I have never been very interested in corsets beyond museum studies, but last week I became totally entranced by them – why? because in to Heart Space Studios came an ex fashion student of mine, Lisa Keating, nee Best, and she brought the most ravishing selection of her bespoke corsets.

I had invited her over to see if she wanted to develop some workshops for us, having met her at my recent open studios, where she turned up, out of the blue, with her husband, Mark, another ex – student, and their 3 children. It has been 20+ years since I taught her but I remembered her very well as a lively(!) opinionated and talented student – I was sure that she would bring me good things to see but I never expected this….

Out of a beautiful flowered box came delectable things, pale be-ribbonned silk corsets, for a fantasy wedding; ruched silk with net frills for a ballconette effect…I think I have this terminology correct!

For Strict mistresses, there was a tailored corset in a smart checked suiting fabric.

and even a very patriotic Rule Britannia number…..

There were also embroidered butterflies, flowers and feathers and bows and lacing….

and apparently if you wear one of these fabulous contraptions they can take 7, yes, seven inches off your waist – that’s a lot more in centimetres.

All the corsets are boned and laced at the back and this is where the fitting starts to work, I thought the backs were as fascinating as the fronts

even the labels that Lisa had made for her business cards and samples were delectable.

I will leave you with one last lovely image so that you can come and make some of these wonderful things in August at Heart Space – we have plans for making a ribbon flower encrusted corset between us.