For more detailed comments on the matter of the most suitable style for your needs, we are happy to provide further comments in an expanded 23-page monograph, available for $5 from ROMANTASY Exquisite Corsetry. Many customers find that our catalog is also helpful in guiding their decision-making and design process. Please let us know how we may personally help! Thank you for inquiring about our lovely and exquisitely crafted custom corsets. You have asked about the most suitable style for you, and that is exactly our expertise at ROMANTASY! Our comments are based on over ten years in business, and experience fitting about 8000 customers, including both women and men! To make your exclusive private fitting appointment in San Francisco fruitful, or to expeditiously advise you when you telephone or email, please take a moment to answer for yourself and then for us, the following four basic questions. The more information you initially provide us, the better we are able to assist you select the perfect style from among the world's widest variety produced by our inimitable corset makers. First, tell us the main purpose or purposes for which you wish to wear and use your corset. Second, tell us something about your lifestyle, opportunities for and intentions regarding wearing your corset. Third, tell us about the approximate amount you wish to invest in this vintage quality garment.  Fourth, tell us about the corset of your dreams: color, fabric, and embellishments. Fifth, tell us how long you are willing to wait for delivery. Some corset makers take one month, some take seven! Sometimes faster delivery is possible but you may have to pay a rush fee (all fees listed at the bottom of each corset maker's page). Think carefully about these further questions in order to derive complete answers to the four basic questions above. How often will you wear your corset and do you prefer to wear it under or over clothing, or both?  Do you have a specific waist reduction goal in mind or not, and do you desire temporary or permanent reduction?  What kind of waistline silhouette or "look" do you wish to achieve: fashion? fetish? hourglass? wasp? demure? alluring? Carefully examine the type of silhouette created by each style displayed graphically below.  What figure issue do you wish to address or improve?  Do you wish to enhance curves, minimize the bustline, or smooth the hip line?  How much cleavage do you desire?  Do you need to disguise the corset underneath street clothing?  Do you wish to use the corset to lose weight or reshape your waistline?  Is this a garment for a one-night affair or stage performance, and the corset will be discarded and thus, is not worthy of investment in quality?  Is this an elegant bridal corset that will become an heirloom for your children, one only for occasional bedroom fantasy play, or somewhere in between?  Do you wish to attract attention, or more readily "pass" on the street?  Do you prefer comfort over snug embrace, or a more restricted feeling?  Do you enjoy wearing control-top pantyhose or girdles?  Do you prefer ease and rapidity in donning the corset, or are you typically patient and can focus on improving your manual dexterity over time?  Do you have any limitations in physical mobility or dexterity, or do you have scoliosis?  Are you likely to only purchase one corset in a lifetime, or can you foresee adding to your corset wardrobe over time? Tell us if you are a genetic female or male, as it makes an important difference in our advice about measurement, placement of the waistline, and amount of advisable waist reduction. Remember that color, fabric and embellishments create a certain mood and image that may or may not fit your corset dreams, or the occasion for which you are ordering it. If you don't wish to attract attention, don't chose a sexy bright red satin and black lace-covered corset to wear as outerwear! You might wish to shy away from a leather corset with D-rings and studs if you attend the opera. We encourage you to select a corset to which your vivid imagination attracts you, and not just a practical one, as you will be drawn to wear and enjoy the prior corset far more than the more boring latter style. ROMANTASY'S TEN BASIC CORSET STYLES Most styles derive or incorporate design elements and replicate waist profiles from the ten following basic styles. Please observe our graphics closely to determine your preferred body profile and waistline that each corset style creates. Observe the SHAPE OF THE top and bottom edges of the style AND TELL US WHICH YOU WANT, and NOTE THE variety of boning patterns that create the profile. Remember that fabrics, construction techniques, type of boning (spiral or flat) and other factors also contribute to the final fit and feeling of your individual corset. If you do not see a style OR THE EDGE SHAPE you desire, please describe the style OR SHAPE you wish and we will do our best to accommodate you. Corsets derive their uniqueness from your personal embellishments or pattern alterations, which may entail an additional charge. Please click on each graphic below to see an actual corset made in this style. Please note that many of the below styles can be extended to the mid-thigh, knees or over the knees to make a mini-dress style corset. Please ask for final price bid once we receive your measurements and fabric and maker choices.   