HOW CAN I EVALUATE COST VS. QUALITY?

1.Q. I have a limited budget and don't know if I should
indulge in a corset. I'm thinking about first trying an
inexpensive readymade style I've seen for about $50 to $100.
Can you help me decide?
A. Let's start with the old adage that you definitely want
to avoid when it comes to corsets, waist training, and
tight lacing: being "penny wise and pound
foolish".
During a recession or tight times, you should
buy up, not
down. That is because prices are likely to have declined
for top quality, and may rise again when the economy recovers.
Also you should clearly define your goals for corset-wear, and
tend to think long-term, not short-term.
If you just want a "costume-style and quality corset for
a one-night stand, then $50 to $100 for a factory-made corset in
standard sizes just might suit your needs. You
then don't need to be concerned about durability, precise
fit, or comfort
that much. However, take a look at the white corset pictured
on this page NOT made by a ROMANTASY corsetiere.
Note the uneven vertical length and severe
fabric wrinkling. Note the wrinkled back protector that will
surely be uncomfy. Plus, will that uneven, slipshod
appearance in the finish be worth what you spend for it?
Likely not if you expect to look
your best, and surely not if you expect your corset
to endure 60 to 90-pounds of waistline
pressure when you lace down about 4" for some hours,
and
you expect an excellent fit that you
deserve. For those purposes a corset must be of
superior strength in construction and fabric so that fabric
does not shred, stretch, or wrinkle, or bones dig in or poke out. It
must be of superior and comfortable fit
such that it hugs your body, doesn't pinch, damage
the skin or press on nerves, roll up at top or bottom edges, or
wrinkle.
Consider these wise words by John Ruskin, and
English scholar and writer from the 19th Century:
"It is unwise to pay too much, but it is worse to
pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little
money -- that is all. When you pay too little you
sometimes lose everything because the thing you bought
was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do.
The common law of business balance prohibits paying a
little and getting a lot -- It can't be done. If you
deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something
for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have
enough to pay for something better."
Delivering top quality and comfort in a corset require
an enormous amount of experience in pattern-making and
production. At ROMANTASY, each member of our
highly-skilled team has from four to 20 years of
experience and has produced from 200 to over
1000 custom corsets, sometimes in the same style! --
an experience level that is certainly rare to find in
the world around!
Since typically only a half deposit puts you into our
valuable production queue with the balance due a few
weeks or months later when we are ready to ship, your
corset purchase is akin to layaway.
Considering our broad range of price points and the
quality
we deliver, plus followup advice and refurbishment of
your corset over the years at cost plus a bit, a corset
purchase is truly a modest cost for what you
desire and for what you deserve -- only the best!
"The marketplace is full of inferior 'corsets';
they give true
corset artistry a bad rap. For those who are serious
and
interested, high quality corsetry makes this interest
quite enjoyable." Bernice (1/8/08)