Frequently Asked Questions

Order Questions

We typically ship most orders within 1-3 business days, although this can fluctuate around sales, holidays, and employee needs. We're a small team and may need a little extra time to get your order out the door.

Shipping time varies depending on the shipping speed you choose at checkout. Shipping times are in addition to processing times. Here are average shipping times for each mail class. Keep in mind these are just estimates and sometimes shipping can take longer:

Domestic

-Economy/USPS Ground: 3-7 business days

-Priority Mail: 2-4 business days

-Priority Mail Express: 1-2 business days

International (transit times can increase due to customs delays)

- First Class International: 3-7 weeks

-Priority Mail International: 6-10 days

-Priority Mail Express International: 3-5 days

If you are in a rush to receive your item, we recommend upgrading your shipping speed at checkout. Please keep in mind that standard shipping will take longer around federal holidays and sales.

We understand that sometimes things don't work out! We happily accept returns on items that are unworn, unused, and undamaged. Items must be shipped back within 14 days of original delivery date (as marked by your tracking information). All returns are subject to a 5% restocking fee, and original shipping costs will not be refunded. You must include your order number or packing slip so that we can identify your order. Please allow us up to 14 business days to process your return after receiving it. Orders returned outside of our 14 day return window will be not be refunded, but can be sent back at the buyer’s expense.

To begin the return process, select your order number under your Order History when signed into your account, and select "Request Return" to get started.

We are not able to process exchanges. The best way to exchange an item is to return it and purchase a new item.

We ship worldwide! Costs and speed for shipping will depend on your location. You can calculate shipping costs by going through the checkout process before placing your order. 

Please be aware that choosing the cheapest shipping option will subject your package to your country's postal system. If your country does not have a reliable postal system, we recommend selecting an upgraded shipping speed, so your package can be shipped with FedEx. Economy shipping is subject to long shipping times and customs delays.

International parcels may be subject to import duties/fees depending on your country’s laws. The buyer is responsible for all duties and fees. If you refuse the shipment or are unable to receive it, French Meadows is not responsible for any return shipping fees, and the responsibility to reship the item is with the buyer. Items that are sent back to us will not be refunded.

Our studio is located in the sunny hills of Sebastopol, California. We have a small office located on our property where we design, package, and ship all orders from.

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

To begin the return process, select your order number under your Order History when signed into your account, and select "Request Return" to get started.

We are not able to process exchanges. The best way to exchange an item is to return it and purchase a new item.

If your order has not shipped yet, we may still be able to cancel your order. Please contact us ASAP through our contact form and we'll see if we can help. Please note that our shipping notification emails are on a 3 hour delay, so your package may have already shipped even if you have not received a notification for it yet.

If you need to change your shipping address, please send us a message through our contact form ASAP. If your order has not been processed yet, we may still be able to change it.

We try to check emails before we ship orders, but sometimes an email gets missed, or it's not possible due to email/order volume.

Once your package has shipped, we are not able to change the address.

If you purchased shipping insurance -- please fill out our contact form and we can assist you with your claim. You must contact us within 21 days of your package's ship date. Claims made after this time will not be honored.

If you did not purchase shipping insurance -- Please check your tracking number for more information. We do not have any more tracking information about your package than you do. We are not responsible for packages that are lost or stolen, whether that be due to a postal service error, incorrect shipping addresses, missing apartment/unit numbers, or theft. Please be sure you are shipping your package to a safe address. We strongly recommend purchasing insurance and ensuring your package is being delivered to a secure location. If you shipped your package with Priority Mail or a higher shipping upgrade, you may be able to file a claim with USPS.

If your package is marked as delivered but you haven't received it, here are some steps you can take:

  1. Wait a week. In most cases, packages are simply marked as delivered prematurely. Sometimes postal workers will mark items as delivered before actually dropping them off. In these cases, it should arrive in the next few business days.
  2. Check with your neighbors, especially if you live in an apartment complex, as packages are occasionally delivered to the wrong address.
  3. Visit your local post office to see if they’re holding your package. They may have it on hold for you, or they may be able to look up more detailed tracking information about it.

Product Questions

We've recently made the difficult decision to discontinue our line of handmade items so that we can focus more on bringing you new designs to fall in love with. While we're not sure at the moment if our handmade items will return, we can assure you that the same love and care is put into every one of our designs.

French Meadows proudly offered handmade and custom fit items for the first 7 years of our business, but we're taking a break for now. Instead, we focus on making our designs as adjustable and flexible as possible, so that you can still expect the same great fit from any of our ready-made items.

If an item is out of stock, we may or may not be restocking it. Sometimes we restock an item within a few months, other times it may wait until next year, or it may be a limited edition item and not come back at all.

Yes! We offer plus sizes on a number of items, and are working on expanding our size range on other items. If there is a particular item you're interested in and it's not available in your size, please let us know! Your feedback helps us determine which products to develop.

Questions About Corsets

Corset sizing can be kind of tricky, so we totally get it! To figure out your size, check out the size chart included on the product you're interested in. If you want an extra tight corset or are used to corset wearing, you may be comfortable sizing up to 2 sizes down from your usual size. Read our Sizing Guide for more info.

If you need more specific help with picking a size, contact us with your bust and waist measurement (not bra size!), and we can point you in the right direction.

If you're planning to lose weight, we recommend waiting to order a corset until you've reached your desired size. Corsets are designed to fit your current measurements, and it's difficult to predict what size will suit you after weight loss. To ensure the best fit and comfort, it's best to measure yourself once you've achieved your target weight.

Depending on how much weight you plan to lose, you could play it safe and order a corset one size down from your recommended size. Most of our corsets come with ample adjustability and coverage at the lacing gaps, so even if the corset doesn't close all the way or fit quite as intended, you may still be able to make it work. However, as stated before, we recommended waiting until you've reached your goal weight to get the best fit.

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.

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

We use synthetic whalebone in our corsets. It is a durable, lightweight, and flexible material that provides excellent support while remaining comfortable to wear. It is not the same as the cheap boning you will find in cocktail dresses or gowns. It's specially designed to mimic the qualities of whalebone, which was used in corsets for centuries.

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.