Corset Story review and giveaway

While February might be seen by many as the most romantic month of the year by many, and indeed there's no denying its connections to all things amour, since 2004, October has held the title of the most romantic month of the year for me. The reason for this, as you may be wondering, is that it just happens to house mine and Tony’s wedding anniversary.

Nearly eight years ago, in an incredibly small, intimate (less than ten people) ceremony held in my parent's living room, Tony and I were married after a whirlwind courtship of about seven months. Skip ahead nearly a decade and we're every bit - and more - in love and happy with our decision to be wed today. In the celebration of this joyful event, I'm happy to announce that I have a fantastic giveaway to offer all of you.

When one thinks of romantic garments, few come to mind quicker - or with more timelessness behind it - than the corset. Though their popularity has certainly waxed and waned over the centuries, for hundreds of years corsets have been one of the most commonplace elements of a woman's underpinings.

Though corsets began to fall out of widespread us as the Edwardian era drew to a close and the 1920s ushered in a whole new mode of fashion, and have never regained their widespread use to the same degree that they did in centuries past, they have certainly never fallen completely out of use or favour either (certainly corsets or girdles with lacing were virtually required wearing for ladies looking to get the much beloved post-WW2 wasp waist and ultra shapely hourglass figures).

Today however corsets are no longer just viewed (primarily) as a foundation garment or something worn by women in the showgirl and burlesque industries, indeed corsets can be, and are, worn as part of daywear, cosplay, fancy dress party outfits, bedroom attire, and of course, by some still, for their original intended waistline shirking purposes.

Loving historical fashions of all types as I do, I've been drawn to corsets since I was a little girl (who was mildly obsessed with the Victorians), yet can honestly say I never owned one until this fall.

Recently I was contacted by the lovely folks at corsetstory.com who were curious to know if I'd be interested in reviewing one of their fashion corsets. I jumped at the chance at about the speed of light and set about picking my corset (I went with the classily pretty Victorian Cream Corset) from amongst their thoroughly terrific array of offerings.

Once selected, the corset was mailed to me promptly and securely, and the sizing was just as stated (Fashion Corset has a handy sizing chart that makes picking the right size a breeze), which is always hugely appreciated.

Unlike a tradition steal or heavily boned corset, fashion corsets are not intended or designed to whittle inches off of your figure, instead they provide the general look of a classic corset, but offer the wearer a lot of flexibility in terms of how long they can comfortably wear the corset, what they can pair it with, and how tight they want to do the laces up in the back.

Having never worn a boned (aka, waist training) corset before, I cannot compare the two, but I can tell you that the corset I received is well made, a cinch to put on (I'm lucky enough to be able to touch anywhere on my own back, so with a little work I was able to lace it tightly on my own), and breath-takingly beautiful in person.

As few gals outside of the entertainment field wore corsets as outer wear during the mid-twentieth century, for my corset debut, I didn't try go for an inherently 40s or 50s look. If anything, it was cancan dancers of the late Victorian and early Edwardian eras that I most had in mind when I was putting together my look.

Again though, my outfit was not intended in the least to channel a specific time period, but instead to be feminine, beguiling (but not too revealing - modesty is always a must for me when in public or on camera), and thoroughly romantic. Tony assures me that my finished costume certainly hit the mark in that regard!

In addition to showing you the gorgeous corset I received from Corset Story, you also get to see some of our burgundy walled master bedroom for the first time, my partially unclothed shoulders, and a one very lopsided shot of my chest that was caused by the position I was leaning in while on our bed.

Photography by Antonio Cangiano

I adored the feeling of wearing this corset, it hugged me gently, felt very comfortable, and certainly conjured up thoughts of days - and fashions - long gone.

While it's not the kind of piece I'll be sporting every day, it's certainly not going to be relegated to the back of a drawer either. I could easily see putting this atop a classic button down blouse - or even a long peasant style top - and partnering it with a pencil skirt or two piece skirt suit for a captivating daywear look. Of course, it also lends itself sublimely to all manner of Halloween costumes - from a fairy princess to a wild west saloon girl - just as all of the items that Corset Story offers up do.

Whether you own a dozen corsets already or nary a one, but have always wanted to, there's something for just about everyone on amongst Corset Story's products, and today I'm thrilled to let you know that one lucky winner has the chance to pick the Fashion Corset of their choice from Corset Story.


How to enter:


1.) Go to Corset Story's Fashion Corset section and select the fashion corset (please note, only fashion corsets are eligible as the prize for this giveaway) that you like best, then let me know which one you picked and why you like it in the comment section of this post.


For up to four more additional entries:

2.) Like Corset Story on Facebook.

3.) Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter, including @corsetsUK and a link back to this post in your tweet (include a link to tweet in your comment).

4.) Pin any of the photos in this post, directly from this post itself, to any Pinterest board you'd like (include a link back to the pin in your comment).

5.) Be a Google Connect Friend follower of this blog (let me know what name/alias you're following Chronically vintage with in the comment section).


***Please be sure that you leave a separate comment for each entry method that you enter with, this way you increase your odds of winning because you have multiple entries.***


As per the request of the company, this giveaway is open to readers from around the world, excluding India and the continent of Africa. Participants from all other locations are permitted.

This contest will run from today until Thursday October 11, 2012 at 11:59 PST, with the winner being drawn by use of a random number generator the next day. The winner will be contacted by email and/or announced here on Chronically Vintage shortly thereafter.


I frequently receive offers for products to review and/or giveaway, but am quite selective in what I choose, as the item needs to have a certain vintage or vintage appropriate feeling to it in most circumstances.

