How To Lace and Unlace
just pull! ...but, of course it's a bit more complicated than that!
First, even out the laces in back and remove all slack. If you are by
yourself, hook the lacing loops over a doorknob,
and walk away slowly and stop when the laces are even left and right and
just taut. Then gradually starting from the top, reach behind you and
pull at the lace crosses one a at a time, down to the waist, then the
same from the bottom up to the waist, all while gently leaning or slowly
stepping forward to maintain constant tension on the laces. Make
sure you have three to six feet of "stepping" space, depending on how
tight you are lacing. Don't just walk and stress the corset at the waist,
it will quickly wear things out.
And Repeat:
Repeat the "lace and pause" every five to ten minutes, during each pause
wriggle around in the corset to settle it, and pull
out the wrinkles from the undershirt or undergarment that is under
the corset, lift your arms above your head and rotate and stretch your
upper body inside the corset. Next, pull the central laces at the waist
so that the two rows of lacing eyelets are parallel. Repeat, this three,
four or more times, until the desired shape is achieved. Hang on to the
laces when it's getting tight as they may slip back! Finally the laces
are knotted, usually a double knot, such that the laces will not loosen
by themselves. The excess laces are then tucked out of the way under the
bottom of the corset. Preferably they are not tightened by wrapping them
around the waist and tied in front as the tension in the laces causes
excessive wear to the waist region of the corset.
For tighter lacing it is recommended to reduce in stages: take in just
2..3" inches initially, then repeat the process every half hour or so,
until your comfort limit is reached. In most cases the intended reduction
is 3..6" which can usually be achieved in two or three re-lacings.
Firm muscular bodies make tightlacing more challenging because there is
less fat to push around, and because of the greater muscle tone, it will
take longer to "relax" in the corset. When deciding on wearing your corset
very tight, or as tight as possible, you will need to relax breathing.
Meaning when it starts to feel tight and constricted, breathing will become
restricted as well and a pause is needed to get used to this. Walk around
and attend to other things to let your body adapt and return to autonomous
breathing. You don't want to be gasping for air! Within a short
while your breathing will relax and you can continue the tightening process.
To open the corset:
always loosen the laces first, do not unhook
the claps from the studs while the corset is under tension, since you
are not likely to be able to loosen the waist area clasps! Once the top
or bottom two busk clasps are open, all the tension will concentrate at
the waist and it may bent or break off the waist stud. If you lace loosely,
you might get away with it, but a properly laced corset will be under
so much tension that opening the first clasp with some effort will cause
the busk to begin to rotate and bend. Then, once you take it off, with
the laces loosened by 4" or so, you may find that it will be difficult
to put back on, if you have been tight lacing. You'll have to open it
six to eight inches to get back into it without straining the busk too
much. And whatever you do.. go slow and enjoy your lacing!
How to lace a corset correctly:
|
|
|
|
| Self
lacing or
help from another person are both practical methods. |
Make sure to put on stockings, garters and
boots or shoes, before lacing in! |
Bare skin under the lacings may look nice,
but it is not comfortable and not suitable for long term daily wear. |
