Wearing a Corset Upside Down: Why Would You Do It?

There aren’t very many items of clothing you could, or would, wear upside down.  Most clothing isn’t designed to be convertible in this way.

Sure, you might turn a skirt with an elastic waist band into a strapless top in a pinch, but you’re not going to cut a hole in the seat of your sweatpants, poke your arms through the leg holes, and wear this garment as a sweatshirt.

Or at least, you really shouldn’t.

So, when you purchase a corset, you might be surprised to learn that not only CAN you turn it on it’s head, but there are times when it’s advisable.

In fact, corset makers will tell certain customers to do this with their products more often than you might imagine.

When is wearing a corset upside down the right way to go?  Here’s what you should know.

Custom Fit

In a perfect world, we’d all have the disposable income to purchase a closet full of custom corsetry, made to fit our precise dimensions.

In the real world, most of us rock a budget, mm-kay?  This means we have to make the best of off-the-rack options.

In the world of corsets, this generally means buying a garment that nips in at the waist and flares out at the bust and hip, with greater flare at the bottom than the top to create the traditional hourglass shape.

Unfortunately, not every body fits this mold.

While the average woman has more girth at the hip line than under the bust, there are definitely people who skew wider up top than on the bottom.

In this case, the traditional fit of a corset doesn’t apply, and when you try to make it work, you’ll probably end up with your laces all askew, with a wider gap at the top that tapers to a vee at the bottom.

If this is the case, your corset maker will almost certainly recommend flipping your corset upside down to get greater girth at the top, keep your laces straight, and attain the perfect fit for your body.

If you don’t have the dough for a custom fit, this nifty trick can deliver the fit you need on a budget.  It probably goes without saying, but this will only work with underbust corsets.

Who Can Wear a Corset Upside Down?

Wearing a corset upside down obviously isn’t for everyone.

The average woman is bound to have at least slightly greater girth at the hip than under the bust, which is why corsets are designed the way they are.

However, there are definitely ladies who are slimmer through the hips and carry extra girth at the bustline, and for men that are looking to add corsets to their wardrobe, a wider ribcage and narrower hip are common issues.

Anyone who tries on an off-the-rack corset and notices immediately that it feels too tight at the top but has a lot of wiggle room at the bottom should consider flipping the garment for better fit.

It’s a great way to customize a standard corset for your particular needs.

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