Wedding Gowns & Bridal Fashion

The corset dates back to inhabitants of a Greek island in 2000 BC. In the thousands of years since, corsets have changed based on cultures and trends, and are now worn for reasons from comfort to fashion.

“It just depends on what you want,” said Robin Richardson, who last month opened Ivy’s Custom Corsetry in Royal Oak.

“I custom-make corsets for whatever reason a person would want a corset for,” she said. “My corsets are Victorian and Edwardian styles, which is what gives you a real hourglass curve.”

Richardson does all the work on each corset she makes. First she takes measurements, creates a mock-up, has the client try on the mock-up and makes final adjustments.

Each corset contains three to four layers of fabric, and Richardson stocks a variety of materials, including raw silk from India, Chinese brocade, satins and PVC.

Just as the purpose for corsets has changed, so has some of the material used in them. Instead of whale bones and feathers, Richardson uses stainless steel for the boning.

Richardson has been making fashion professionally for over 20 years and began making corsets in 1997. “I thought they were cool. I thought they were fun,” she said.

Her cozy store contains photos of women wearing corsets, from vintage images of corsets used as undergarments to modern images of corsets as fashion pieces.

Richardson, who has female and male customers, said some people use corsets to improve their posture, pick one up to wear when going out or use under or as part of a bridal gown. Corsets are also used in tightlacing, a regimen of wearing a corset for up to 23 hours a day, seven days a week to reduce waist size. “And some people just wear them for fun,” she said, pointing out her red corset she was wearing.

Nancy Gage of Berkley was at Ivy’s with her friends Eleni Currie of Birmingham and Sylvia Scott of Detroit to try on mock-ups. Gage said they came to the store on a whim in July and all decided to pick up corsets.

“It’s being ultra-feminine,” she said. “It’s kind of sexy. There’s a risque feeling to it … we’re going to become sexy, mature women.” Currie liked the individual attention given to each of them as well as the choices available. “That’s the other thing that’s so wonderful, you personalize it if you like,” she said.

Name: Ivy’s Custom Corsetry
Owner: Robin Richardson
Address: 208 W. 11 Mile, Royal Oak
Phone: (248) 298-0954
Web site: www.ivyscustomcorsetry.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
Opened: July 2007
Products: Custom corsets and skirts

Source: Hometown life