Glossary
Authentic/Fully Fashioned Corsets:
A fully fashioned/ authentic corset in made with multiple layers of fabric (usually 2-3; an inner lining which lays next to the skin, a middle layer, and an outer layer with additional layers for fashion fabrics and detailing), reinforced bone channels, a reinforced waistline (usually with twill tape), a sturdy front busk, modesty panels (front and back), hand pressed grommets for lacing (no more than 1” apart) or steel lacing bones, flat and/or spiral steel bones, and sturdy lacing in the back. This method is designed to withstand the tensions of tight lacing. They are almost always hand-made.
Boning (corset):
In corsetry, a bone is one of the rigid parts of a corset that forms its frame and gives it its structure. Modern steel bones come in two basic varieties- "flat" steel boning , and "spiral" steel boning. Spiral boning consists of steel wire that has been braided together to create a long, flat structure. Flat boning consists of thin strips of steel which are then typically coated. Flat bends in only one direction (front and back), while
spiral steel boning bends easily in two directions (front, back and side to side. Spiral steel boning may thus be used on curved channels or where a more gentle support is acceptable while flat boning is used where more structure is needed (ie. the front and back seams of the corset). BGC tips all of the bones in size-specific steel bone tips to prevent tearing and poking from the raw steel bone ends.
Bone Casing/Bone Channels
Bone Casing is a tubular tape made out of cotton which is used to encase corset boning. It provides a sturdy barrier between the steel bone and the fabric of the corset which prevents wear and tear on the corset, as well as keeping the boning in place. Bone casing are often used in the bone channel (where the corset bone is meant to sit).
Busk:
A busk is a front closure which uses a loop and peg structure to securely close the front of the corset. Besides being the front closure, the flat steel of the busk gives structure and support to the front of the corset.
Coutil:
This is a sturdy fabric constructed of a compactly woven herringbone cotton. Because of the structure of the weave, there is little to no stretch to the fabric, making it ideal for the rigors of corsetry and especially resilient for the tensions of tight lacing and waist training.
Cycling/The Cycle Method:
A process of waist training which involves tightening the laces when it’s
most comfortable (i.e. after digestion, after sleep, etc.) and loosening them when the body is less able to accept pressure (i.e. after meals, while tired, etc.).
Memory:
In terms of corset boning, this term refers to how easily a bone acquires and retains a bend. This usually happens at a point where the body naturally bend the most frequently, i.e. the waist line.
Modesty Panel:
An adjustable piece of material behind the back lacing of a corset and behind the front busk which exists to prevent rubbing and pinching of the skin with the front and back closures of the corset (as a result of the back lacing and front busk)
Tight Lacing:
Tight lacing is the practice of tying a corset’s laces as tight as the body will allow in order to create extreme modifications to the figure and posture and experience the sensations of a very tight corset.
Twill Tape:
Twill tape is a flat woven ribbon of cotton, generally up to 1 inch (2.5 cm), which is used to reinforce the waist (the highest point of tension) in a corset. This prevents the waist from losing tension and shape over time.