Thoughts on Tightlacing

There are many articles on tight lacing. I have been lacing for quite some time now, and here are some of the things I came across. This article is nowhere near finished, but I am working on it.

(disclaimer: these are personal experiences, I do not claim to know what tight lacing will do to yor body. In doubt, visit your doctor)

Starting:

When you start tight lacing you will need a corset. The most important thing in corseting is wearing a custom made corset. I am not just saying this because I make corsets myself. An il fitting corset can cause discomfort.  An ill fitting corset will put pressure on the wrong places, this can make your back ace, and sometimes you can even get bruises by it.
A corset can give you are certain shape. For example I myself am quite large. I prefer to wear a corset that covers the tummy and pulls it in a bit, I prefer a long corset (my under bust corset measures 36 cm down the front) so that also my love handles are locked in place. A thin friend of mine prefers a waist cincher style corset A bit pointed over the tummy but high on the hips. Also I prefer under bust styles, but there an over bust corset can also be quite comfortable when you have a large chest.

A corset should fit well over the ribcage. With tight lacing I personally prefer to constrict the lower ribs also a bit. This way the ribcage will not move inside the corset, keeping it from chafing the skin. However this is a personal choice, if you are not so large, you might want to have more room at the ribs.

Also there are different shapes to achieve with a corset. You may like the style that flattens the tummy and has most of the reduction at the sides. Or you might like a all round chinch, creating an hourglass. Some people like the pipe stem look that gives you a long waist. And if you like Edwardian styles you might want to wear an s-curve corset.

Now that you have gotten yourself a proper corset the lacing can start. One thing to bear in mind is that you will need to take it SLOWLY. You should not close your corset right away. Take the time to break the corset in. Just lace it snugly and adjust every 15 minutes or so. If it hurts, stop. Your body will need time to adjust to the corseted shape. Wear the corset the first day for about an hour; build it up in the coming weeks/months. When you can close your corset, and you want to go smaller, it is time for a new one! Most people prefer to sleep in their old, bigger corset, while wear their new tinyer corset during the day. Sleeping ina corset can be something you will need to get used to. There are tightlacers who do not chinch that far who can get away without sleeping in their corsets, but in order to keep the waist small it is best not to go uncorsetted for longer then one or two hours a day. If you have real trouble sleeping in a long corset, you might want to try a wide belt, or a ribbon corset.
One thing to keep in mind is that because of the constant pressure against your skin, your skin might become dry. Take the time to moisturize you skin with a good body lotion, and ALWAYS wear something under your corset.

Dedication and Discipline.

Tight lacing takes dedication. You will sometimes need to push yourself to wear the corset. It will restrict your movements. You won’t be able to lounge anymore. Sitting is best on a straight backed chair. You will need to adjust your eating patterns. You will most likely eat smaller portions, and you will eat more often. Some things will be more difficult to eat and drink. Frizzy sodas will cause discomfort, meat and beans that create gas will most likely be taken off the menu. 
Some people use tight lacing as a help with losing weight. It can help you with it, because you simply can not eat as much anymore. BUT it is not a miracle worker. You are the only person who is in control of what you eat and drink.

Wardrobe:

Now that is an easy one for me, as I always wear wide skirts and blouses. But if you like your jeans, you will most likely notice that it will fit differently. The corset might add a centimeter or two at the hips (due to the boning and fabric) while the waist is a lot thinner. Most people prefer to wear high waisted jeans and a belt to keep it tight. This all may seem like a lot, but the corseted figure is so beautiful and it is really worth it!
Happy lacing!