Violet Naylor-Leyland, Stylist and Founder of Fancy Dress Boutique Violet’s Box Talks Cinching, Ribbons & Boning and Why Your Wardrobe Can’t Do Without a Morua for Violet’s Box Corset. Exclusive pop-up deal on LUX FIX next Thursday- time to get waisted…
Violet says:
How many women would turn down the offer of having four inches taken off their waist in just 10 minutes without the use of seaweed, mud or clingfilm?
Every woman has at least toyed with the idea of a corset, tried one on, bought a cheap Camden knock-off for a party, borrowed a friend’s or giggled at one in a sex shop. Yet it’s no wonder they’ve not become a wardrobe essential because the majority of existing corsets are vampy, slutty, uncomfortable, two-tone purple or vastly overpriced and belong either in the bedroom or on a Burlesque act.
Well… welcome to a new generation of wearable, comfortable, affordable and beautifully made corsets – the Morua for Violet’s Box range!
After eight months of working with bespoke corsetier Gerry Quinton (Morua), Violet’s Box designed a collection of six corsets – three underbust and three overbust. Inspired by well-loved party themes such as ‘Tim Burton’, ‘Military’, ‘Marie Antoinette’, ‘Animals’ and ‘Circus’, but always with versatility, shape and comfort at the core, these are corsets that are wearable enough to put with a pair of jeans as well as out to a costume party.
Take ‘The Dauphine’ (blue & cream underbust) for example – imagine you’ve had to stay late at work and were hoping to go home and change before a friend’s birthday party but can’t bear that ‘just left the office’ look… The Dauphine corset’s a lifesaver in these moments – thrown on over a white shirt and favourite jeans or pencil skirt, simply add heels and a light weight jacket and it looks effortlessly chic – almost like a glorified belt or a structured waistcoat that just gives an outfit the edge. “People always comment and ask what it is, often because they don’t notice it’s a corset until they see lacing at the back!”.
You can do so many things with the underbusts, like adding them over a boring dress where they act like a panel. “I saw someone style ‘The Ladybird’ (red & black silk underbust) over a black chiffon and lace 70s-style maxi and put fake flowers in her hair. She looked TDF! She’d really cinched her corset in too so her silhouette was quite extraordinary – like a beautiful china lamp – but you can adjust the lacing as tight or as loose as you want, depending on how dramatic or casual you want the look.”
But it’s the overbusts that are the real deal in terms of drama. They’re worn with nothing underneath and because of their incredible design and clever boning technique, they mould to the shape of your body, almost acting like a second skin (Violet likes the ‘Victorian Nude’ especially), whilst transforming your figure into the most elegant hourglass shape – “And did I dare mention, the little lift and support you get where it counts? We try and keep this subtle though – the ‘boob muffin top’ is a look to be avoided!”
For most customers, their Morua for Violet’s Box corset becomes a wardrobe gem, not least because ‘nice tops’ are hard to find but a well made corset can last a lifetime. So, instead of feeling like you’ve bought another throw-away amusement for a fancy dress party, you can rest assured you possess a piece of sartorial artistry and as one customer Colette told us – the best bit was being able to tell her husband sincerely ‘it was a genuinely good investment’. Although apparently, he wasn’t complaining…
Pictures: Florence Brudenell-Bruce for Violet’s Box.