    My idea is to make the foundation garment (which will also be the pattern of the month for my Patreon platform) that will emulate the building structure - the skeleton - and then apply some artwork. Corsetry mimics architecture - the shape and bones creating the foundation from which to hang the decorative elements. I have some incredible lazer cut silver leather that gives the impression of steel supports;

    20180912_075212