A Coastal Wedding on the Scottish Shores- Period Corsets on Location

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The wild winds of Scotland's western coastline became the perfect setting for an intimate destination wedding. Seattle couple Shane and Kimberly traveled back to his family's roots for their private seaside nuptials.

To represent his family line, Shane wore a traditional kilt in his family's tartan while Kimberly wore a bespoke gown and corset by Period Corsets, in collaboration with Zeita Studios. 

Something Blue- Kimberly in her bespoke gown

When dreaming of her ideal gown, bride Kimberly envisioned flowing layers of fluffy tulle in varying shades of blue to resemble the waves of the Scottish shores.

Frothy skirts like the ocean waves of Scotland

Inspiration board for the dress design by Zeita Studios

 Over the years Period Corsets has had the pleasure to work with many brides, helping them achieve their bridal visions. For this project, we collaborated with the wonderful Zeita Studios, a Seattle based bridal company that specializes in bespoke gowns. They selected one of our corsets as an important element of their inspired ensemble. 

Kimberly fitting her gown at Zeita Studios, corset by Period Corsets

To compliment her wild and windy layered skirt, Period Corsets created a beautiful matching corset in pale blue brocade. Our classic hourglass shaped c. 1880 Alice corset was the ideal silhouette that Kimberly was looking for with the particular shaping that she had requested. Something curvy, supportive, and powerful to represent the strength and fluidity of the ocean.

A beautiful start to a beautiful life! Thank you to Zeita Studio for including Period Corsets in this special project. And thank you Kimberly for wearing it so well!

Hocus Pocus, Period Corsets Gets Spooky for Halloween

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Far Right: Custom Renaissance Faire bodice made from client fabric

Our Period Corsets Renaissance Faire Bodice ran amok through Halloween as it took a turn with the witches from Hocus Pocus. Our client supplied the fabric for her custom corset for her own interpretation of Sarah Sanderson from the movie Hocus Pocus, a classic fan favorite for the spooky holidays. 

The final corset constructed from our client's fabrics,
made to her measurements

Who will you be? Get your own Reniassance Faire Bodice through our Etsy shop!

Photo spread courtesy of Vixen of Horror

Photo credits:

photography: @randywhitephotography 

Models: @goldiegoodnight_voh as Winifred Sanderson 

@hazelbellocq_voh as Sarah Sanderson @necromanda_voh as Mary Sanderson 

Various other costume pieces by @amanda_mcgahey , @goodnightgoldie @danielle_hpi

Sarah Sanderson corset by Period Corsets

Period Corsets Visits the Murano Glass Festival

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Period Corsets had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with gifted glass artist Sabina Boehm for an on-going series of wearable art pieces. The most recent installment was a two-part piece of two ensembles. Themed "Fire and Ice", Sabina used her handmade glass medallions and swirls to adorn bespoke corsets and our full panniers.

The first look, "Fire", included a hand stitched corset, designed and made entirely by Sabina, featuring dangling red medallions and "fire" bust cups. To match this look, Period Corsets created an all black full pannier cage and assisted in stitching on the many medallions which embellished the "bars" of the cage.

Hand-blown glass "flame" cups curve perfectly over the bust

Sabina adding her glass pieces by hand to our cage pannier

The look of this finished piece is stunning indeed. And the sound created by the glass pieces tinkling added to the theme. As the wearer moves about, the glass florets clink against each other creating a crackling noise reminiscent to fire.

For the look of "Ice" Sabina went with cooler tones of ivory, white and light blue. Using a similar method to her "Fire" piece, Sabina used the lampwork technique to create hundreds of glass swirls.

Hundreds of hand made glass swirls

Sabina at work making swirls

For her base corset, Sabina chose our c. 1660 Kristina stays, flatlined to an ivory silk. Period Corsets started her with a fitting corset to test the shaping and sizing before constructing her final one out of the silk material.

