Period Corsets' Top 9 Looks for 2017

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Period Corsets' Top 9 Instagram looks for 2017

The votes are in! Based off of our highest ranking posts in Instagram, these are the top 9 Period Corsets photo stories for 2017! 

1. Undressing the Green Silk Cavalier Ensemble

Our fabulous bespoke forest green corset gown and the many layers needed to create the look

2. Revealing the layers of the 17th century 

Our simplified 17th c. ensemble constructed for designer Todd Thomas. Read more about this outfit in our blog post:

Designer Todd Thomas Dresses up with Period Corsets

3. Dressing Salem

One of our many looks created for television's Salem with designer Joseph Porro:

Period Corsets and Salem

4. Brocades for Every Woman

Our perfectly vintage inspired Dusty Rose brocade, a fabulous choice for any of our corset styles.

Ode to Brocades

5. The bigger the hair, the wider the pannier...

Part of our 20 Year Retrospective, these extra wide panniers were made for Marie Antoinette, a co-production by the American Repertory Theater and Yale Repertory.

6. View From Below

Part of our Period Corsets Vintage Corset collection, this fan lacing girdle corset caused a stir.

7. Interchangeable Renaissance Wear

Our Renaissance Faire boned bodice with removable and reversible stomacher

8. Behind-the-scenes with our Pannier Cage

This turquoise version was made for a custom ensemble for Teatro Zinzanni. 

9. Embroidered Stomachers for Salem

These two custom boned bodices were constructed for the television's Salem for their final episode. The center front stomacher area was adorned with intricate embroidered insects with beaded details. 

Period Corsets and Salem


Thanks to all of our fans and followers for the amazing support and kind words. We love sharing our work with you and giving you a peek behind-the-scenes at what goes on at Period Corsets.
Follow us on Instagram to see our latest news and current projects in the works.
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Masquerade Marie Antoinette by Period Corsets- to Rent or Own

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Marie Antoinette is big again! Hundreds of years later her influence, and that of the lavish fashions of the later 18th century, are still being felt all over. This was a time of extremes in fashion, with its wide panniers, full skirts, and bust enhancing corsets.

After hearing the needs of many, Period Corsets has designed a new, versatile take on this classic look. Perfect for a fancy ball or party, our modern Marie Antoinette features coordinating, interchangeable layers that can be removed and revealed as you saunter through the crowd. The only thing more fun than wearing a costume is one that can change with you throughout the evening!

Modern Marie Antoinette convertible skirt

By adding the convertible overskirt, your look can go from demure to sassy in seconds. The skirt can be worn open to reveal the pretty under-layers by pulling up on either side and tying it up with big ribbon bows. Or tie the skirt closed to hide the inner layers for a more covered, modest look.

Over-skirt worn closed with ribbon ties at the center front

The full skirt drapes beautifully over the modest pannier silhouette

Our focus for this fun and flirty homage was to craft an ensemble with mix and match separates at an affordable price. By using new streamlined time-saving techniques, we've created pieces that are an economical costume choice for any party, festival, or dress-up event.

This 4-piece ensemble includes the newest addition to our catalog, our frilly "Rustles". This is a simplified ruffled pannier with lighter boning and ribbon tie-on waistbands. The long bodied chemise doubles as an underskirt layer that peeks out below the "Rustles" and can be worn with or without the convertible overskirt.

Our "Rustles" with long ribbon ties for adjustability.
The 3 layers of ruffles hide an inner fabric-covered cage of light pannier boning. 

The long chemise doubles as a short skirt below the many layers

The tabbed 18th-century-style corset features adjustable shoulder straps with ribbon ties and peek-a-boo lacing at the center front giving you even more flexibility with shaping at the bust line.

Strike a captivating pose in this 18th c. style corset 

 Available in any size from small to 2X, or custom made to your measurements, this affordable ensemble can be made in any color. Save money by supplying your own fabrics or have us shop for materials for you. See here for more info on purchasing this set for yourself.

Or, if you're shopping for a one-night soiree, you can also rent this full ensemble through A Masquerade.

Watch as our ensemble comes together:

Period Corsets®: "Famous Corsets from a Shop in Seattle" a TV interview with Evening King 5

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The Period Corsets® studio was summed up perfectly in 2 minutes and 37 seconds. Everything from  "This Corset!, it's so comfortable!",  (the quote we hear most frequently from our clients), to our ethic of   "Corsets for Every Body", and the launch of  our newest retail line:  Palatine Bridal, Exquisite Plus-Size Gowns, was discussed.   Period Corsets® was honored to be featured on TV again on Evening  King 5.  We opened up our studio for a full tour of our work space to provide an inside look at how Period Corsets® works and what we've been working on.
take a look--
Period Corsets interview for King 5 Evening Magazine from Hilary Specht on Vimeo.

