• Metal & Silk Brocade Corset With Ribbon Slot Lace Trim, c. 1900s. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    Metal & Silk Brocade Corset With Ribbon Slot Lace Trim

    Metal & Silk Brocade Corset With Ribbon Slot Lace Trim Date: c. 1900s Origin: Unknown Fabric: Silk/metal brocade, baleen Brand: Unknown, likely custom made   This corset was originally an extremely luxurious garment, with fabric and construction details suggesting a wealthy and privileged owner. It is now in very poor condition, and betrays heavy wear.…
  • Structured Cage Bodysuit With Ribbon Lacing By Sparklewren, 2011, UK. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    Structured Cage Bodysuit With Ribbon Lacing By Sparklewren

    Structured Cage Bodysuit With Ribbon Lacing By Sparklewren Date: 2011 Origin: United Kingdom Fabric: Silk brocade and leather Brand: Sparklewren   An early experimental piece from the Sparklewren brand, this bodysuit was inspired by structured 18th c. stays. The heavily boned bustline is cropped at the waist, with a cage style structure forming the leg…
  • Black Star Overbust Corset By Sparklewren, 2018, United Kingdom. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    ‘Black Star’ Overbust Corset By Sparklewren

    Black Star Overbust Corset By Sparklewren Date: 2018 Origin: United Kingdom Fabric: Silk/cotton satin Brand: Sparklewren   This midbust corset is a late Sparklewren creation, and was one of the final corsets created under the brand name before it finally closed its doors. The garment base was stitched in the showroom prior to closure, with…
  • Cyclamen Butterfly Overbust Corset By Sparklewren, 2017, United Kingdom. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    ‘Cyclamen Butterfly’ Overbust Corset By Sparklewren

    Cyclamen Butterfly Overbust Corset By Sparklewren Date: 2017 Origin: United Kingdom Fabric: Silk/cotton satin Brand: Sparklewren   This overbust corset is a late Sparklewren creation, and was one of the final corsets created under the brand name before it finally closed its doors. The garment base was stitched in the showroom prior to closure, with…
  • Silk Duchesse And Chiffon Corsetted Wedding Gown By Karolina Laskowska, 2018, Norway. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice.

    Silk Duchesse And Chiffon Corsetted Wedding Gown By Karolina Laskowska

    Silk Duchesse And Chiffon Corsetted Wedding Gown By Karolina Laskowska Date: 2018 Origin: Norway Fabric: Silk duchesse, silk chiffon, French leavers lace Brand: Karolina Laskowska   An elaborate corset based wedding gown, created by designer Karolina Laskowska for her own nuptial celebrations. The making of this ensemble took in excess of 100 hours. The overbust…
  • 'Thea' Draped Silk Corset By Emiah, 2016, United Kingdom. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    ‘Thea’ Draped Silk Corset By Emiah

    'Thea' Draped Silk Corset By Emiah Date: 2016 Origin: United Kingdom Fabric: Silk duchesse, silk georgette, leavers lace Brand: Emiah   An overbust corset in a cranberry duchesse satin with decadent embellishment. Ombré silk georgette is draped across the bustline, with hand painted lace appliqué and silk chiffon and tulle 'blossoms' adding further textural interest.…
  • Falling Blossoms Underbust Corset By Sparklewren, c. 2015, United Kingdom. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    ‘Falling Blossoms’ Underbust Corset By Sparklewren

    Falling Blossoms Underbust Corset By Sparklewren Date: c. 2015 Origin: United Kingdom Fabric: Silk and lace Brand: Sparklewren   An underbust corset in a single layer of silk duchesse, made in the signature Sparklewren 'Bird's Wing' style, with lapped seams, numerous fine steel bones and single layer construction. It fastens with a front busk closure…
  • Black Water Underbust Corset By Sparklewren, c. 2015, United Kingdom. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice.

    ‘Black Water’ Underbust Corset By Sparklewren

    Black Water Underbust Corset By Sparklewren Date: c. 2015 Origin: United Kingdom Fabric: Cotton coutil and lace Brand: Sparklewren   A dramatically curvy underbust created from black cotton coutil, and profusely embellished with hand stitched lace appliqué. The corset is heavily structured with a mix of spiral and flat steel bones, with each lapped seam…
  • Twig Overbust Corset By Sparklewren, c. 2014, United Kingdom. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography By Tigz Rice.

    ‘Twig’ Overbust Corset By Sparklewren

    Twig Overbust Corset By Sparklewren Date: c. 2014 Origin: United Kingdom Fabric: Cotton coutil, silk lace Brand: Sparklewren   A bespoke corset created for the model Twig, inspired by her namesake. It is created from a single layer of cotton coutil with the diagonal seaming style a reference to experimental early 20th c. corsetry styles.…
  • Falling Blossoms Overbust Corset By Sparklewren, c. 2015, United Kingdom. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    ‘Falling Blossoms’ Overbust Corset By Sparklewren

    Falling Blossoms Overbust Corset By Sparklewren Date: c. 2015 Origin: United Kingdom Fabric: Silk and cotton lace Brand: Sparklewren   The 'Falling Blossoms' corset began life as the 'Rose Gold' corset, an unembellished style first stitched in 2014, inspired by early 20th c. historical corset styles. It is created from a single layer of silk/cotton…
  • Tjarn Silk & Lace Appliqué Underbust Corset By Sparklewren, 2014, United Kingdom. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    ‘Tjarn’ Silk & Lace Appliqué Underbust Corset By Sparklewren

    Tjarn Silk & Lace Appliqué Underbust Corset By Sparklewren Date: 2014 Origin: United Kingdom Fabric: Silk, cotton, leavers lace Brand: Sparklewren   A bespoke creation for Elle Mosbach, named for the Swedish word 'Tjärn', after the deep bodies of water that inspired the dark and textured embellishment. Further inspiration was drawn from Scandinavian fairytales and…