CARE AND WEAR
Even though a corset is a heavy duty garment, any improper handling can lessen its lifespan so reading this over will help your investment last a lifetime! This information will be included with your corset for you to save and reference.

BREAKING IN YOUR CORSET
When you first receive your corset, it will be stiff as it is freshly made and the corset coutil layer has a starch finish. You must allow some time for your corset to mould itself to your body to become comfortable. Do not let anyone else wear your corset as it will re-adjust the mould.
For your initial wear, do not tighten the corset all the way, it should be snug for 20 minutes to let the corset warm up to your body and then do a 2nd-3rd tightening to complete the reduction. It may take a few wears to close your corset completely. Even at its tightest, your corset should be comfortable and should not restrict you’re breathing. You must listen to your body. Unlace and take off your corset if you cannot breathe or start cramping.

CLEANING
Your corset should not be cleaned too often as it may lessen the quality of your corset over time. To keep your corset from getting dirty quickly, it is recommended that you wear a liner underneath the corset. It may be a tube top, a mesh girdle, or a modified tank top. This will help keep skin flakes and oils away from your corset. You should lay out your corset to air out after every use. You can spray Febreeze sparingly freshen up and get rid of odours. You can use spot cleaners to remove soiled spots. You will eventually need a professionally cleaning. Corsets are DRYCLEAN ONLY as there are metal components in the corset that can rust if it comes in contact with liquid. Take your corset to a trusted drycleaners and make sure they know that there are metal components inside the corset. If your corset comes with detachable garters, please remove them before cleaning. They can be hand-washed and lay to dry. The grips in the garters will melt instantly if they are put through the dryer.

TYING YOUR CORSET
Before putting on your corset, make sure you loosen the laces entirely and evenly through the corset. Do not EVER attempt to put on or take off a corset with the laces tightened as it will break or bend the front busk closure and cause unnecessary strain in the corset and your body. Wrap the corset around your torso with the correct side up (Inner label should be on the left side) and carefully close the front busk. It will take a few tries to get used to which tabs you should clip in first. Make sure they are all properly closed, if they aren’t the pressure will not be distributed evenly. Wiggle around and shift the corset to make sure it is properly centered on your body. Even though it is handy to have a friend lace up your corset for you, it is best for you to do it yourself. It will take a few tries to get used to it but at the end you will prefer it. Grab hold of the lacing loops that are located at the waist, pull on them firmly to get rid of the excess slack. Now start from the top of your corset and work the excess lacing down to the loops. It should be a bit tight but comfortable. Now work from the bottom of your corset up to the loops. The corset back closure should be parallel to each other and not flared out anywhere. Tighten the laces further if needed. Tie off the loops and tuck under the excess length into your corset or lacing.

STORAGE
Make sure to store your corset in a dry and dark place. It is best not to roll your corset up, have your laces unlaced and busk unhooked then fold your corset in half at the sides. We have provided a corset bag for you to store your corset in. It is ideal to have a lightly perfumed sachet in the tote to keep it fresh.

If you need assistance or have any questions, contact us at info@sweetcarousel.com and we’ll be happy to help.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I need the corset sooner then the estimated turn-around time, do you do rush orders?
It all depends on our work load. Please contact us and we'll see if we can rush an order for you. Please give us a minimum of 1.5 weeks. Rush orders may incur extra fee's.

Can I choose a different combination of colours or fabrics for your designer collection pieces?
There may be a limited variety of colours available for corsets in the designer collection, you can contact us about your idea and if we have what you want we will gladly switch up colours.

Can you make a fully custom corset and/or outfit for me?
We may be available for fully custom orders, please contact for more information. Custom products will cost much more then items in our standard line. Please give us at least 2 months advance notice. We do custom sizing for current products, just choose "custom" in the size option, the additional price will be applied.

Do you make bridal gowns?
Yes we do! We cater specifically to brides that want a corseted two piece dress, honeymoon corsets, and corsets for under your gown. We offer this service to out-of-city brides as well. We take limited amounts of orders per year so if you are interested at all please contact us at your soonest convenience.

I have a burlesque troupe/group order I would like to do, can we discuss a discount?
Absolutely. We are very supportive of modern day burlesque and would be happy to give discounts for group orders. Please email us with your ideas, budget, and quantities and we'll give you a quote and group order package.

I live in or will be visiting Edmonton, Alberta. Do you take personal appointments?
Yes, we sure do. We run a private studio located in the heart of downtown Edmonton that is easily accessible through the LRT. Contact us to set up an appointment. Please give us at least 3 days notice. This is not a shop setting so we do not carry a large stock of items to browse. For address and direction visit the customer service page.

Do you have a catalogue you can send me?
We do not. Because of our ever-changing stock and new items, we cannot provide an accurate catalogue to our customer. This online shop is considered our catalogue. Make sure to join the mailing list to get updates on new styles.

Why are your corsets so inexpensive/expensive?
Yes, we would get both types of questions. Our corsets are made with top quality materials and methods. Everything is made and drafted in-house and not offshore. The fit of our corsets are superior to store bought bustiers and corsets which are not made to last. Our corsets will last you years of wear. We buy our metal boning right from the manufacture to lower the costs and give our customers the best price possible.

Do you offer wholesale?
Yes, we do and a large focus for the end of 2011 is bringing retailers a wholesale shopping experience to our website. For now, please contact us through our form. Most designer collection items are made in small quantities and then retired so some styles may not be available for wholesale.

Do your corsets fit male figures?
Styles on our website are made specifically for female figures, if you are a male wanting an item on our website please contact us and we will be happy to help with your custom needs.

Are you looking for more models for your photos and events?
At the moment we are not, we have a large database of models to look through and always have models waiting for a new piece to shoot. If you really want to show us your portfolio the best place to do it is through our ModelMayhem profile and we'll keep you in mind! Please do not email as the email may get lost within all our inquiries.

Can I send you a specific fabric to make a corset out of?
You may depending on what type of fabric it is. We can approve many types of fabric because the top layer is only for fashion as the bottom layer is the strength fabric. Quality of the material expected is something non-stretch and is not see-through. We may ask you to mail in a swatch for approval.

Are your corsets comfortable?
Absolutely. Our corsets are drafted with comfort in mind. They do not squish at your ribs or hips and focused to draw in your waist. Your back will feel very supported and you sit more upright. We use flexible metal boning where it's needed most so it moves with your natural curves. After a few wears your corset will naturally mold to your body so it fits like a glove.

Last Updated: February 10, 2011