Recommendations on waist targets:

If you are ambitious about figure training, there are traditional 19th century corseting guidelines. These were established by experienced corset makers, who in order to stay in business had to make sure that their clients had the most favorable figures, proper fit, good health and minimal discomfort. Their trade relied very much on returning customers and word of mouth.

Three methods are documented and are frequently cited in corset making literature: Method I will present the general limit, and the reality is usually found between methods I and II. Method III is the least strenuous and is suggested for "comfort" lacing, but is not regarded as "tightlacing".

Method I

Waist target is 10" smaller than the natural size.  The disadvantage is that the waist reduction is not based on proportion. For a modern wearer this would require years of training, and unless started at an early age, the 10" reduction may not be attainable. For most modern day committed 23/7 tightlacers an 8..9" reduction is a more practical goal.

Method II

Reduce the waist to 5/8 of the bust circumference. E.g. a 40" bust would have a moderately tight 26" waist. The advantage is that the proportions are taken into account and thus creates a comfortable and well-proportioned figure. Many modern tightlacers manage this level of reduction.

Method III

The waist is made slightly smaller than that of the upper thigh, for good body proportions and takes body weight and body fat into account. This method was preferred by the heavier ladies, whose thigh measurements often exceeded 25", and consequently were not likely to produce very small waists. Yet for the elderly matron it would present a balanced figure.

Starting size bust/waist/hips	25 cm / 10" reduction	waist = 5/8 bust	waist = upper thigh size
44 / 36 / 45"	44 / 26 / 46"	44 / 27.5 / 46"	45 / 34 / 46"
42 / 34 / 43"	42 / 24 / 44"	42 / 26 / 44"	43 / 32 / 44"
40 / 32 / 41"	40 / 22 / 42"	40 / 25 / 42"	41 / 30 / 42"
38 / 30 / 39"	38 / 20 / 40"	38 / 23.5 / 40"	39 / 28 / 40"
36 / 28 / 37"	36 / 18 / 38"	36 / 22 / 38"	37 / 26 / 38"
34 / 26 / 35"	34 / 16 / 36"	34 / 21 / 36"	35 / 24 / 36"
32 / 24 / 32"	32 / 14 / 33"	32 / 20 / 33"	33 / 22 / 33"