BASIC UNDERBUST VICTORIAN This style creates the classic hourglass waist profile. It is best for comfort, ease of dressing and undressing, waist-training, maximum waist reduction, and for sleeping. It usually rides high on the hipbone and covers the lower abdomen, but can be made with a lowered or straight-line bottom edge. The 1901 style provides a slightly sharper side profile and technically, is post-Victorian period, moving into the Edwardian period.   (1901 Corset) (Victorian Corset) THE 'SCARLETT O'HARA' VICTORIAN This style creates the classic hourglass waist profile, but rises to mid-bust at the top edge, providing a modicum of "shelf" style bust support, but not suitable for wearing as outerwear without a bra or underblouse. It derives from the Civil War styles, and may have a different name, depending upon the corset maker's preference. (The Scarlett O'Hara) THE VALENTINE OVERBUST VICTORIAN This style is excellent for outerwear as a type of bustier, or as the bodice of a bridal or formal gown. Detachable or permanent straps can be added for additional bust support, although the style by itself provides superb foundational control. Variations of this overbust style are represented by the 1844 and 1901, corsets each with varying boning and patterning and resulting modification of the waist profile. (Valentine Corset) (1844 Corset) THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY  This is the 'Dangerous Liaisons' style corset with flat sides, traditional fabric front and back lacing. It can be made with a front busk for ease of dressing and undressing. Typically, this style terminates at or just below the waistline with a scalloped bottom edge, and creates a dramatic cleavage from an artificially elevated bust line. It can have a pointed or rounded bottom edge if desired. Although quite beautiful as an outer garment, this style is not the easiest nor most comfortable style for those new to corseting since moderate to substantial pressure is placed on the rib cage. (18th Century Corset) THE HYBRID STYLE CORSET Many corset makers develop their own unique patterns for corsets that combine features of traditional styles. For example, one popular hybrid style combines a more flat-front "Dangerous Liasons" upper bodice, with the longer line Edwardian, or Victorian hourglass bottom. Our graphic selected to represent the hybrid style, represents the specific silhouette and boning pattern for Sheri's "Elizabeth" hybrid style. (The hybrid 18th Century bodice with Victorian Corset bottom ) THE EDWARDIAN This style resembles the overbust Victorian but the bottom edge drops low over the side hip with an attractive gentle lift in the front and back bottom edge if desired, or a straight edge finish. It may be overbust or underbust but is characterized by the long line bottom half. (The Edwardian) THE RIBBON  This corset provides a fashion statement when worn as a type of wide belt over clothing. Like the waist cincher, its smaller vertical measurement, typically with only a nine inch front busk, provides for more body flexibility and a less restricted feeling, however it does not create the dramatic hourglass silhouette, but rather, a gentle u-shape at the waistline. THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY  This is the 'Dangerous Liaisons' style corset with flat sides, traditional fabric front and back lacing. It can be made with a front busk for ease of dressing and undressing. Typically, this style terminates at or just below the waistline with a scalloped bottom edge, and creates a dramatic cleavage from an artificially elevated bust line. It can have a pointed or rounded bottom edge if desired. Although quite beautiful as an outer garment, this style is not the easiest nor most comfortable style for those new to corseting since moderate to substantial pressure is placed on the rib cage. (18th Century Corset) THE STEM OR PIPE STEM This corset is best suited for experienced corset wearers and advanced waist-training. The vertical waist rise puts moderate to substantial pressure on the lower rib cage depending on the height of the stem, and therefore may provide quite a physical challenge for extended wear. (Stem Waist) TRAINING OR DRESS CORSET These corsets extend below the hipline with spiral or no boning below and full back lacing. It is most comfortable when produced in a flexible material such as rubber or latex, but quite dramatic in leather. WASP WAIST This style easily skims over the rib cage which becomes quite pronounced, and nips dramatically in at the waist. The name for this corset comes from the impression it creates, that it is dividing the body sharply into two parts much like the body of a wasp. Some people do not appreciate the rather odd waist profile and others adore it! Look carefully before choosing this style, which is created from the patterning and use of spiral boning. (Wasp Waist) NECK OR POSTURE CORSET This provides a dramatic yet attractive effect as a style of "necklace" when ordered in fabric to match a corset. It is boned and constructed much like a corset, with even finer and more precise patterning and stitching required for this miniature corset. It can provide mild to moderate encouragement for the wearer to maintain an erect head and neck posture, with some resulting limitation of head movement. Remember that matching gauntlets, anklets, wristlets, evening purses and shoes can be ordered to complete your corset ensemble. Please inquire! How Corsets Address Posture Issues and Enhance Figures. Minimizing the Tummy.