HNT: Blue

It's unusual to get a basque that isn't black, white or red.

So, I was thrilled when the lovely Chris at Bondara sent me this fabulous blue and silver brocade corset.

It is a little more expensive than others that I have worn but, compared to some of its cheaper competitors, the fabric is beautifully soft and it's really well made. Like the bodices of olden times, it has diagonal lacings criss-crossing the back which you tighten to fit once you have secured the metal clips at the front. The black laces match the edging of the basque and contrast really well with the soft peacock blue of the fabric. Just as in days of old, the basque pushes your boobs up and out over the top, whilst nipping in the waist and keeping your abdomen totally flat. The metal clips are a sort of ball and slot affair that are a little fiddly first but, once you get the hang of it, are easily released if you can see what you are doing.

My only beef is that, when I wore it out for dinner, I realised just how hard it was for those poor ladies in the 18th century to eat a proper meal and my attempts to release the lower part of my abdomen by undoing one of the front clips surreptitiously under the table only resulted in me trapping part of my extending belly skin in one of the metal fastenings. I would never have believed such a small injury could cause so much pain!

Ruf has been staying with me for a few days in my flat and we actually went out for dinner in my home town for the first time. Sort of a date.

It was a most peculiar experience because, although my marriage is at the 'separated' stage and the neighbours are all aware of this, it is not something that is really universally known around the town because neither my ex nor I want to give the gossips something juicy to cackle over. As a result, I was rather concerned that we might meet someone I knew and have to face some awkward questions.

In the end, things went off uneventfully and we had a lovely time so, the problem of not being able to stuff my face aside, it's a beautiful basque and Ruf certainly enjoyed taking photographs of me wearing it before we went out and then releasing me from its confines upon our return.

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