I agree with the comment about having the musicians take a breath while finishing your lacing. I'm also intrigued by the idea of 3 laces to really control where the corset is tight.
As for the corsets themselves, I am of the opinion that corsets are necessary to get the correct shape (and bust placement) and the clothes can look rather frumpy and "Simplicity" without them. Working in theatre, this is something we have to deal with a lot. We like to build the side panels out of 1 or 2 layers of power net, with a vertical bone in the panels so it doesn't collapse on the side. That still allows a lot of sideways breathing movement and retains the proper period shape. Use spiral bones so there is flexible support. Don't worry if they kink - they will kink in the shape of the body. When I have built ballet bodices, we built the side panels on the bias, but that doesn't allow as much stretch as power net, and ballerinas breathe differently than either actors or musicians. You can't tell a musician to breathe like a ballerina - that isn't appropriate for the amount of support needed to play a wind instrument. As for sitting, finding and taking an appropriate stool to your gigs would be helpful. Chairs that are too short are hard to sit in with a corset. Let us know how it goes! _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
