Corset Measurement Guides

Exact measurements are vital to the comfort of your corset. A link to a measurement guide for each style of corset is located on the right side of this page. Before clicking on the links, please read the following paragraphs. These paragraphs have information that will help you achieve accurate measurements.

Your provided measurements will be used to make a corset pattern for you and you alone. Therefore, please take honest, accurate measurements in ½" increments against the skin or over your everyday undergarments. Do not write down vanity or speculative measurements.
If inaccurate measurements are given, the corset will not fit properly. I, Amy Crowder, am not responsible for an ill-fitting corset if inaccurate measurements are supplied.

That said, 99% of my customer supplied measurement based corsets fit very well. If supplied measurements look out of the ordinary to me, I will call or email you with my concerns before drafting your pattern. I want to design a properly fitted corset for you to enjoy and cherish, not to sell "product".
Have a partner measure you. If you do not have a partner, then it is advisable to hire a local tailor or experienced seamstress to take the measurements. You can take the measurements yourself, but accurate results are difficult to achieve.
Please use a marker or pen to mark reference points on the body. This will help keep track of the vertical measurements.
When measuring, do not pull the tape too tightly. The proper pressure would be snug just before the tape measure constricts the skin.
Ladies, please wear the same style of bra you wear on a daily basis. This will help ensure that the underbust corset will not interfere with your bra.
It is preferable to measure in the morning or after sleeping. This is due to the fact that gravity compresses our spines and causes us to shrink about ½ to 1" through the day. Sleep allows the spine to decompress.
If you cannot measure in the morning, at least avoid large meals 3-4 hours before measuring. You will be happier with the figures
Of course, you can set up an appointment for a free corset consultation. This will be at my Corset Studio in York, PA. Consultations are by appointment only. Please call to set up an appointment.
If you have any questions, please call me. Email is not a good form of communication in these matters. The studio number is 816-421-4510. M-F 11 am to 6 PM.

The waist size is the interior waist measurement of the finished corset. After daily tightlacing, your waist measurement will be approximately 1" to 1 1/2" bigger than the interior. This is due to the bulk of the corset.

Please follow these waist reduction guidelines to maximize comfort in your custom corset:

If you do not intend to wear the corset daily, I recommend a 4" waist reduction only
If you plan to tightlace daily, and your natural waist measurement is over 25", I suggest a 6" waist reduction.
If your natural waist measurement is 25" or below, I suggest a 4" reduction.

These guidelines are for the tightlacer's comfort. One of the secrets to tight lacing is slow reduction, not a quick six to seven-inch cinching. Yes, my corsets are designed to withstand great pressures, but too much reduction too soon is painful and can be destructive to your body. Also, if the corset is made too small at the waist, the corset will put more pressure on the kidneys.

Yes, a corset can be made with a 10" waist reduction. The problem with that large reduction is that the hips and chest sections of the corset will not be snug against the body until the wearer reaches about 8" or reduction. Thus, the corset will fit poorly, and will be very noticeable under clothing.

Happy Measuring,
Amy Crowder

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