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FAQs

Frequently asked questions

We are located in the lush green forests of the Pacific Northwest in the city of Portland, Oregon.

At this time, we do not have a physical location or a store front of any kind, since we are still a very small business. Maybe one day!

At this time, we do not have a physical location or a store front of any kind, since we are still a very small business. Because of this, we do not offer any in person fittings or try-ons. Maybe one day!

All “Made-to-Order” and custom items are handmade in our studio.

Some clothing, jewelry, and other accessories are made with the help of manufacturing facilities, in an effort to provide a range of items that are more affordable to you.

Please check the details under each item individually for more information about where it was made. Items that are manufactured outside of our studio will be indicated as such.

Depending on which item you purchase, the time it takes to fulfill your order may vary.

Please check out our Shipping and Returns page for more information about how long your item will take to ship.

Custom and Made to Order Items:

Our handmade items take time to make, since we are making these items just for you! Please check out our current Processing Times for our made to items here.

Please review our complete Return Policy here.

Yes! We offer plus sizes on a number of items, and are working on expanding our size range on other items. Additionally, any of our Made to Order items can be made in any size.

We offer some customizations on our made to order items. Check out our Custom Requests page to see what we can do!

Synthetic whalebone is a plastic boning made to mimic the qualities of whalebone or baleen, which was historically used in corsets for hundreds of years. Steel boning is made of steel and is commonly used in corsets today.

There is a common misconception that steel boning is better than plastic or synthetic whalebone boning for use in corsets. We prefer using synthetic whalebone over steel boning because whalebone is lighter, more flexible, and actually molds to the shape of the body over time as it is warmed by body heat. Steel boning is heavier, stiffer, and will never change shape to adjust to your body over time.

Yes, we ship worldwide!

Please note that your items may be subject to duties or import taxes depending on your country.

If you live in a country where your postal system is not reliable, we recommend you do not select the cheapest shipping option. If you select the a more expensive option, your package will be sent with Fedex, a more reliable courier for international orders.

We do not recommend purchasing reversible stays for several reasons:

1. The boning used in our corsets (synthetic whalebone) has the natural characteristic of molding to the shape of your body over time. That means that as you wear your corset more, it will become more and more comfortable as it adjusts to the shape of your body. If you wore the corset inside out, it would not only reverse that process, but likely become more uncomfortable for you to wear until the boning re-adjusted to your shape.

2. Many of the fabrics we use on the outside of our corsets/stays are delicate, like silks and brocades. Wearing these fabrics next to your body would cause excess rubbing to the fabric surface. This, combined with the addition of your body’s oils and sweat will cause damage to the fabric over time. Our corsets/stays are lined with cotton canvas, which is more durable than the outer fabrics we typically use, and is a reliable lining fabric for protecting your corset. If you would still like to have your corset or stays reversible, you can request it for an extra fee by sending us an email.

The main differences between corsets and stays are the era from which they originated, and the silhouette they create.

Corsets extend past the waist and over the hips, creating the curvy, hourglass shape of the Victorian era, and the S-curve shape of the Edwardian era. 

Stays typically end at the waist around the sides and back, with variations on how much the waistline curves down in the front. Stays create a triangular shape, which is more common of Renaissance, Elizabethan, 17th and 18th century silhouettes.

While both corsets and stays are traditionally a type of undergarment and were never worn above the clothing, bodices were a stiff outer jacket-like garment that were worn over corsets or stays. In the technical sense, everything we make at French Meadows would be considered a bodice, as it is meant to be worn over clothing as a fashion item, not necessarily as an undergarment (though it does function as both).

You will see throughout our site that we use the terms corset, stays, and bodice somehwhat interchangeably. That’s because most people are familiar with the term corset and aren’t aware of the differences in terminology. As corsets and stays become more popular in the modern era, the term “corset” is being adapted as more of a blanket term for all of these variations of silhouettes.

Our corsets are not medical corsets and should be used only for fashion and costuming purposes.

We offer a lot of different styles of corsets, and by doing so, we believe we have something for everybody! Check out our Corset Style Guide for an in-depth look at the different styles we offer and which one will work best for you.

Our corsets are not medical corsets and should be used only for fashion and costuming purposes.

Regular corsets are made of stiff materials and often show hard lines underneath t-shirts, so the best option for wearing a corset under your clothes is an underbust corset. An underbust corset covers the area from just under the bust to the hips. It allows you to wear your own bra and provides waist shaping without adding too much bulk to the upper body. This style is often easier to conceal under a T-shirt since it does not come up over the bust. If you want to wear a corset that is more like a regular bra, most modern clothes are too thin to conceal the hard lines of the corset. If this won't bother you, or if you plan on wearing thicker layers on top like a sweater, our midbust corset style is the best choice. It provides great back support as well as bust support and removes the need for wearing a regular bra.

For more information about the different types of corsets we offer, visit our Corset Style Guide.

Not sure how to properly lace a corset? Check out our step by step guide.