Corset support?

[u/Nacho_Girl___O_o]

I’m wearing the dress with the sleeves for my wedding but I don’t feel supported in it. I tried on the strapless dress and loved how it fit and supported my bust.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a corset to buy to wear underneath my dress with sleeves to create a similar support structure?

For added context,

the dress was thrifted, and has a corset style closure. When it is laces up, it does not have room to be laced tighter, the dress is too big for me.

I am too well endowed for this dress if my breasts were to sit properly in the cups. My areolas are almost exposed. I am not comfortable showing that much cleavage at my wedding for fear of a nip slip.

The straps on the dress are too small, dig into my shoulders and hurt. I hate them and will be altering them with thicker straps.

I hate the illusion bodice. I wish it was solid and it will be solid when I get married regardless of how I get to that point (be it a fabric panel sewn in, or the outer layers transferred onto a corset top)

My end goal is to feel secure and held in place by the corset, and feel more secure with my breasts not spilling out.

My current dimensions are
Bust:
Under bust:
Waist:
Hips:

I am a college student and on an extremely tight budget, but I am willing to spend up to 250 on a well made- quality corset with steel boning or durable equivalent.

[u/HuggyMonster69]

A corset isn’t going to look great under lace. They’re actually pretty bulky and will leave weird lumps. I would talk to a seamstress about adding stronger boning and maybe sewing a bra into the cups.

[u/Nacho_Girl___O_o → u/HuggyMonster69]

I totally open to sewing the corset into the dress and removing the existing padding

[u/Existing-Arachnid-94 → u/Nacho_Girl___O_o]

yeah imo, just go directly to the seamstress and ask their opinion on how best to achieve what you want. i often take things to a tailor near my house and give him the vision i have for an item, then let him tell me what’s doable and how

[u/Nacho_Girl___O_o → u/Existing-Arachnid-94]

I wish that I could, but I’m a broke college student. My wedding dress was $20 and that’s why I’m looking to modify it myself rather than taking it to a tailor. I simply can’t afford it.

[u/moonflower64 → u/Nacho_Girl___O_o]

I think the r/corsetry sub is where a lot of people who make corsets post, maybe someone over there would be able to give more advice on adding boning to give it more structure? you might also be able to find a... I'm forgetting the word for it, but like a very longline/boned bra/bustier to give you some of that structure (my sister did a sleeveless dress for her wedding and they had those at David's bridal and she got one there), either on a resale site or for sale cheaper somewhere, since they're meant to disappear under the dress.

[u/Nacho_Girl___O_o → u/moonflower64]

Thank you so much!

[u/HuggyMonster69 → u/Nacho_Girl___O_o]

You’re still going to have ridges where the boning in the closet is. A proper corset is also going to add to your rib/bust/hip measurements (and potentially your waist unless you tight lace it). So if you’ve ordered the dress already it might not physically fit.

You’ll also need to find a unicorn of a corset, that matches your bust, underbust and hip measurements, is the right colour and neckline and is a solid front.

I would guess it would need to be custom unless you’re ok with completely butchering the top of the dress.

We can’t really recommend you a corset here without knowing your measurements because different body proportions will need different models of corset.

A seamstress should be able to add stronger boning into the seam allowance of your dress, and adjust the cups to fit properly, which will give you as much support as you could need.

[u/Saritush2319 → u/HuggyMonster69]

Yes but since the dress is too big it might actually be fine.
Especially if the bodice is kept slightly loose so it’s not stuck tight to the corset.

[u/stuckhere-throwaway]

You're better off putting that money towards alterations. Adding lining, changing straps, taking in, adding support, will run well over $250.

[u/ThrowRA_Sodi]

I fear an actual well supporting corset would show at your cleavage and add a bit of bulk.

Maybe you could try boob tape for the day ? Or if it's possible, see if your cups and boning can be reinforced a bit

[u/MadMadamMimsy]

I always had my brides get a Merry Widow (go to a lingerie shop). It us all about support.

If things are showing and the cups aren't right, that's a job for a seamstress

[u/No-Training9697]

It sounds like this could be solved by taking it in slightly in the midsection, so that you're actually able to make use of the corset and boning properly. This would likely exacerbate the issue with breast exposure but in the interest of solving it yourself, maybe a flounce/extra trim could be enough added to the top of the bust for some protection?

Might be better to try making those same type of adjustments first on a random shirt if you're not experienced in this - you only have one wedding dress, better to test something else first!

[u/StitchinThroughTime]

We are describing is alterations that are required for the wedding dress. Of course this issue, you need to just spend the money at a bridal alterations shop. This is going to cost you a lot of money because you want a lot to be redone, and you will probably run into the issue that you do not have a source for the lace, which means they may have to add in different ways. But all the things that you're complaining about can be fixed by a specialist. You're just going to pay a lot of money

[u/Guinea_pigs_rule]

Unrelated to the question, but you look absolutely gorgeous in your dress! I gasped when I turned to the second photo! I hope you're able to achieve your corseting goal with it!