I was
shopping online recently using ebay and came across a new supplier. I was
intrigued initially because they had some Vollers corsets that are no longer
available directly from Vollers. Mels curiosity was aroused so I fired off an
email to see what else that may have and was greeted by such a nice response I
followed up with a phone call and eventually a
visit.
The supplier is of course Corset Curves and Mel made a long drive out
to Cambridge to meet Katrina the owner and to check out a fabulous corset dress
that she has made specially by Vollers.
The dress so looked good on a
female model but I wanted to check whether it would REALLY work for a T Girl
like me.
Vollers of course need no introduction as the oldest supplier of high
quality corsetry in the UK but Corset Curves offer much more than just a sales
outlet for Vollers standard products. Katrina is able to order enough quantity
to get Vollers non-standard corsets made up and very soon will have additional
products that are bound to be of interest to my T Girl
sisters.
It was a long trek out to Cambridge for me but Katrina sounded so
nice on the phone and her outfits looked so good I considered it well worth my
time. If the dress worked out like I hoped then t would be invaluable for a hot
date I had coming up.
I eventually found my way to Katrinas place - she
doesn't have a shop as most of her business is done online like me but people
are welcome to drop by and look at her small on-hand stock of around 70 pieces
in assorted sizes and colors. Thats more than enough for you to find out
whether something fits right and to check the color and fabric
choices.
Katrina will take the time for you to get measured up for specials.
In many ways the fact that Corset Curves are in a private house with nothing
much around is a boon for any newbie T Girls because its a quiet location and
no one will be looking to see if your sneaking in to a TV
shop.
Over a nice hot cup of tea which to me is better even than sex we
settled down for a girly natter and I asked Katrina all about her and corset
curves.
I started off naturally enough asking Katrina if she herself was a
big corset fan - she smiled and nodded enthusiastically 'Oh yes - I have always
been a big fan of corsetry - every woman should own a corset' Mel wouldn't
disagree at all.
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Heres the dress I bought on the day from Katrina. Its a Vollers
corset dress in black PVC. Its a lovely piece but you do need a reasonable
figure to pull it off.
On first fitting when it arrived I actually didn't like
it so much. Most of the reason for that was |
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| having someone who was very inexpert at corsetry helping me into it.
The result meant that the dress wasnt tightened properly in the right places.
On a second fitting with a more expert assistant the dress looks fabulous as
you can see from these pictures. |
I asked how long Katrina has been operating because I hadn't come
across her before. Katrina has been going since June 2002, whew ! That was a
relief I would have hated to have missed out through not knowing about her
earlier.
Katrina told me her own passion for quality corsets is
what drove her to set her business up - there's so few good suppliers out there
for corsets. I wondered whether Katrina would be off into other areas as well.
Lots of fetish suppliers do try and do into other areas and often fall down
once outside of their speciality. Katrina was adamant that - she will run just
with corsetry BUT will be adding new styles, material and hinted at a fabulous
Bridal set coming up soon. I for sure will be keeping an eye out for that (
especially if the hot date goes the distance ).
Katrina was obviously very cool
with us T-Girls which is nice and was genuinely interested in our lives and
experiences. I know lots of stores these days are TG 'friendly' but Katrina was
much more than that - a real fan. She told me a lot of her clientele are from
the TG world and she obviously loves her T Girl clients lots just from the
things she said. Katrina obviously cares lots about her all her clients - just
the initial mails she sent me back when I was enquiring showed she was keen to
help and make sure I got the right thing. As she said to me "How many times
girls, have our guys bought us revolting "sexy" underwear that has just ended
up at the back of the wardrobe!!! My passion for corsets is in the blood 24/7
including getting up in the middle of the night (every night) to answer all my
emails and enquiries from overseas, so that they can have a quick response to
emails" now thats a passion for sure !
