Corset Durability 101: How Long Does a Corset Last?

Featured corset: Bella Pink Satin Corset

There are some things you can count on to last a lifetime, like a slate roof, a cast iron skillet, a Swiss Army Knife, perhaps even Twinkies. Most things, however, don’t come with a lifetime warranty because manufacturers know they’ll eventually wear with use.

Although buying a quality corset is certainly an investment, especially if you’re waist training and wearing it every day, it will not last forever. You won’t enjoy unlimited corset durability from one purchase.

Still, if you’re dropping a healthy sum on a corset, you want to make sure you get the greatest value from your purchase. How long can you expect a corset to last? What can you do to ensure the greatest return for your investment?

General Corset Durability

Generally speaking, you should expect a quality corset to last a couple of years with daily wear. If you’re just starting out with waist training, chances are you’ll size out of it before you wear it out, but if you’ve reached your goal measurements and are simply maintaining, you’ll want to watch for signs of wear. This can take the form of noticeable reduced compression, tears in fabric, or discomfort during wear.

A good rule of thumb is to expect roughly 10,000 hours of wear from a corset—a quality corset, mind you. However, this estimate depends on factors like the fabric, style, lace tightness, and more. With 12 hours of wear each day, you can reasonably expect around 800 days of use, or just over two years. Of course, less wear means less tear, so if you only don a corset occasionally and take good care of it, it could presumably last for decades.

Buy the Right Size and Style Corset

One of the biggest mistakes consumers make when buying corsets is purchasing the wrong size and/or style for their body. This can not only impact comfort during wear, but damage your garment prematurely.

If you want to get the best use out of this investment garment, make sure to measure with precision and follow guidelines for ordering suitable styles for your body type. For example, you should probably steer clear of longline corsets if you have a shorter torso, and you’ll want to match the spring to the relative curviness of your figure.

You wouldn’t squeeze your feet into shoes two sizes too small or wear a dress that trips you because it’s six inches longer than your legs. When you choose the right size and style of corset, you’ll enjoy comfort, confidence, effective waist training, and the greatest possible corset durability.

P.S. Need help finding the right corset size and style? Email [email protected] and we can help!

Rotate Corsets

While you can wear the same corset daily until it starts to fall apart, you might want to make your favorites last longer. The best way to do this is to purchase several corsets and rotate them.

This way, you’ll give them time to breathe. With 5-7 corsets (or more) in your closet, you’ll not only extend their usable life, but enjoy a range of options to go with any ensemble.

Proper Corset Wear

Your main goal in wearing a corset is probably to achieve desired shaping, although another common goal is, of course, semi-permanent waist reduction. You might think wearing a corset properly is as easy as sliding into it and tightening up the laces, but there’s a little more to it.

There are a few things you can do to prolong the usable life of your corset. First, don’t rely on the busks to get your corset on and off. Unless it’s an emergency, always loosen the laces. Also, don’t over-tighten the corset. This can not only be dangerous for you, but also for the material. If you are a seasoned tightlacer, you are capable of assessing the risks and making an informed decision on how tight the corset should be.

The clothing you wear can make a difference as well. Wearing something between your corset and your skin, like a camisole or undershirt, can help to reduce the amount of oil and sweat your corset is exposed to. Since these fluids contribute to fabric breakdown over time, limiting exposure could extend the life of your corset.

You should also try to avoid tight clothing that could abrade your corset. If the waistband of your jeans covers the bottom edge of your corset, for example, the friction produced when you move could damage your corset over time.

Proper Corset Care

With proper care, your corset has the best chance to last as long as possible. Ideally, you should take your corsets to a dry cleaner, but this can get expensive.

Instead, simply air out your corset after wear and spot clean with a mild detergent as needed. Take it for a dry clean only if it really needs it, and never put it in a washing machine or dryer. Store corsets flat, preferably not folded; or hanging by their laces, draped over a hanger.

How to Recoup Some Cost on Your Old Corsets

With a long-term waist training regimen and/or actual weight loss, you may eventually find that you need to size down to a smaller corset. The good news is that you can offset the cost of your new purchase by selling your old corsets, provided you’ve taken good care of them.

Many women offer “gently used” corsets through marketplaces like Ebay, Poshmark, or ThredUP, or you could join a Facebook group dedicated to selling and trading clothes. This is a great way to not only get the most out of your corsets, but recoup some money to put toward your next purchase.

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