CORSETS ....
The feel of a tightly laced corset is hard to match, and the craving to experience that feeling can be overwhelming to most crossdressers. A proper fitting corset can really add some great femininity to your shape, and take your feminine persona to a higher level.
However, the key phrase here is "Proper Fitting", and there is the problem. When you shop for a corset, whether online, or in person, you have to remember that unless the corset is designed especially for T-Girls, it is made to conture to the female frame. As discussed in the Fitment area, the male torso is like an inverted triangle, being wide at the top, while a female torso is actually the opposite, if you ignore the breasts, being wider at the bottom(hips), like a regular triangle. The end result of fitting a corset made for a female torso on a male body, is a very bad fit. When you buy one to fit your chest or bust size, it normally will swim in the hip area, even when it's laced to its tightest. When a properly fitted corset is laced up nice an tight, the laces in the back should bring the garment together in a nice uniform pattern, but you will seldom if ever get this result by buying off the rack. Genetic women have similiar fitment problems with corsets. The return rate of corset purchases online is very high, as customers are seldom happy with the fit. If you are of a very slight build, your chances improve, as your body type is not that different from a genetic female, but even so, the odds are not in your favor of finding one that fits properly. To add insult to injury, corset manufacturers have no standard guideline as to size and actual measurements, so you just can't buy a certain size and know that it will fit. Never buy one online unless the merchant will provide the proper measurements, so you can evaluate the fit. There are two ways to assure a decent fit.....actually trying the corset on before buying, and having one custom made. Both Mistress Kat and Veronica have a few corsets in their wardrobes, but had to try on plenty of them before finding one that actually fit, and even then, the fit wasn't exactly right. Having one custom made can be very expensive, but if you can afford it, it's the best way to go. 
You will find many different garments being marketed as corsets, and many are little more than flimsy nighties with stretch panels. A good corset is well boned and can be made out of a variety of materials. If you are seeking one that you can really be laced into, it has to be well made out of a strong material.
There are many different styles to chose from, and it's almost a trial and error process to find which type works best for your body type. A corset with cups often proves to be a bad fit in the top portion ....both the red and blue ones pictured would be better styles if you are looking for a decent fit. Often ones cut like the blue one actually fit the male torso better when worn upside down, as the female torso is wider in the hips, and this wide part works better at the top on the male anatomy. You can see that both of these corsets have a nice pattern at the laces. It's almost impossible to get a pattern like this when a corset is laced onto a male torso, but if you can achieve one that is fairly uniform, it will still work and look great. When laced to it's tightest, the gap at the waist should be minimal.
Here are just a few examples of what can go wrong. The first picture shows how a relatively inexpensive corset from Fredericks fit Veronica. You can see how her lack of hips has caused the corset to meet at the bottom. This same corset was way too big in the cup area as well. Although this corset seemed to be well made, the material wouldn't hold up to tighter lacing, and ripped at the seams when it was attempted. The original cost of this corset was about $50. The second picture was taken during a photo shoot with Veronica at a large fetish store. This leather corset was the 5th or 6th one tried on, before finding one that fit this well. In reality, this corset was very loose in the strap and cup area, and the gap at the laces in the back was very wide, so although it looks pretty good in the picture, it was a bad fit as well. This was a well made corset priced at over $250, but it just wasn't made to fit the male torso.
Here is Veronica in two of her better fits. The leather corset was borrowed from a friend, and fit fairly well, with the gap in the back being fairly uniform, but a bit too wide ....still quite presentable and wearable. This corset was originally about $300. The blue satin corset is an imported one which she found after trying on about six others at the fetish store. It fits her very well, and has a special place in her lingerie drawer. It is just a slight bit big in the hip area, but with tighter lacing, it fits fine ....although she has a bit of trouble breathing !! This corset also runs about $300, but Veronica got a great deal on it. Both of these corsets are HEAVY DUTY, heavily boned, and can be laced as tight as you would want to, without any problem at all.
If you are of a more slender and feminine build, with measurements that are sililiar to those of a genetic female, your chances of finding a decent fit are vastly improved, and even the lighter weigth garments will probably work well for you. We highly suggest trying corsets on before purchase, but if you must buy online, make sure that you get the important measurements..... BUST, WAIST, HIP, and LENGTH ..... before ordering your corset, and always check the seller's return policy, as finding a proper fitting corset isn't an easy task. There are companies and individuals who will custom make corsets to your actual body dimensions. We knew of one individual who would actually wrap the torso (over a tight T-Shirt), with duct tape, until the desired tightness and fit was achieved, then carefully cut it all off, and use this as a pattern .... The result was outstanding, as the finished garment was an exact fit.
We do not market corsets through Kats Dream Boutique as we know from experience how difficult fitting can be.
If you are interested in a custom fitted corset, check out Versatile corsets ....they have been in business since 1977, and will hand taylor a corset to your exact needs.
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