Knowing some of the weird stuff
thats happened to me in fetish shops in my time I had to ask what was the
oddest sale Katrina had made and she told me of one TV client who had ordered
an ivory corset for a wedding so she could upstage the bride ! I had to laugh
at that - though I took note to make sure it doesn't ever happen to me if
wedding bells ring. Now I think of it for a tranny wedding it would be rough on
me with my friends so I woud be really pushed trying to get something they cant
upstage me in.
I asked Katrina from a supplier perspective fs she sees more TVs out
and about she told me "I think the scene is becoming more accepted than it was
say 5 years ago. One of my TV ladies regularly goes to her local Evans clothes
shop and tries things on in the ladies changing room, there is no sniggering or
nudging when she is at the till and she tells me she is treated with the utmost
respect. I think this attitude in high street shops is great. However I do know
of one very important gent in the corsetry industry that runs away if a TV
comes to his store as he is "scared of them" this attitude really makes me
angry. Some of my TV ladies by day do all kinds of jobs from police men to
lorry drivers, and have told me they only feel truly themselves when they get
home and can dress. I think there are allot more guys than we think out there
just wanting to explore their feminine side, and what better way to start than
with a corset!!!!" Well I couldn't agree more - especially with the
corsets.
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Heres some more pics of the dress. This time with my PVC opera gloves
added. You can see with a little accessorising this item is totally awesome.
There is one small snag which is when the dress is tightened to maximum pull on
all the lacing its impossible to sit down comfortably. With that said its still
a wonderful item to have in my wardrobe. |
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Katrina by the way is 36 and happily married to her partner Peter,
they met over a chat system and then went on to meet. I asked Katrina a bit
about him beacause he wasnt around ( Katrine like Caroline at Cathouse probably
shooed him off for the day knowing my man eating tendencies ) and she told me
"I knew it would last for ever, when, on our first date at Langhans Brassiere,
as we were seated waiting for our menu's Peter asked me to go to the ladies,
take off my knickers and bring them back to him in my hand!! I have never been
allowed to wear knickers since!!! The joys of being a slave!" Mels chin nearly
hit the floor. See I didnt tell Katrina I am a pro-domina or that I work in the
porn biz and there I was was trying to be sooooooo lady like. I must have
looked shocked but then Katrina just giggled started me off laughing. After
that comment we got on like sisters - she even has red curly hair like
mine.
We went to look at her wardrobes after that - well Mel is sooo nosy
and I always like to see what people have in their collection. Katrina showed
me her 2 favorite corsets which are Vollers 411u style one in in silver glitter
and the other in leather, yummy, she told me that the feel of the straps and
the fully boned cups holding her boobs rigidly in place, but creating a
fabulous feminine shape just really does it for her. WOW
!
I asked what she did to unwind and Katrina shocked me again by saying
"I get dressed up in PVC, my maids uniform or flared skating skirt, 6 inch
padlockable high heels, then I am deliberately naughty for my Master so that I
can be put into our dungeon for an hour all tied up - ummmmmmm" Oh my and she
looks like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth too....
It was begging some questions
on S&M - Katrina was very keen to chat about this
"Yes love S&M and BDSM scene, I am the submissive slave Peter is
my Dom Master. I guess I got started when I moved to London in Jan 1996, I met
a guy who knew I had submissive tendencies, he really got me started into the
wonderful S&M scene. At least once a day I am aware of my position as
slave, whether it is a fleeting moment or for an hour long session. Right now I
am submissive to my partner Peter but would love to be submissive with a female
domme from time to time." Ummmm maybe Mel could help her
out..........
| Finally heres a few pics of my all time favorite Vollers corset. Its
a v4000u in black PVC. I have owned a few of these in my time but will shortly
need a new one because my diet has reduced my waistline again. Corset Curves do
these at exactly he same price as Vollers directly so if your looking for a
Vollers item but are perhaps too nervy to ask stuff then call Katrina who will
be very helpful and can advise on sizing etc. |
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