Testing the shaping and sizing before constructing our final pieces

Her handmade swirls took hours to hand sew to the corset surface, a group effort among the artist, ourselves and willing friends. Due to the slippery surface and shaping, the swirls required just the right placement and stitch to keep them from shifting around or falling off.

Dividing up the work, front and backs

Swirls expertly sewn in place

Detail of the glass "lace edging"

Our next task was the matching open cage pannier. Period Corsets constructed it in all-white material and again spent much time helping to apply the glass ornaments to the outer surface. 

One swirl at a time!

This second look had its grand début in Murano, Italy, a major glass center of the world. For centuries, Murano glass artists have kept their techniques a secret, protecting their unique ways of creating the intricate glass pieces for which they are so famous. Just recently the Murano glass artists finally opened their doors to established and budding glass artists alike to share in their knowledge. As part of its yearly, traveling conference, the Glass Art Society went to this famed city to share, learn and celebrate.

Sabina models her wearable art at the Murano Glass Conference 

Fashion show on the water

Sabina takes a fashionable gondola ride

Complete with a ride down the Veneta Laguna, the conference included a wearable art fashion show displayed entirely on gondola boats. A truly unique display for this truly unique art form.

Venice is Sinking Masquerade Ball

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Period Corsets costumes made a lasting impression at this year's lavish masquerade ball, Venice is Sinking. Back for it's 11th year, this fantastical gathering of costumed attendants wined, dined and danced the night away, several of whom wearing a Period Corsets ensemble or corset.

Attendee wearing a full Period Corsets costume ensemble

In conjunction with costume rental house A Masquerade, Period Corsets costumes made their red carpet debut and twirled through the night. Several party attendees found their perfect costume match within the doors of our rental friends at A Masquerade who carries a large range of our ensembles and singular pieces ready to mix and match into unique looks.

A gathering of lovelies assembled wearing their Period Corsets costumes

A Masquerade owner Kyra Stewart, and her creative staff, use their magic, and great design skills, to outfit their clients in the perfect ensemble to match any event. Using our corsets, skirts, skirt supports or Rustles, Kyra and crew artfully combines our pieces with their own stock pieces to put together unique looks for each client. With a large range of pieces spanning across many eras of fashion, Period Corsets rental line and A Masquerade have found a lovely partnership ready to serve the demand of party go-ers across the Pacific Northwest.

Along with the many rented looks, client Kim Clements debuted her one-of-a-kind ensemble, a collaborative effort between herself and Period Corsets. Kim discovered our pieces through A Masquerade and contacted us directly to create some unique pieces to match the rest of her costume build. Kim supplied her own fabrics for a bespoke corset and ruffle pannier Rustles to match her wonderful handmade bolero jacket and open front skirt. 

These lovely ladies selected their looks from our many Victorian styled offerings. Wearing a plum brocade c. 1880 Alice corset and a teal c. 1905 Mae corset, both with matching Tulip skirts, these two were dressed to impress!

An overview of the party hosted at Seattle Design Center

Not only a wonderful excuse for playing dress-up, this annual masquerade ball offered a full evening of entertainment and treats for the eyes. Offering up a new act every 15 minutes, Venice is Sinking provided a stage for a whole range of performances from opera singers, musicians, dancers, contortionists and acrobats, burlesque and even suspended shibari. 

A small assortment of the evening's entertainment including opera signers, burlesque, and suspended dancers

And what is an evening of lush extravagances without the proper snacks?  Once inside the Marie Antoinette Dessert Room, attendees entered a world of sweets. Platters were overflowing with all manner of treats so that everyone could have their cake, and eat it too.

Let them eat cake!.... and petite fours, and macarons

Marie Antoinette guards her treats at the entrance of the dessert room

Delicious dainty treats in the Marie Antoinette Dessert Room

  Gorgeous in gold, this fine lass wore our tabbed corset in gold brocade with matching lace trimmed chemise, and sequined Rustles. Love this look? Get your own, and other similar looks, made in the colors of choice through our Etsy.

All photos courtesy of Olga Plastino