Waist training and corseting is not just a growing shapewear trend; it’s a lifestyle to get that hourglass shape and small waistline. But you already know that, don’t you? That’s why you’re here! Once you’ve invested in your first waist trainer or corset, prepare to become addicted to wearing it, so it will feel like a natural waist. You will wear it to work, to work out, and even to bed (okay, we’re kidding about that one!). One of the first things of corsetry you’re going to want to do when you get your hands on a brand-new corset is to season it. Before you get elbows deep into our corset seasoning tips and advice, let’s help you get a better understanding of what seasoning is in the first place!
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What Does “Seasoning a Corset” Mean?
First things first, what the heck is “seasoning a corset?” It’s pretty simple to understand. Let’s paint you a picture...
You know when you buy a new pair of shoes, and they look totally ooh-la-la, but when you slip them on for the first time and strut your stuff in them for a few hours, suddenly they start to feel a little less ooh-la-la? For most of us, this is a normal experience. When it happens, you don’t give up on your new pair of shoes, do you? No, you don’t! Instead, you break them in for a bit. What we are referring to here is the fine art of seasoning a new pair of shoes. And it’s much the same when it comes to seasoning a corset before you start to waist train.
Of course, you aren’t about to sling your corset onto your feet for a night of strutting around, but you are going to wear it for several hours a day (as much as 8 hours if you want the best results). It’s a good idea to get it well and truly seasoned (or “broken in”) for periods of time, before you start to wear it full time.
What To Do - How To Season Your Corset or Waist Trainer
Seasoning your first corset or waist trainer is about taking it easy and sidling into the lifestyle instead of jumping in headfirst. Give your body and mind time to adjust to this new way of life, and you will love it. Throw yourself into it, and you won’t have enough time to settle into the process comfortably. You may even give up too soon (nobody wants that!).
There are several things that you can do to break in your corset or waist trainer. Most pros in the business recommend giving it two weeks of seasoning before you start waist training actively. Below are a few ways to season the average waist trainer or corset.
Wear It For a Few Hours
When your waist trainer arrives, you’re probably tempted to rip open the packaging and climb right into it. By now, you will have read that wearing a waist trainer for 8 hours a day is the norm, but you shouldn’t start at that point. Work your way up to 8 hours over two weeks. By the end of the two-week seasoning period, you should be happy to be wearing it for about 6 hours a day.
On your first day (and for the next three days), wear the corset or waist trainer for around 2 hours. Wear it snugly but ensure that it’s not constricting you by checking that you can slip your fingers into the top and bottom. Wear it for 30 minutes, and then pull the corset a little tighter. Repeat this slight tightening process up to 3 times during a session. You can add an hour of wear every couple of days.
Have Something Between You and Your Corset
We know that you and your corset/waist trainer are close! After all, it is quite literally changing your life, but you need to create just a little bit of space between you and it.
It’s an excellent idea to put something between you and your beloved corset or waist trainer. The reality is that wearing a waist trainer can be sweaty work, and when you’re not used to wearing one, friction and general discomfort will be part of your day. Wear something light beneath the corset to create a bit of extra comfort and enhance the seasoning process.
Follow a Seasoning Schedule
If you have the time and it’s convenient, you can make a lot of progress with your seasoning efforts if you can schedule hours to wear your corset or waist trainer each day. For instance, if you have two extra hours in the evening when you get home from work and last wore your corset in the morning, try to sneak in another hour in the evening. Don’t overdo it, but try to use your available time wisely while giving both you and the corset enough of a break in between.
Why Should You Season Your Corset?
Two reasons you need to (note, we said need to, and that means you must) season your corset is:
- It ensures your corset doesn’t get damaged
- It helps your body get used to how it feels before you wear it as intended
These two reasons are reason enough, aren’t they?! But wait, there’s more!
Giving you and your corset time to “get to know each other” allows the fabric to mold to your body shape, and if the corset has steel bones, it gives it time to mold to the right snug shape gradually, instead of forcing it. Allowing the corset to settle into a snug fit makes waist training not just more comfortable but far more effective! That’s a major plus, right?!
