Ashley Graham Wore a Corset Top so I WORE a Corset Top

hi! how are you? it’s been a minute. I can’t believe i prepped this post in january and am going live with it in july. life!!!

over winter break, I received an email newsletter from vogue featuring ashley graham’s segment of their “7 days 7 looks” video series. as a new mom during a pandemic, ashley’s style and body had gone through some changes, so she showcased what a week of outfits looked like for her during that time in her life. as a fellow thick and curvy fashion girl, I’ve admired ashley and her career for a while now. all looks were on point and her confidence was hella inspiring. she surprised me the most though by rocking two corset/bustier tops for date nights.
I’ve only tried to wear a corset a few times and they were for costumes; the idea of wearing one just for a regular night (in or out) had never crossed my mind, mostly because I always thought it wouldn’t look flattering on someone who wasn’t super skinny. at least not how it would be styled today (marie antoinette times with huge skirts - a little different.) sometimes it just takes seeing it on someone else though to change your perspective.

ashley rocked one, more cropped top with a cargo pant and highlighted her love handles peeping out in between. she called them “adorable”, and I couldn’t help but agree. they were so cute; she was so cute and that made me want to look cute in a corset-infused look. I began the market hunt and found many beautiful options but opted for two affordable versions to start: a softer, more casual solid-colored number from reformation and a patterned, more traditional fitting corset top from dolls kill. I also had a crushed velvet vintage candies (rip) top with a corset shape that I thrifted in brooklyn a few years back that I pulled for this shoot. Below are a few ways I styled these tops (with some transitional day to night footwear options included):

FOR A DATE

reformation top, everlane shorts, cowboy stars shorts (thrifted from buffalo exchange),steve madden sandals, soludos espadrilles (thrifted from buffalo exchange), vintage belt, earrings handmade by navajo women jewelers at the grand canyon, not just a shop necklace and ring, kate spade new york purse

FOR A PICNIC AND/OR FORAGING

sugar thrillz corset, free people skirt, crocs platform slides, sam edelman kitten heel sandals, susan alexandra purse, earrings thrifted from buffalo exchange, macy’s ruby ring, not just another shop stackable band rings

FOR A SHOW AT THE DIVE BAR

candies top (thrifted at l train vintage), skirt thrifted from buffalo exchange, rebecca minkoff mules (thrifted from buffalo exchange), converse sneakers, tj maxx purse, urban outfitters necklace, earrings thrifted from buffalo exchange