Satin and lace corset with hook and eye closure - corset discontinued by Coquette - review by Ms. N

As we spend these last few weeks of summer before autumn arrives to strip the leaves from the trees, we should remember that we don't have to regret the upcoming color changes of the season. We can still have green in our lives and in our wardrobes. Do you doubt me? Then you have not seen the Satin and Lace Corset with Hook and Eye Closure by Coquette. This corset is a festival of color - a celebration of greenness that we can keep with us year round. It is also the latest corset that I will review in my series on the subject. (Check my profile for the rest of the series.)

The Basics

Okay, again, let's start with the name of this piece. To paraphrase Chandler from the TV show Friends, "Could it BE any longer? Seriously...does it take nine words to name this thing? I would have just called it "Green Corset," or maybe "Green Corset with Black Lace." Five words, tops. You will notice I leave the word "satin" out of my name for the piece. That is because the satin in this corset is confined to the ribbon lacing up the back and a thicker ribbon sash that ties at the waist. Calling this a "Satin and Lace Corset" implies to me that the corset itself is primarily satin and lace. I will allow the lace, as it does cover the corset, but satin, no. As for the rest of the name, yes, this corset does have a hook and eye front closure. My argument here is not that it is incorrect, but rather that it is unnecessary.

As I stated above, the corset is green in color. The shade looks darker than it is because of the black lace overlay covering the entire piece. This gives it an appearance of being more of a forest green. It's quite lovely, really. The lace has a floral pattern which covers the top and bottom of the piece, extending from five to seven inches in both directions, while the lace covering the middle portion of the corset is more of a tight, fishnet pattern. The front, again, features a hook and eye closure with two rows of 14 eyes (if you use the outer row to make the front looser, a 1/2" black stripe will be visible down the front center of the corset), and the back closes through lacing a half inch black ribbon through 13 sets of grommets. There are ten pieces of plastic boning that assist in giving the wearer the appearance of that longed for hourglass figure, and oh yeah...there is a 1 1/2" wide, black, ribbon sash that ties around the middle.

The corset comes with two detachable, adjustable, shoulder straps and six detachable, adjustable garter straps. The garter straps fasten with the standard plastic and rubber closure commonly used on lingerie.

Sizing and Measurements

EdenFantasys offers this corset in sizes small through 3X/4X. That's a wide range of sizes, so if you want this piece, it is likely you will be able to find the proper fit for you. According to the Coquette size chart, with my 42-34-40 figure, I knew that I should fit nicely in a size XL, as it's meant for a 42-44" bust, a 34-36" waist, and 44-46" hips. That puts me at the smaller end of the given range, but with the material making up this corset being 100% polyester, I figured it would not have enough stretch to warrant downsizing to a large. All of that is to say...I did go with the XL.

Tightlaced, this corset would be about 32" around the bust. Loosening the laces could add up to another 8". It has a maximum length of 17" in the front, though it dips about 2" in the center, allowing for some nice cleavage to show. The center back is 15" in length. The ribbon sash, which is sewn to either side of the lacing in the back, measures 26 1/2" on the right side, and 31 1/2" on the left side. This allows for the sash to be tied on the right side of the body.

The shoulder straps, if used, will extend from 8" to 16" unstretched. The garter straps will extend from 4 1/2" to 7" unstretched.

Packaging, Care, and Storage

The corset came in a plastic bag on a black, padded hanger. A tag showing the product page photos was attached to the corset by a safety pin. Smaller plastic bags containing the shoulder and garter straps were also attached. The care label suggests hand washing and line drying this piece. As for storage, this corset can, of course, hang in the closet on the included hanger, or it can be folded or rolled and placed in a drawer. Just be careful not to bend the plastic boning.

Experience

Things I like about this corset:
1) The color is great! Green is underused with lingerie, and it shouldn't be.
2) The pattern of leaves and flowers on the lace is lovely and quite detailed.
3) The inside of the corset is soft and comfortable.
4) Wow, it gives a great boost to the bust!



Things I don't like about this corset:
1) The hook and eyes are of the sort where you fasten one, unfasten two. That's annoying.
2) Um...the ribbon sash is difficult to tie into a pretty bow...but maybe that's just me.
3) It is really hard to tighten the back lacing without assistance.

I have to say though, the pros outweigh the cons on this one, so I will be giving it a full five stars.

This corset remains one of the most unique, elegant pieces in my collection. The color is so fabulous (and rare in the lingerie world). It has held up well, and would be an excellent addition to anyone's wardrobe, even if the price is a bit higher than many of the corsets here at Eden.