I have some experience with this. The first bit is probably not helpful in the short term. It is the fact that ballet dancers are taught to breath long rather than out so their ribs do not expand too much to fight the. Canvas corset like bodices for classic costumes. The second bit might be much more helpful. As a thatrical dresser. I was taught to lace singers into corsets with at least 2 if not 3 different cords. This keeps ech section at a different tension , appropriate to your personal needs. Top keeps the breasts in line with te neckline. A second lacing cord is just on the rib section and adjusted so as to be snug but permit breathing , the bottom bit or third cord is adjusted to keep the corset from slipping down the hips. Hope this helps Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: Kate Bunting <katembunt...@gmail.com> Sender: h-costume-boun...@indra.com Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 10:32:00 To: <h-costume@mail.indra.com> Reply-To: Historical Costume <h-cost...@indra.com> Subject: Re: [h-cost] Boning and corsets for musicians I remember having a discussion about this on the list some years ago (10+?) after I had nearly fainted while playing the shawm in a 17th century corset in a sunny window. I was told that a corset should not be laced so tightly as to restrict your breathing. Of course I'm aware that corsets of later periods extend below the waist, increasing the problem. Having once worn an 18th century corset, I've often wondered how the lady singers of Handel's time managed. Of course, as Maggie says, they were used to it. Kate Bunting Retired librarian & 17th-century reenactor. _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume