It all started in Denver…

I’m obsessed with Victorian corsets. Rather than poring through the same old tired designs and youtube videos, I decided to look through museum collections for some fresh ideas. All of the designs at Cinch and Charm are based on original Victorian corsets that are in museums in the southwest United States, making them unique. Many of the Victorian corsets online are based on models from France and England. Our designs are authentically American.

All of our corsets are made with high quality natural fibers. Original Victorian styles have been slightly updated to accommodate a modern wearer comfortably. This means less waist training and more curve flattering. All of my patterns are draped on a US size 14 model, which means they are built for someone with curves. It’s a pleasure to bring the collection to you.

Whether you're a vintage enthusiast or new to corsetry, our goal is to empower confidence and beauty through quality garments.

An 1860s house dress from the university collection that has probably dry-rotted into a wispy gauze by now

I founded Cinch and Charm because I felt that museum collections were underutilizing their textile collections. My training is as a costume designer and I have a BFA in theatre design and a master’s degree in clinical psychology. Many years ago, I worked for a small museum in New England which was underfunded. Due to the recession of 2009, the department head cut all funding to the collection. A once thriving college major in dress restoration was removed from university storage and moved offsite, to the site of a former asylum that the state donated to the university. 200 year old dresses rotted in the summer heat because we couldn’t afford a dehumidifying system. At the tender age of 19, I wrote a grant that funded the collection for three years. When I graduated, there was no hope for further funding. Our department head told my advisor that he thought the collection, which was predominantly comprised of women’s garments 1790-1900, was “of no use to anyone,” and therefore not a priority for funding.

Years later, I decided to reach out to a museum in Denver for corset inspiration. And unlike my former department head, the talented staff there do not feel like women’s clothing is useless.

After viewing their incredible collection, I spent the next six months sourcing fabric, hardware, and manufacturing all across the globe to make my first line. It turns out, it’s pretty darn difficult to re-create a Victorian corset. For more about the journey of recreating Victorian corsets, check out my Instagram.