How to Choose a Corset

There are so many different corsets and corset-style tops around today, It can be difficult to differentiate and tell which are good value for money. This how-to should help you to know what to look for in a corset and hopefully stop you from getting ripped off.

Steps

• Decide that you want a real corset, not just a bodice, you will need to look at the boning. All good quality modern corsets are made with steel boning of some kind, which serves the purpose of holding the fabric taut and stopping it from going into folds at your waist and bunching at the back where it laces up. The boning in tops and bodices is usually just thin plastic, so don't make the mistake of imagining you will be able to wear a normal boned top as a corset. To test if the boning is good enough, bend it quite sharply and it should spring back. If it kinks, it's a sure sign that it will dig in to your waist and be very uncomfortable.

• It doesn't matter if the boning around the corset is slightly more flexible, as long as the bones at the front and back are fairly rigid.
  
• Realize that an important feature to look for is the fabric. Even if you won't be "tight lacing", you still need a strong fabric like coutil, drill, heavyweight canvas etc. Corsets usually have a fashion fabric and a lining, so you might not be able to see the strong layer but you will be able to feel that it is quite tough. Take it in both hands and yank the fabric - It should feel very sturdy with no give whatsoever. If the fabric is thin enough to scrunch in your hand, it won't be sturdy enough. Incidentally, if the shop assistant thinks you're damaging it - it probably won't be strong enough!
  
• Know that asteel busk is the usual fastening for the front of a corset, and with a very few exceptions it's really the only type of fastener which is strong enough. Normal wire hooks & eyes will not last long, and likewise zips are best avoided. A busk looks like a piece of fairly solid steel boning with loops and studs (a bit like hooks & eyes) attached. If a corset doesn't have a busk, it will need to have some other kind of solid boning down the front.
  
• Know that laces down the back of the corset are usually flat cotton ones, like shoelaces.
  
• Some types of ribbon can be used, but they have to be really strong. Eyelets should be very well attached, otherwise they might pop off. Check that they have washers on the back, rather than just gripping into the fabric. There should also be solid boning either side of the eyelets to distribute the tension.
  
• Realize that style and fit of a corset can be the biggest issue especially if you are an unusual shape. Corsets are always sized by waist measurement, not dress size. The number on the label will be something like "22" "24" "26" etc, which is the actual measurement in inches of the waistline of the corset. You will need one about 4 inches smaller than your own waist, so you can lace in a bit and have a gap in the laces. Corsets are designed to give a curvy figure to an average-shaped person, so if you are already quite curvy, you might need to get a "tight lacing" corset which has bigger hips, or even better yet, get one made-to-measure.
  

Tips

• When buying a corset online, ask what the bust and hip measurements are, so you know if it will suit your figure.
  
• Buy the best you can afford, even if you have no intention of waist training.
  
• If you are an unusual shape, or if you want to start serious waist training, you will probably need to get a corset made-to-measure
  
• Look at how curvy a corset is. You will need one which is curvier than you already are.
  

Warnings

• Corsets are expensive. However, you're not paying for some designer label to line their pockets, you're paying for the actual hours that are put into making it - it's a lot like haute couture fashion.
• The most oft-repeated advice with corsets is that you get what you pay for! Most corsets are at least £100, so if it's only 20 quid it won't last 10 minutes.
  
• Don't buy a (so called) corset from a high street chain store, they're only designed to last for about 3 christmas parties.
  

How to Choose the Right Swimsuit

As summer approaches, the annual search for the perfect swimsuit has already begun for most women. While this search may often seem equally depressing and futile, it is possible to find the perfect swimsuit for your body shape, armed with the right information.

Steps

• Throw out all of your old, ill-fitting swimsuits and start fresh with a renewed vision of your body.


• Look in the mirror and honestly decide what particular body shape you have. There is no shape that you should be ashamed of, and knowing your particular body shape will greatly facilitate your swimsuit search.


• Hit the stores with your shape in mind and look for the following types of swimsuits:


• a) Short torso: If your body is short in proportion to your legs, you will want a swimsuit that gives the impression of litheness. Try a bikini with a halter-top to emphasize the bust and shoulders. Pair this top with bikini bottoms that sit low on the hips.


• b) Long torso: To give the impression of long legs, try a one-piece swimsuit or bikini with high-cut legs. High-cut legs shorten the torso and lengthen the legs.


• c) Pear shape: A pear shape has often been the plague of women, but it no longer needs to be so. To flatter a pear shape, try pairing an eye-catching bikini or tankini top with subdued bottoms in a dark color. This type of swimsuit will draw attention toward your more appealing characteristics.


• d) Large bust: Thankfully for women of all bust sizes, swimsuit designers are now offering one-piece swimsuits and bikini tops with bra-style support. For a large bust, look for a straight across cut at the top of your swimsuit with wide set straps to minimize your bust. Also, be sure to try a bikini top with a hidden underwire for extra support.


