Review on Get Edgy And Flattering: Charmian'S Spiral Steel Boned Steampunk Gothic Bustier Corset With Chains For Women by Heather Schmidt

I bought the Steampunk Gothic Corset w/Chains. I measured and RE-measured (even though I know my measurements), following the guidelines. Per the size chart, & going by my waist measurement, I should’ve been a 3XL (1” above natural waistline = 33.1”-34.4”), but I decided to order a 2XL, figuring I could cheat a little since there’s plenty of lacing for adjustment.I was blown away when the corset arrived. The quality of fabric, construction, and detailing suggest a garment that could easily cost 3 times as much. I didn’t have anyone to help me tighten the lacing, so - having worn corset-type garments before - I did a lot of adjusting of the lacing before I tried it on for the first time. What a disappointment! While it fit well in the waist - it was a bit snug, as a waist cincher should be - my ladies, which AREN’T small, didn’t even BEGIN to be covered. After almost an hour of taking it off & re-adjusting the laces several times, I had to give up. There was just no way this was gonna fit both my bust AND my waist. And BTW, the metal loop-over-stud closures were a friggin’ nightmare to work!With no undergarments on my bust is 39” & my waist is 34-35”. I wear a size 34DDD bra (professionally fitted size). I have several lighter weight (cotton & spandex or silk w/lining) bustier-type dress tops in sizes 12 or 14 which fit me fine. They have lightweight (likely plastic) boning for shaping & support, and my ladies are definitely NOT falling out of them.I think it’s bass-ackwards to buy this garment to fit your waist measurement. Since the metal boning doesn’t give AT ALL, and one can adjust the waist fit by tightening/loosening the lacing, it makes more sense to me to pick the size based on your bust measurement, since that’s the LEAST adjustable area of the corset. Corsets were originally designed to cinch in the WAIST, & they didn’t cover the bust at all. These "bustier corsets” are actually trying to combine two different garments into one; so they either need to be constructed differently, or more details need to be given in the sizing instructions re the differences between one’s bust & waist measurements.I’d give this garment 10 stars for its overall quality, and 0-1 stars for its fit. Averaging those numbers, it would get 5 stars; but I had to subtract one star for those bloody metal stud closures. Sadly, this beautiful but unwearable piece will be going back.