Monday 30 April 2012

What Katie Did in Asiana Wedding Magazine

It's a first time press appearance for What Katie Did's Lalique Velvet Laurie corset which has been featured in the Spring edition of Asiana Wedding magazine.

Asiana Wedding

Thursday 26 April 2012




What Katie Did's SS12 collection was launched in early March and we couldn't resist putting together a little event to show the new ranges. Mam'zelle Maz was in charge of keeping all the models in check (no mean feat!) whilst Anthony Ratcliffe was on hand to film the proceedings ensuring that even if you couldn't make it to our London boutique you wouldn't miss out on the action.

Of course, most of the items are now available online and instore but we did hold a couple of goodies back. Keep a close eye out for our Hollywood Camiknicker and red Jubilee lingerie which will be launched on 1st May.

Thursday 19 April 2012

What Katie Did Guide To Corsets

There is a lot of intrigue concerning steel boned corsets and what they do to your body. As corset designer for What Katie Did I have nearly 20 years experience in fitting and designing corsets and whether you're thinking about trying one, or would like to learn a little more about them, you're in the right place!

Corsets for Fashion

At What Katie Did we class a 'fashion corset wearer' as someone who wears a corset for an evening out once a month, right up to someone who wears one nearly every day. This kind of wear is what our corsets are designed for.

What Katie Did Sophia Corset

Above: What Katie Did Sophia Corset. Our most popular overbust style. It's gentle curve to the waist is ideal for first time wearers, but curvy enough to give a great hourglass shape.

The 'Dita Von Teese' Corset Shape

If you are looking at trying a corset for the first time, please remember that your current figure will effect the outcome. Whilst you might think that Dita Von Teese has the most famous trained waist in the world today - it isn't really trained at all, and Dita is the first to admit it!

Dita is in the enviable position of having a classic hourglass figure with an unnaturally small waist. She also has access to the finest bespoke corsetiers in the world and if you look closely you'll see that the majority of the waist reduction is confined to a small section around her waist. This allows her waist to be clearly defined without undue pressure on her ribs enabling her to wear a corset with dramatic results, whilst not waist training.

To achieve similar results to Dita when wearing a steel boned corset you will need to have, what we call, a Vintage Figure: one where the waist is a good 10 inches (or more) smaller than the hips. Figures like this do exist but they are becoming less common. I have a friend who is lucky enough to have an extreme vintage figure: 19" waist, 35" hips. She wears a 17" corset daily which, although looks extreme, really isn't much of a reduction. If you have a more modern figure (with a waist less than 10 inches smaller than the hips) then it will be hard for you to gain such dramatic results, especially if you only want to wear a corset on the odd occasion. Harsh words I know.

That's my personal opinion anyway. Women in our stores always seem thrilled at their corseted shape! Talking of which, always allow at least half an hour for a corset fitting as although you might have decided which corset you'd like in advance, a different style might be more suitable.

What Katie Did Morticia Corset

Above: What Katie Did Morticia Corset. Our most popular underbust style gives a definite 'burlesque' style corseted shape.

The Right What Katie Did Corset For You

If you have a Vintage Figure: try one of our styles with gored hips:

Morticia Underbust Corset

Baby Underbust Corset

Mae Underbust Corset

Laurie Overbust Corset

Antoinette Corset

Storm Overbust Corset

Or any of our Extreme Corsets

If you have a Modern Figure: try a style without gored hips:

Sophia Overbust Corset

Tempest Overbust Corset

Gina Underbust Corset

Our corset shapes with gored hips are specifically designed for hourglass figures and will not fit a very Modern Figure. Our corsets without gores are suitable for both Modern and Vintage figures. By the way, we have found a lot of companies using our pictures illegally: if a corset doesn't say it's What Katie Did, even if it uses our picture (and especially if it's cheap!) it will be counterfeit.

An Evening Out In Your Corset

If you decide to wear a steel boned corset for an evening out it's really not going to have any effect on your torso, apart from giving you a delicious waistline of course! With anything new it's always best to have a trial run and this is especially important when wearing a corset for the first time. Please 'practice' wearing it for a few hours before your big event. Whilst it might have felt comfortable for the few minutes you initially tried it on for, it might start to become uncomfortable after a couple of hours. By having a trial run or two, your body will have time to get used to the feel of being corseted and you'll know how tightly you can comfortably lace making amendments if necessary (for example, if you think you will become uncomfortable then don't lace your corset tightly until you arrive at the event - and remember you can always loosen the laces later in the evening as long as your dress allows it!)

What Katie Did Extreme Laurie Corset

Above: What Katie Did Extreme Laurie Corset. The gored hips and shaped cups on this overbust corset make this corset curvy enough to satisfy every corset fan.

A Little Light Corset Training

If you would like to define your waistline a little then this is possible by wearing a corset on a regular daily basis. Your body will soon get used to the feel of being tightly hugged and you will be gradually be able to pull your corset in tighter. If you are looking to wear a corset on a regular basis we recommend you select an underbust style as this is less restrictive on torso movement. We also highly recommend our Baby corset which cinches the waist but, due to it's small size, doesn't restrict the rib cage and is ideal for modern lifestyles. If you do wear a corset daily then your waistline will gradually reduce although it will return to 'normal' disappointingly quickly when you stop wearing.

