Steampunk Glinda the Good Witch: corset

Normally I prefer to make my own corsets, since they always fit better if they are made specifically to your measurements and bespoke corsets out of my price range.  However, for this outfit, I needed to get the corset done quickly and did not have a pattern than fit the bill. So I bought one cheaply from Corset Story.  Their waist taming corset line allows a 5 inch reduction and are reasonably comfortable.  The one I bought was a white satin one intended for weddings, but I really wanted pink.

The corset satin is polyester, but with the new Idye poly dyes I figured I could get at least a light pink from the white satin.  I did not have a pot big enough to keep the heat high (as per the dye instructions) so I boiled the dye and then poured it into a plastic tub and dropped the corset into the heated dye.  Since the corset would not be in hot dye for the required time,  I bought fuschia dye and hoped for the best. I then swished the corset in the dye until it cooled (about 10 minutes) and rinsed it out with cold water.  The inside of the corset was cotton and turned the same fuschia as advertised.  The outside of the corset turned a pale pink, basically the color of my pointe shoes as a girl. The corset lace did not dye at all evenly, so I bought gross grain ribbon and replaced the lacing. Interestingly, the corset is pretty color fast.  I have worn this corset and danced in it for several hours and it doesn't transfer on to me or onto my white corset liner. 

Once the corset was dyed, I stitched gears all over it and then attacked the corset with rhinestones for bling and little pink skull studs.  I decided to use hot fix stones, which do not recommend...... For one, any small slip with the heated tool melted the polyester satin and there are several burn marks from this. Second, not all of the stones adhered well, so I have to re-glue some of the stones periodically. Third, the tool would periodically get too hot and I would have to stop to cool it down or risk burning my fingers just holding the tool.  Use of E6000 like on the crown would have been better.

However, I am happy with the shiny results.