I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that I felt Corset Story's offerings held just that. Though Corset Story’s products are modern garments, the ageless quality that corsets posses ensures my new fashion corset fits right at home in my day-to-day vintage wardrobe, where it will definitely be making a showing again on October 14th when Tony and I toast to eight resplendent years together.

Best of luck to everyone who enters this giveaway - I can't wait to hear about which fashion corset you'd love to win!

A budget-friendly vintage spin on chicken pot pie

With the much anticipated return of autumn, comes the blessed relief of no longer feeling like you are going to melt as quickly as the Wicked Witch of the West if you spend more a few minutes in the kitchen with your oven switched on.

If you're anything like me, this means that you very quickly find yourself in the mood for hearty, stick-to-your-ribs, comfort food meals again. Seemingly over night, roasted root vegetables to mountains of mashed potatoes, crock pot stews, long simmered chillies, juicy meatloaves, and fragrant spice cookies all fall, completely naturally, back into rotation once more.

Without a doubt (thanks, I'm certain, to the utterly mouth-watering ones my mom maid when I was little), one of my all-time favourite fall and winter foods is a flakey, golden, drippingly saucy chicken pot pie chocked full of tender, cream enrobed veggies.

As much as I flip for a great pot pie, I like saving a bit of money wherever I can just as much, and today's charming illustrated 1950s recipe for Penny-Wise Chicken Pie ensures that I'm able to do both of those things in one fell swoop.




{The culinary equivalent to a cozy fleece blanket, chicken pot pie recipes like this simple, speedy one are a beloved staple of autumn and winter. Image via Charm and Poise on Flickr.}



This recipe economizes by forgoing actual pieces of chicken meat and instead using a can of condensed cream of chicken soup, which is deliciously partnered with potatoes, carrots, and peas. Of course, if you happen to have any chicken (or turkey - or even ham) to hand or in the mood to splash out and buy some, you could always add a helping of meat to this recipe, too.

And speaking of adding things, feel free to play around with the vegetables. I often use parsnips instead of (or along with) carrots, toss in some corn or green beans, or even some tiny florets of cauliflower.

By the same token, if you wanted to take this easy to make dinner recipe in a somewhat different direction (and potentially turn it into a vegetarian meal) you could always use a different cream soup as well (think cream of broccoli, asparagus, or mushroom, for example).

Aside from being relatively kind on the ol’ wallet, this classic dish is wonderful because you can toss it together most any day with store cupboard ingredients that you likely already have one hand (especially if you keep homemade or store bought pie crusts in the freezer).

A point which makes it an especially useful pot pie recipe to have at the ready during busy cold weather nights of after school events, Halloween parties, and long walks through the crispy leaf strewn streets that only exist for a brief, gorgeous time during the fall.

I'm cherry happy that October is here

Outfit details

White stretch headband: Ardene
Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12
Cherry earrings: Claire's
Green cardigan: Old Navy
Cherry print 1950s style bobby top: Freddies of Pinewood
Rhinestone cherry brooch: eBay
1950s red gloves: eBay
Thicker red and green bangle bracelets: Forever 21
Thin pink, red, and white bangles: etsy seller Me She Designs
Thin green bangle: thrifted/flea market
1950s navy blue wiggle skirt: eBay
Red vintage purse: etsy seller I Love Vintage Stuff
Red and white striped bow peep-toe wedges: Payless Lip colour: MAC Russian Red

Photography by Antonio Cangiano
(BTW, yes, I do realize that I'm on something of a fruit pun title kick this month. I knew I could only keep my love of cute puns under wraps for so long!)  





 
 




 







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Hands down, bar none, autumn is my favourite season of the year. Each of the four have their shining points, their worthwhile merits and reasons why I enjoy and treasure them, but at the end of the day, there's just no comparing (in my books) to autumn's sublime beauty, crisp temperatures, bountiful harvest, festive celebrations, and that fact that it houses our wedding anniversary.

Though the cherry growing season - which usually happens here in the Okanagan Valley throughout July - is behind us now, before the we dig too much deeper into my beloved autumn, I wanted to share these photos that were taken a while back when one could have probably found a few cherries on the branch still.

I know that some people view cherries (or at least the wearing of them) as almost being a twee, over-used way to express one's interest in vintage fashion, but I think that's flat out silly. If - like me - you just happen to love cherries (I grew up in a town with thousands of cherry trees and spent each summer picking and helping my mom can cherries, which is when I fell in love with anything depicting these juicy red fruits) and vintage, then by all means wear that combination until the cows come home, if you so desire.

Much as I adore cherries, it struck me as I was sitting down to write this post that I don't actually have too many items in my wardrobe featuring them. In fact, you're viewing the bulk of what I have in one swift go here. There are a few other accessories though, which I'm sure you'll get to see over the course of time. And while I might not have too many pieces with cherries on them at the moment, I certainly have a fair number whose hue - like this eye-catching vintage purse and pair of bright red gloves - are redolent of sun-ripened cherries.

These shots were taken in the neighbouring community of Naramata (which you may recall me chatting about in this post from last May) on a charming, itty-bitty slice of beach that's owned by a local church, but which is open to the general public when not in use for church related activities.

It's a gorgeous little spot - no matter the season - with a small pier that includes (as you can see in these snaps) a lifeguard's chair (you know, that day very may have been the first time I've ever sat in one), a few serenely pretty willow trees, and nice stretch of sand which I spent a few moments barefoot in after we'd finished shooting.

On the peaceful, sunshine filled afternoon when we were there, only two other people were at the beach, so it was almost as though we had the whole place to ourselves. A point which certainly made getting unobstructed photos as easy, and fun, as (cherry) pie!