Steel Boning Upgrade

What is the difference between synthetic whalebone and steel boning?

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. It was first used in corsets during the Victorian era, when the Industrial Revolution made steel a less expensive alternative to whalebone. Now that synthetic whalebone has become readily available, many costume historians prefer it over steel.

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. That being said, if you prefer steel boning anyway, this listing is for you :)

This listing upgrades any standard corset to steel boning. This item must be purchased in addition to a made-to-order corset.

If you are purchasing tudor stays or 18th century stays, you must select the "tudor stays" option at checkout, as these styles have a lot more boning than all other corsets.

Please note that we use a combination of 1/4" and 1/2" wide boning, depending on what is appropriate for the style of corset you selected. Order the boning upgrade will delay the production of your corset beyond our standard processing time, and orders with this upgrade are not eligible for rush orders. We must custom order the boning in pre-cut lengths, and therefore the time it takes to make these orders will be longer than our usual timeframe.