And if you prefer to read it, here is the transcript from our interview:

SEATTLE, WA -- This salon in Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood makes custom corsets:  Both silhouettes from the past...and shapes that are pop-culture present:

"So this one was actually worn by Fergie," explained Period Corsets' owner Hilary Specht Coffey. Madonna, and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show models also wear their work.

 "It's pretty fun to see the things coming down the aisle that we made," said Specht Coffey.

Bespoke corset construction has its challenges:

"This year (for 2010) in the show a designer said 'I wanna make a corset out of straw, and maybe another corset out of barbed wire.," she explained, showing the mockup of the straw corset. The barbed wire corset didn't make it beyond idea stage. 

Corsets they're currently making for WGN'S 'Salem' present another challenge: Deadlines are  tight in the custom corset world.

 Sara Lanzillotta, the office manager, explains:  "People call up from all manner of backgrounds, either it's an individual that has a wedding coming up, or a designer working on a Broadway show, or a film company,  they usually need it last week. And so, we do it."

These pieces aren't just for costumes and models -- anyone can order.

Model Deana volunteered to undergo a transformation to a corseted wedding gown from their plus-size  bridal line called Palatine Bridal.

"I just feel kind of like a goddess or a queen," she said after Specht Coffey helped her into the gown.

Everyone here thinks that's what the corset has always been about.

"We got into this business because we like to create beautiful things," Specht Coffey said.

"Some people, when they think of corsets think 'Oh that's oppressive, it's keeping the woman down," said Lanzillotta. "But it's not. It's about the completely opposite thing. You feel powerful when you have that corset on. You feel strong."

See our previous post about our first interview with king 5 from 2003 here:
http://periodcorsets.blogspot.com/2010/09/period-corsets-is-interviewed-on.html

The Ballet Petticoat

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Introducing our newest addition to the Period Corsets® petticoat line, the Ballet Petticoat. Designed with musical theatre in mind, this shorter, flirty petticoat offers dancers a full range of movement, showcasing the twirls and high kicks of any choreography.

Ballet Petticoat in a twirl

Here at Period Corsets® we develop all of our products in house based directly on the needs of our clients. The Ballet Petticoat is no exception. We created these garments for Broadway productions of Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, International Tour, photo by Joan Marcus

The Ballet Petticoat is a great pick for musical theater with it's frilly ruffle and it's more-than-a-circle skirt fullness at the hem. It has a 25" waist to hem length with four 1/2" tucks, for length alterability, and a circumference of 240" at the hem.  The petticoat is created with 5 bias-cut circular gores gathered into a yoke with an adjustable drawstring waistband, to fit your waist perfectly. It fits well under a corset or bodice for a nice, smooth look from waist to hip.

adjustable waistband works great on top or underneath a corset or bodice

The Ballet Petticoat is crafted from one hundred percent cotton so that it can be dyed and allows for breathable comfort. We make it in our five sizes with options for custom sizing. As with all of our retail garments, the Ballet Petticoat is alterable to your specifications. We can make it longer or out of different fabrics, giving you many usable options from a fluffy underskirt to a full skirt for outerwear.

Ballet Petticoat in action

 When we add a product to our retail line we take our clients  needs into account. We choose the silhouette and attributes that are the most commonly requested for productions. We make a high-quality garment with our customary petticoat finishing details. Give us your ideas and we're happy to customize our products to create your garment dreams.

 John Kristiansen New York Inc added their own layer of net with eyelet trim.
 photo courtesy of JoJo Johnson

Whether we're creating your finished garment or something you'll be adding the final touches to in your shop, Period Corsets® goal is to save you time and money. We create the underwear so you can focus on outerwear!

Let's take 'er for a spin! Watch the Ballet Petticoat in action!

Ballet Petticoat in motion from Hilary Specht on Vimeo.

Period Corsets® on stage at the Metropolitan Opera

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Isabel Leonard as Miranda in The Tempest wears a custom made bodice by Period Corsets.



For more  about the corsets we made for  The Tempest click here

Period Corsets® Civil War Sesquicentennial Bride Sits Down

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It's 150 years since the beginning of Amercian Civil War; here is a fun little antebellum animated feature from Period Corsets®.

Click on the image to see our antebellum bride in action.

To see this Period Corsets ensemble:Corset, Chemise, Hoop, Ruffled petticoat click here.

The Making of Dita von Teese's All-in-One Cone bra Corset

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To see stills from Dita von Teese's video click here.
To see the video on the Period Corsets Youtube channel click here.
To vote on adding a cone bra to our Period Corsets retail line of corsets click here.

