Antique Circus - Part II

Part two of the circus series. I made all parts of this costume, except the black beaded top (provided by my client). I did alter the top to make it fit better under the corset, and I used parts of it to make the neck piece.

The bustle is silver silk dupioni, with a velcro waist closure (so the wearer can easily put it on/take it off). The bloomers are silver satin. The waist and legs are elasticized, but the ribbons are also functional so that they're actually multi-size. The arm pieces are black stretchy mesh. The burgundy arm "garters" are also elasticized so they can be worn at the bicep, elbow, or wrist. The top hat is covered in burgundy silk dupioni.

The corset is a "costume quality" corset. While it's still constructed of 4 layers of fabric, and still shown the same amount of meticulous detail shown to a standard corset, it is made a little differently. For starters, there is only steel boning at the front and back. There's plastic boning in the sides, so that the wearer can move and bend in it. It has a (hidden) zipper front closure, and a sewn-in stretchy modesty panel at the back. It has only a very slight waist reduction. It functions as a corset, but is mostly for show. It will stand up to repeated wearings, but would not be suitable for any substantial waist-reduction or waist-training.