How to Lace a Corset

Corsets have been a key part of women's fashion since the 16th century. Believe it or not, they actually came about out of necessity above all else -- in 1550, Catherine de Medici (wife of France's King Henry II) issued a ban on thick waists. To adhere to the new rule, upper-class ladies began to wear corsets to keep their waists tiny and promote that oh-so-desirable hourglass figure.

Today, though, corsets simply serve as a fun, unusual, and sometimes sexy fashion accessory. But if you're new to wearing a corset, lacing up can be a bit tricky. Here's how to master it.

1. Obtain a single corset lace. Don't cut it in half! Your corset only needs one long lace.
2. Find the middle of the lace and position it into the top two holes of the corset.
3. Begin lacing downward, the way you would lace a shoe -- switching off holes and sides.
Leave about 8 inches or so of lace between the sides of the corset. This will make it easier to put on later.
4. About seven holes down, you'll reach the middle of the corset. At this point, make a big loop by lacing out and then, instead of alternating to the opposite side, lacing back into the next hole on the same side. Don't worry that you have several feet of lace leftover right now. It looks like a lot, but it's all going to get used up!
5. After you've made your loop, resume alternating sides and continue lacing downwards until you've reached the bottom of the corset.
6. At the bottom, you can either tie both ends together into a bow, or tie each one into its own individual knot. Tying it in a bow is easiest, but tying each side into its own knot is somewhat more secure; it ensures that the knots won't accidentally come apart and undo your corset.

Ta-da! You've just laced your corset. If it's nice and secure, this is the only time you'll have to do this. You don't need to unlace your corset in order to put it on. Remember the 8 inches we left between the sides? That will allow you to simply step into the corset and tighten it to fit you.

Enjoy your fun fashion accessory!

Begin lacing downward, the way you would lace a shoe

by Debbie Ringo, Apparel writer