How To Know When Your Corset is Properly Seasoned
You’re probably wondering how you know when to stop seasoning and to start waist training with a purpose. The truth is that you will just know when your corset is broken in and ready to go. It’s a feeling - quite literally! Your corset will feel as if it fits snugly without compressing you. It should feel like a firm hug that allows you to breathe comfortably and also corrects your posture (another happy side effect, by the way). Below are a few tell-tale signs of a well-seasoned and ready-to-work corset/waist trainer:
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Hooks and Pins Fit
When a corset or waist trainer is well-seasoned, it seems to know just how to fit onto you. The hooks and pins slip into each other quickly and with ease (something they didn’t do before), and the lacing slides naturally into the catches on the back, making the tightening process feel like a breeze.
No Gaps
When you first get your corset and put it on, you will probably notice that it’s got a few gaps and spaces, especially if there are grommets and along the garment’s top and bottom edges. As you season the corset, those gaps and spaces should naturally start to mold to your unique natural shape, and so they disappear. A well-seasoned corset fits snugly and hugs your skin along the top and bottom edges without digging into it or showing any gaps.
Comfort - No Tenderness
A well-seasoned corset feels comfortable to wear. None of the tenderness that’s often associated with the early days of waist training or corset wearing is there. It’s magic! Wearing your corset or waist trainer now feels right.
Why Luxx Curves Recommends Waist Trainers Instead of Corsets
Let’s talk about the Elephant in the room for a bit: why are we even talking about corsets?
If you know anything about Luxx Curves, you probably know that we don’t go around recommending corsets over waist trainers. We live and breathe waist trainers over here, so it’s safe to say that we first and foremost (and by that we mean only) recommend waist trainers to our lovely clients (that’s you, by the way).
Firstly, we’re talking about corsets, because just like waist trainers, they need to be seasoned before you can get the best out of them. It’s safe to say that the seasoning tips for corsets and waist trainers are relatively interchangeable, so whether you’re wearing a corset or a waist trainer, you can benefit from this article. Let’s look at why we are so consistently shouting, “choose waist trainers over corsets,” from the proverbial rooftops.
Internal Organ Damage
Unfortunately, corsets are incredibly aggressive to the ribcage and can lead to internal organ damage. While most corset wearers probably take better care of themselves nowadays, back in the day when corsets were the norm with brocade fabrics, it wouldn’t be uncommon for women to break ribs, trying to cinch in to get that tiny-waisted look they so desired.
Compared to a waist trainer, a corset has an inflexible design that can cause nerve damage and compress organs. When the abdominal organs are so compressed, it can result in poor digestion and even lead to atrophy of the back muscles.
Waist trainers are far more flexible and only gradually train your body to mold a smaller waist by losing weight and correcting posture.
Breathing Restriction
Unfortunately, women must wear corsets very tightly to get the desired effect. Wearing a corset tight leads to lung constriction, which doesn’t just hinder breathing but can result in the wearer becoming faint and light-headed. Over-constricting your lungs can lead to actual lung damage by making the lower lobes work a lot harder than they should. The damage is caused because a tight corset stops the lower lobes from fully expanding, and so taking a breath becomes a difficult job for the lungs.
Waist trainers don’t present this problem because they are designed to offer flexibility, and any change the body experiences is gradual and gentle.
Corsets Offer Short-Term Rewards
Corsets are considered an undergarment and offer short-term results. Most women buy corsets to wear to specific events and don’t expect the corset to provide a long-term effect. Waist trainers are used for shrinking your waist by helping you lose weight and training your body to mold to a more desired shape. The rewards are more long-term than a corset, and they take time to achieve.
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We help women shed that stubborn belly fat by using body contouring garments that help support and shape the waistline so you can look fabulous and feel confident!
Summary - Everything You Need to Know About Seasoning a Corset
Now you know how and why to season your perfect corset, let’s have a quick recap before you get to work on it. First and foremost, you must season your corset or waist trainer before you attempt to wear it for several straight hours.
Ensure that you only slightly tighten it every 30 minutes while wearing it in the early days. Only wear it for a few hours a day to start with and ensure that you wear something beneath it. Wearing something under your corset enhances your progress and provides added comfort.
Last but not least, choose a waist trainer over a corset. Seasoning a waist trainer is the same as a corset, but a waist trainer is a lot kinder to your health!
My waist training journey started all the way back in 2012. Waist training, fitness, and eating healthy has changed my life. I've lost 50 pounds of belly fat and have reclaimed confidence. My goal is to help you do the same.