INDUSTRY BRIEFS

VANCOUVER

On a charming, tree-lined street, behind a well -clipped privet and a white picket fence, Melanie Talkington shares her enthusiasm for corsets.

One of Canada 's leading corsetieres, Talkington is the proprietor of Lace Embrace Atelier which has produced exquisite, made-to-measure corsets since 1997. She uses only fabrics sturdy enough to withstand the pressure of tight lacing: leather, silk sateen, silk brocade, silk satin, and cotton denim.

It was while designing bridal and special occasion wear that Talkington saw a need for appropriate, flattering foundation wear - and off she went. Today, she begins a pattern by making a sample and checking it for historical accuracy, before grading it to each individual measurement. Varying numbers of steel bones, imported from Europe (no longer the whale bones of yore) reinforce the corsets, achieving the ultimate in waist reduction and shape. Orders take six to eight weeks, and each design requires between 10 and 40 hours to complete .

An encouraging number of custom designs are available, including under-bust or hourglass corsets, and models fitted with long hips, short bust support and natural hip flare. Every corset uses a different number of steel bones and is decorated with silk ribbons, embroidered with silk floss or trimmed in lace.

Talkington has developed a celebrity clientele. Burlesque queen Dita Von Teese recently purchased a Lace Embrace Atelier corset to wear.

Contact Lace Embrace Atelier at 604 737-1119; info@laceembrace.com , www.laceembrace.com .