• e) Small bust: To add curves and subtle cleavage to a small bust, look for a bikini top with triangle-shaped cups and a tie-front. These features will add shape and the appearance of size to your small bust.


• f) Plus size: In general, you will want to look for swimsuits in darker colors in a plus size, as these colors will have an overall minimizing effect. However, you do not have to rely solely upon black swimsuits. Deep reds and blues will have the same effect and are a bit more appropriate for summer fun. To accentuate curves, look for a fitted swimsuit with a defined waist and a high percentage of Lycra/spandex. A high-cut leg will also slim your legs and hips.


• Check the swimsuits out. After you have chosen a few swimsuits to try on, try to view them in as natural light as possible. Dressing room lights are often harsh and very unflattering.


• Buy what fits well. Overall, you should choose the swimsuit that you feel most comfortable to display around your family and friends. One of the best-kept secrets of sexiness is feeling comfortable within your own skin.
  

Tips

• A lot of swimsuit stores offer helpful information for finding the right swimsuit fit for your body. Be sure to visit a few sites listed in external links


• Always be honest with yourself about your swimsuit fit. If your skin is bulging anywhere, you may need to try a larger size. Bathing suit sizes tend to be very different, and more traditional than most clothing. According to traditional sizing, a girl who is 5'7" and 110 is a size 8.


• Swimsuits tend to enlarge a bit when wet, so make sure that your swimsuit is not already too large when you buy it. You definitely don't want to lose it when you dive into a pool!

How to Measure Your Neck Size and Sleeve Length

Are you planning to buy a dress shirt for yourself or for a male friend? Here is how to measure one's neck size and sleeve length.

Steps

Measuring Neck Size

1. Wrap the measuring tape around the neck, beginning at the Adam's apple.
2. Come fully around the neck, leaving no dangling space in between the neck and the tape.
3. Note the measured number. This is the actual neck size. The dress shirt size will be half an inch bigger. For example, if you measure your neck to be exactly 15 inches around, then your dress shirt size will be 15½.
4. Your neck size should range between about 14 - 19 inches.

Measuring Sleeve Length

1. Have the man that you are measuring stand still, with his arms falling naturally to his sides.
2. Begin at the middle of the upper back, as shown in the picture to the right.
3. Measure the length from the middle of the upper back to the stitching located at the shoulder of the shirt. Remember this value.
4. Measure the length from the top stitching on the shoulder to the bottom of the wrist. Be careful not to measure too high above the wrist, or the dress shirt's sleeves will come out to be too short.
5. Add these two values together to determine your sleeve length. The value should range anywhere from about 32 - 37 inches.

Tips

1. The table above shows an approximation of sleeve lengths to dress shirt sizes. Your sleeve length may be longer or shorter, depending on your height and other factors, such as the natural length of your arms.
2. If you are at a retailer, have a salesperson measure your neck size and sleeve length for you!
3. When trying on a dress shirt, your collar should feel comfortable around your neck, and not tight. You should be able to fit two fingers [one overlapping the other] into the shirt with ease.

Warnings

1. When measuring sleeve length, be careful not to measure too high above or too far below the wrist, otherwise the sleeves will come out to be too short/too long. A good rule of thumb is to measure to the bottom of the small bump in your wrist.

Things You'll Need

1. measuring tape
2. a friend to help out

How to measure your ring size accurately

How do I measure ring size?

This is perhaps the most commonly asked question while shopping for rings online. For this reason, we have an entire section dedicated to guiding you on how to measure your ring size. We feel it is important to state that when purchasing a wedding ring you should be 100% sure that the ring is the right one for you.

*The best way of doing this is to get your finger measured by your local jeweler.

Ring Sizer

In order to print the ring sizer above, be sure that your printer is set to 100%. In other words, make sure that you have not reduced the print size in 'Page Setup'. You can verify that the sizer has printed correctly by measuring it with a ruler; it should measure from left to right: 3 3/8 inches. Once you have printed the sizer, you need to cut it out and then use the following directions to find your ring size: 1. Wrap a piece of loose string around your finger. Be sure to allow for the size of your knuckle. 2. With a pen, mark the point on the string where the end meets. 3. Using the chart, place the end of the string on the left hand line next to the letter "A" and stretch the string along the sizer toward the numbers. 4. The pen mark on your string should line up with a number to indicate your ring size.

Below is a chart of ring sizes to help our international customers figure out how to measure ring sizes.

To determine your ring size, do the following:

• Use a piece of string or dental floss and wrap it around the base of your finger.
• Use a pen to mark the point on the string where the end meets.
• Use a millimeter ruler to measure the string.
• Choose the closest measurement to the chart above to find your ring size.

Tips for best results:

• Allow enough room to accommodate your knuckle.
• Bear in mind, different fingers on the same and the opposite hand may have different sizes. Therefore, measure the specific finger on which you are planning to wear the ring.