Would you believe it, it's too bloody big!!!!!!
Cups are fine, but it seems it's worth going down a back size, cos this doesn't pull me in as much as I'd like. I usually wear a 36 or 38 DD/E, so figured the higher back size and lower cup size would work, but no, and I'm gutted, cos it's gooooorgeous.
Hello forum,
My first post here, and apologies to the girls if you find a gentleman posting an intrusion! I'm actually REALLY surprised, that I didn't find this forum ages ago! Also apologies for replying to an older thread, but it is a very appropriate starting point!
Well - these Lady Marlene corsets really are GORGEOUS! They've stopped being made recently, which is a real shame! Anyhow, to cut a long story short, my lovely wife has a very well proportioned 38B figure, and is quite long in the torso. I bought her one of these in a golden-ivory colour, in 38B, mailed from the USA, and whilst the length was great for the longer torso, the fit was atrocious! Aha! I thought - let's get a 36B instead! Another 10 days and £40 later, the 36B turns up, and surprise surprise - it fits, but there's no pulling-in whatsoever! Right - one last try (and another £40), we finally took delivery of a 34B (my wife was delighted to seem to be a couple of sizes smaller!) and the fit is actually perfect! How on earth can the Americans be so far out in their sizes? I suspect it's an attempt to make the big gals over there feel better about themselves, because they will be buying their lingerie in "smaller" sizes - the phrase "self denial" springs to mind! Even before this, quite a few years back, I bought her a Goddess long-line bra (also absolutely stunning), but the B-cups seemed more like battleships in size!
So - a bit of advice on Lady Marlene corsets (if you can find then) - buy a back size one smaller for a not-too-tight fit, or two sizes smaller if you want a bit of shaping. If you're between cups, again, go smaller.
Both the 34b and the 36b have had a couple of outings, the 36b with a strapless evening dress, and the 34b with a much more fitted evening frock.
During the same time, I got her a couple of the waspie cinchers in white from the same Lady Marlene range. Being a natural 29" waist, the one that fits and starts to do it's job by actually pulling her in a wee bit (which I don't think she's ever worn) is a labelled a 25" garment - a USA small!!!!!!. These are very similar to the front-zipped corsets, but have the hook/eye fastening to one side, the gorgeous lace panelling, but still with the nice wide suspenders. Actually, they go to just below the bra line, so brilliant with your favourite bra, rather than an all-in-one bustier/corset.
If anybody is interested, I'll post some piccies.
Luckily the 38B Lady Marlene went on EBay, and we recovered most of the costs. In the wording of the auction, I stated that it would really be ideal for a 40b or 42b, and the gal who bought it was 42b, and let me know that it was a brilliant fit.
All 4 of the remaining Lady Marlenes will become surplus very soon, and wish me luck, because I'll be having her a made-to-measure overbust corset made, by the immensely talented Elle, from Heavenly Corsets. I'm thinking a nice sumptuous brocade, in a deep rich colour (burgundy / purple or blue?). I can personally vouch for the quality and superb fit of Elle's creations. As you may have gathered from my post so far, I know a fair bit about corsetry, and being an enthusiast myself with tight-lacing experience, I want only the best for my lovely wife! I actually buy most of her lingerie (except for the M&S 5-pack boil-in-the-bag knickers and sports bras etc!), and I think I'm actually very lucky that I can regularly make the right choices, because, mostly nothing is returned. I now seem to always get the sizes right too (but after 20 years of marriage - I should do!)
Right - back to the daily grindstone!
Guy
