The traditional concept of back lacing refers to ladies underwear in the guise of stiff corsets, and bustiers. The tightly pulled cross lace effect would shape and narrow the torso of the lady, giving the desired effect. This was inevitably altered over the years to encompass front lacing and side lacing for easier access.

Back Lacing

In the early 1900s with the more radical ladies’ fashion trends expanding to include body piercing and tattooing, it wasn’t long before the more artistic of the devotees of body piercing brought in the art of temporary corset piercing.

Temporary corset piercings are often performed for aesthetic reasons, often as part of a fetish event or photo shoot. They may also be performed as play piercings and part of BDSM activity. Often temporary corset piercings are worn laced with ribbon, rope or chain. Permanent corset piercings would consist of multiple surface piercings pierced with jewellery designed for the purpose, and bear all of the healing issues and risks associated with them.

The fashion accessory industry has included back lacing in all types of clothing, from bustiers and corsets, to blouses, skirts and trousers. Even to a way of tying your shoe laces called Loop back lacing. There are many combinations of lacing in the clothing industry, but the use of one long lace is still the most popular. This method is easier for the wearer, because they don’t have to deal with, or try to hide, bundles of lace ends. A single long lace puts less strain on the eyelets, and with one lace to battle with, the desired shape of the torso is easier to achieve.

The fashion designers like Patrice Catanzaro have been able to include different ways of lacing into their designs,  (Wendy) to make access and dressing much easier, but if you want to have a traditional back laced corset, you need to accept the fact that you need a partner or friend to help get you into it and nicely laced.