Foundations Revealed introduces you to the varied and beautiful world of corset patents.
These historic diagrams show the cut of original Victorian corset patterns. They help us to see into the mind of the expert designer of the Golden Era of Corsetry, allowing us to uncover the secrets of fit and style that modern corsetry is only just beginning to explore.
For those who are working with modern corsetry, these designs will allow you to branch out from the ordinary, standard, vertical seamed “Victorian” style which is so common now, and into something fresh and new, yet classically elegant. They also allow historical costumers to move beyond the limited number of commercially available corset patterns that may not be appropriate for your body type, and explore styles more suited for you.
Our writers figure out and test each pattern for you, so that you can both benefit from their experiments, and make interesting choices for your own work.
1889 Higby Corset-Waist
Jennifer walks us through this beautiful corset-waist, a light duty corset meant to still give support but to allow greater movement and flexibility.
8 comments1881 T. S. Gilbert Patent Corset, US249335 Pt 2
Hannah uses information gained from her first article about this late C19th pattern to construct and finish a beautiful corset using silk organza, coutil and steel.
1882 T.S. Gilbert Corset, Pt 2
Luthien walks us through the construction, decoration and finishing of this beautiful overbust corset, including changes to the original Victorian pattern.
1887 B Baldwin Patent 358249, Part 2
In part two of her series, Kat discusses the pattern text, pre-construction and construction of this beautiful corset.
Griswold’s 1883 Corset
Sandra explores a high-panel C19th corset with multiple vertical seams, giving corsetmakers plenty of areas where you can make adjustments to the garment.
1882 T.S. Gilbert Corset Patent #267514
Luthien recreates this 1882 overbust, hourglass corset, designed to 'conform to the shape of the person more perfectly' than earlier Victorian corsets.
Patent Challenge T. S. Gilbert No. 332,245 part 1
Emily tackles this corset patent which attempts to avoid gores at the breast whilst still achieving 'a perfect fit upon the person'.
1881 T. S. Gilbert Patent Corset, US249335 Pt 1
Hannah gets us started with this beautiful late 19th century corset and tests the patent's claim to provide ‘best possible shape with greatest comfort’.
1882 Strauss patent 271377, part 3
Andrea makes a final bridal-styled version of the 1882 Strauss patent corset, perfecting the technique and adding gorgeous lace and amazing flossing!
1887 B Baldwin Patent 358249
In part one of her series, Kat discusses a Victorian patent, designed to create graceful Grecian curves, the pattern and how it was made.
1884 Higby Corset Patent #294620
Izabela works through the entire process of creating this unusual C19th corset from just an online explanation of the patent to a fully-developed undergarment!
1882 Strauss patent 271377, part 2
Andrea makes a second mockup in her size, and shows how spiral boning and plastic boning behave in this complex corset design.