Santa Fe Opera opens "Tales of Hoffmann"-- Ms. Erin Wall sings a plaintive song in her historic underwear, chorus members wear Period Corsets®

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"Elle a fui, la tourterelle" from "Tales of Hoffmann" at the Santa Fe Opera 2010
In a room in Crespel's house, Antonia (Erin Wall), his daughter, sits singing a plaintive love song.
Video compliments of the Santa Fe Opera


Constance Hoffman is the costume designer for this production. Santa Fe Opera sent Period Corsets® yards and yards of gorgeous striped taffetas and brocade silks to make the undergarments for the 18 chorus women. Santa Fe Opera's costume shop made leading lady Ms. Erin Wall's corset, which she wore with our bloomers and bustle petticoat.  The women's chorus undergarments are seen on stage; each singer wears a custom Alice c.1880 corset and bustle in different coordinating silks. The c. 1880 underwear ensembles were complimented with a sleeveless chemise, bloomers and short petticoat, all constructed of the most delicate of batiste cottons.

Here are some pictures of the chorus's  coordinating ensembles. It was a delight to work on this project!

Click here for more behind-the-scenes making of these undergarments.

A peek of Period Corsets® Petticoats at the Met's curtain call of La Sonnambula 2009

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photo:compliments of operatictypepad.com


Period Corsets® petticoats peek out when the dancers kick up their heels in the curtain call number of the Metropolitan Opera's La Sonnambula. Most of the action takes place about 2:10 minutes into the clip!

See if you can pick out the Period Corsets® petticoats used as rehearsal skirts on some of the chorus ladies. Many of our petticoats are hanging on the rack on stage left. In the final scene of act one, the chorus members rip petticoats off the rack and proceed to fling them across the stage in a furor. A veritable petticoat storm ensues. Quite exciting!

Period Corsets® Grommet Machine in Action

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Meet the  Period Corsets® Grommeter-- the Machine and the Man.

O'Rion, long-time Period Corsets® employee, demonstrates grommeting the center back panels of a corset using our mechanical foot press grommet die setter, otherwise know as a grommet machine and fondly referred to by our shop as... The Grommeter!


#1-- One must focus on the task at hand while grommeting.

Also Take note:

#2-- The top lever has two positions; while the lever is over the left side it engages the cutting die.  Observe as O'Rion cuts the holes in the garment.

#3--O'Rion switches the lever to the right side engaging the setting die. He adds a grommet washer, followed by the garment, then the on-top grommet. 

#4-- In  orchestrated motion O'Rion employs the foot press when needed for each cutting and setting action.

In conclusion:  a Simple, Elegant and  Efficient process, by-words for our work at Period Corsets®.

Meet the Period Corsets® Rabbit Punch

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What is a rabbit punch?
Watch and see it in action. A skillful Period Corsets® employee punches 3/4" holes in a corset pattern and hangs it on the pattern rack for efficient storage. She is using a rabbit punch, which gets it's name, not surprisingly by looking a bit like a rabbit.

Period Corsets Dress Up Day was a Great Success

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Thank you to everyone who came by our booth and tried on corsets, pettticoats and  skirt supports. What magic to see our much labored over elegant salon ensembles come to life on the trade show floor.

Check out this Steampunk Bustle ensemble in motion!




More pictures of our many  fabulous fit models.
Cheers and see you all tomorrow for the final day.

The corset girls from Seattle.

Meet Period Corsets® "Phil"

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Here at Period Corsets® we have a wide and deep variety of talents. With this breadth of knowledge we have created our line of historic period undergarments; we research, test patterns, and streamline our construction methods. When we put our products into production, we continue to perfect and update them. In short we pour our love and skill into our work. Over our 12 years in business we have had many wonderful personalities contribute to our success: patternmakers, cutters, first hands, stitchers….and today we are happy to introduce to you one of our favorite personalities:





“Phil”—our Industrial Stuffing Machine.
Phil saves us time and money, and comes to the rescue every time.




As costumers know bustle pads and bum rolls come in all shapes and sizes. But when they come in large quantities to stuff by hand, Phil is our favorite friend.







I am speaking tongue in cheek as we prize our flesh-and-blood employees over our metal counterparts. Yet costumers worth their salt know how important it is to have the right tools and machines for the job at hand. At Period Corsets® we specialize in the ever-exciting pursuit of finding and employing the perfect tool for the job—whether it’s honing the technique of constructing a corset or using the right size needle for stitching a certain fabric or stuffing bum pads with alacrity. Creating the highest quality products is part of our mission.
We hope you enjoy meeting "Phil" as much as we enjoyed introducing him!


"Phil" and employee in action stuffing a 17th C. Bum roll



See this video on the Period Corsets Youtube channel.