My buttocks have lips ..

[liadethornegge]

.. and sometimes they speak using my voice.

I have always been sceptical of people telling me they can lace themselves into their own back-laced corsets. Well, obviously, I'm a giant idiot and I don't know what I'm talking about, as proved by the ever lovely Marie-Chantal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCvg67rAZcc

It just seemed so wasteful using a 3 metre lace when the shortest possible one will do. Of course, that just goes to show you that I am what we Swedes call "dum-snål". In other words, too miserly for my own good. Maybe this would be helped by me knowing how to make my own laces to whatever length I desired.

Also, I change my mind about photography, light and court. Again, giant talking backside. I am woman - watch me flip on the head of a pin.

Comments

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is possible to lace on self into a back lacing corset. It is however more difficult if the corset is tighter than hers was on the video, if it's not meant to close all the way (harder to get the edges even) and if it's boned with something stiffer than hemp cord (her corset appeared to be boned with cord on the video). A firmly laced, fully boned corset does restrict your movements.
I used to do it before, when hubby wasn't around, but since breasts can be compressed a lot, a rib cage almost not at all and the diaphragma less then boobies I often ended up with a corset with an opening in the back like an inverted V and totally squished breasts.
A back laced GFD is another matter totallya nd pretty easy to lace closed.

/Eva

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

IMHO, it's not about whether or not we can, it's about evidence that anybody actually ever did in the 14th or 15th centuries. Are there any images with back lacing? Any textual descriptions? Extant garments? Why would they back lace when front lacing is perfectly acceptable? There is plenty of evidence of front and side lacing, so why do we need to look for another solution?

I know the old argument about the dresses with no visible closure in the front. Aside from the evidence of invisible lacing, I noticed that the dress she used as an example was rather loose. I could easily get into that dress without any lacing whatsoever.

Well, there's my opinion for you. :-) I'd gladly revise it if someone were to show me some concrete evidence for backlacing.

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

It does restrict movement, but without shoulderstraps I can see the arms still being free to move in the appropriate manner. Maybe not as much with an effigy style corset, but then one can untie the shoulder-bit for getting into it, and knot it safely on afterwards. But, yes, it's the evenness of tension that has had me sceptical so far.

Marie wrote about the corset though, that it is too small for her and made for someone else, so I think it's fairly tight.

I'd rather take help lacing myself up, since it is readily available most of the time - but I've seen it can be done on your own now :)

making laces

[cantarella.livejournal.com]

Here's the technique I use to make my own laces. It is very simple and you can work directly from the yarn skeins, no need to measure and cut the yarn first.
This technique gives you elastic laces, fantastic for lacing up gowns.
I used it on my belt bag (http://www.cantarella.ch/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/almosenbeutel4.jpg) too, for the "handle" and the closing laces.
The tutorial (http://berg.heim.at/tibet/452039/anleitungfingerhaekeln.pdf) is in German, I can translate it for you if you're interested.

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

Well, I was only speaking to the corset issue here. I too feel more comfortable with a front-laced GFD, as there is proof positive of that configuration. Anything can, of course, be proven with the statement "you can't prove they did not" plus a demonstration of the feasability, but it is not as good a documentation as what is already available.

I've seen some images with a side-laced GFD looking thing, I think I'd be willing to try that first. It is still easier to do yourself up with front or side-lacing than back. Before that, though, I may need to try shortening my laces. It doesn't need to go down to crotch level *eyeroll at self*

Re: making laces

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I recognize that technique!

*goes searching*

Yes! It was Racaire who did a photo documentation of the same thing; fingerloop braiding (http://racaire.blogspot.com/2006/02/very-easy-fingerloop-technique.html). I'd forgotten about that, thanks for the reminder :)

Re: making laces

[cantarella.livejournal.com]

Oh, Racaires tutorial is even better! I am going to save that link in case I need to explain fingerloop braiding to someone online. :-)

Btw, thanks a lot for the links to the wool fabric online shops. I'll see if I order from one of them, most likely the first one (Handelsgillet I think?) as I just found out that this one is also listed on the 15th century reenactment group www.companie-of-st-george.ch (www.companie-of-st-george.ch)'s link list.

Re: making laces

[cantarella.livejournal.com]

Errr, that link doesn't work... let's try again. The Company of Saynt George (http://www.companie-of-st-george.ch)

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

*Rereads* Ah, I see.

Unfortunately, "you can't prove that they didn't" isn't proof at all, but means that logically the positive must be proven, not the negative. That is to say, since you can't logically prove a negative, then the burden of proof is on the positive.

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

I think I got myself tangled up in my reply. Anyway, what I meant to say was exactly as you describe here :)

Can't prove a negative, and anything can be "proved" with it.

I think prove has now lost all it's meaning, I've said it so many times. Prove, Proved, proved. Prove. How do you even pronounce it? prooove, p + rove. proove+ed. P+roved? Ahahahahaha...

[mc-cadieux.livejournal.com]

Actualy, you don't need to have a cord as long as mine. I like to have it this long to be able to sometimes step-in the corset (not to undo the hair) instead of passing it over the head. My old cord was nearly a meter shorter, just enough opening to be able to squeeze myself through.

I'm glad that you've enjoyed the video :)

[mc-cadieux.livejournal.com]

Yep, the gown is way too big for me, but that's totaly beside the point.

As I said on MedCos, I have absolutely nothing to prove or disprove to anyone. And any theory on "was there" or "was there not" indeed back lacing in the middle ages is a just a theory. I personaly believe that it was done but I repect those who say that it wasn't. What I don't repect however, is people making claims based on modern beliefs and silly clichés.

I was mearly showing someone who claims high and loud that "this can't be done" that it's in fact so feasible that it's laughable. So *if* peasants, middle-classes or even nobility weren't using back lacing in the middle ages, it certainly isn't because they didn't have servants. That's the only point I was trying to make, no more, no less.

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

OMG, I do that too!

Door. Door. Door door door. What does it mean? How do you say it?

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

Ok, I get ya!