Your Ribcage and Corsets

All corsets will put some pressure on the rib cage and there are some rather extreme diagrams from the 19th century showing how the rib cage can be distorted. Whilst this is not a myth (modern day tight lacer Cathie Jung has been x-rayed in her corset and yes, her ribs are distorted) you have to tight lace seriously and over time for your ribs to be effected. It is also worth remembering that the skeletal system is very adaptable. The rib cage expands during pregnancy, with some of the internal organs being pushed upwards to allow room for the baby. After pregnancy, over a period of months, the skeleton returns to normal.

What Katie Did Baby Corset

Above: What Katie Did Baby Corset. Designed to put minimal pressure on the ribcage and hips this 7" mini corset gives an extremely dramatic silhouette.

Your Muscles and Corsets


If you have a bad back then a corset can be great as it supports the back bone meaning that your muscles are under less stress: but this also has it's disadvantages. If you are intending to wear a corset on a daily or near daily basis then you do need to consider your back muscles which will require extra exercise to keep them strong. Ask your gym/yoga/pilates instructor to recommend some exercises to work on your back muscles. If you do not have a gym/yoga/pilates instructor and are considering light body modification (which is what regular corset wearing is) then maybe you should think seriously about finding one.

Serious Corset Training


To achieve the most dramatic result takes time and discipline. We're talking wearing a corset 23 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is the dedication required to attain a waistline like that of Mr Pearl and Cathie Jung (both current day tight lacers). Serious corset training is not to be taken lightly and What Katie Did corsets are most definitely not suitable for serious corset training. If you are even considering serious waist training you need to seek out others who have tight laced and read about their experiences. A made to measure corset is a must for waist training. Do not even consider using an 'off the peg' corset to waist train as you need one tailored to your exact measurements.

Putting On A Corset

Information on sizing and putting on corsets, can be found in our What Katie Did Corset Sizing Guide.

Further Corset Reading

Find out more about Dita Von Teese and her love of corsets in her book: Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese which is packed with fabulous pictures and advice.

For more serious reading check out The Corset: A Cultural History by Valerie Steele. There might not be as many pretty pictures as in Dita's book, but you'll find out everything you ever wanted to know about corsets.


Wednesday 18 April 2012

What Katie Did in Please Magazine

Our Retro Seamed Stockings (15 denier) only arrived yesterday but we managed to get a few samples out to the press and they've just been featured in Please magazine. The Courtney Love inspired piece was shot at a venue familiar to a lot of you: Bethnal Green Working Men's Club with make up by Bea Sweet and styling by John William.

Retro Seamed Stockings

Tuesday 17 April 2012

What Katie Did in Twenty6 magazine

 

You might remember the beautiful pictures of our Retro Contrast Seamed Stockings in Twenty6 magazine a few weeks ago. Well, we're in the new issue too! Only just seen though.... Top and middlle pictures show our Gina Corset, the bottom picture shows our Glamour Girdle. To see the full shoot as intended head on over to Twenty6.

Steel boned corset

steel boned corset

Glamour girdle

Monday 16 April 2012

Get Into Burlesque With Miss Polly Rae

 
Learn the business side of burlesque from Miss Polly Rae, one of the UK's leading stars of Burlesque.

Miss Polly Rae is one of the UK's leading Burlesque Artistes and has featured in her own West End Show in London which she has taken to Sydney Australia and will be taking to New York very soon. Miss Polly Rae started to learn burlesque with Jo King (of the London School of Striptease) and soon had her own weekly residency at Raymonds Review Bar with her Hurly Burly Show: the rest, as they say, is history.

Miss Polly Rae

Polly is running two one hour salons at our London boutique (1.30pm and 3.30pm) where she'll be teaching the business side of burlesque. From contracts to costumes, fees to branding. Whilst there might be a little peeling this salon is very much to do with the business side of burlesque - how to make a career out of it.

The salon has been timed to coincide with the start of the London Burlesque Olympics so it's ideal for any newbies who are performing there to gain some insider tips for any big contracts they might be offered over the week!

Miss Polly Rae



The salon costs £10 (to include refreshments, redeemable against any purchase made on the day). To book please contact either Vicky or Ellie at londonboutique@whatkatiedid.com or telephone 0845 430 8943 stating whether you'd prefer the 1.30pm or 3.30pm time-slot.


Jean Paul Gaultier for Diet Coke (featuring What Katie Did lingerie)

I was thrilled to find out about the cutest bottles Jean Paul Gaultier had designed for Diet Coke this morning. Little was I to realise the best was yet to come when Mam'zelle Maz forwarded me a pic of Leah Debrincat modelling What Katie Did's Maitresse Lingerie at the launch party at Harvey Nichols London. I guess I'll have to head up to Knightsbridge to track one down. Pics by Michael Bowles hair by Nina Budden.

Maitresse lingerie at Diet Coke Jean Paul Gaultier launch

Not lifesize! The other bottle design featured JPG's signature Breton stripes so you have have his and hers.

What Katie Did Maitresse Lingerie

Leah with Hilary Alexander from The Telegraph (The Telegraph is one of the few newspapers who haven't been seduced by WKD - c'mon Hilary!)

What Katie Did: The world's leaders in faux vintage lingerie
 
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Set up a free account online today at http://www.whatkatiedid.com to receive a discount on all purchases, see previews of new collections and exclusive offers.
 
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Wednesday 11 April 2012

What Katie Did in GQ Magazine

 

That saucy photographer Ellen Von Unwerth has been at it again, aided by stylist Sascha Lilic. The shoot was for GQ (UK) May 2012 and features What Katie Did's Maitresse Bullet Bra, Glamour Girdle, Glamour Corselette and 15 Denier Seamed Stockings.

What Katie Did in GQ Magazine

What Katie Did in GQ magazine