In This Issue From The Editor The Cotillion was fun fun! The Campaign and the Coronation When you don't get the support you desire Ann's Interview with a Fashion Student from England New Corset Makers Wanted Tips for donning your Corset on your Wedding Day Breaking in a new Corset May visit by MP Garrod We Get Letters and Kudos And in Conclusion

A VISIT BY MR. GARROD OF TRUE GRACE CORSET COMPANY IN MAY!

AND OF COURSE...THE WILDEST TWO EVENTS IN SAN FRANCISCO THIS SPRING....

Starting with the transgender TGSF Cotillion held the first week of February, we had a blast with our many corset clients and friends, ending with the March 3 Coronation of none other than our very own model and friend, Chablis, as Empress of San Francisco, and also our model and friend, Tom Basch as Emperor!

ANOTHER NICE WEBSITE LINK

We are happy to be featured as one of a new site's recommendations for corsets! www.FetishAuctioneer.com is a huge resource forum and toy auction featuring columns from some of the country's favorite writers such as Laura Antoniou and many more. FA lists clubs, books, stores, domina's, Calendars, conferences, and Political organizations concerning erotic power exchange.

Ann starts the evening in True Grace Lily with matching rose hat. Ann meets Savanah, the new Miss TGSF at Chablis' kick off campaign party. Chablis introduces herself and her candidacy for Empress of San Francisco.

Monica Molton (our makeup artist for Image Salons) was chosen as one of four judges of the Cotillion, and our visitor Abby from London, on her way to New Zealand, loved attending the affair. Congratulations to Savanah for winning the coveted title, and also congratulations to our corset clients and supporters, The Outrageous Miss Didi Mau and Lesley Bailey (former TGSF President), worthy competitors and contestants. We hope you enjoy the photos below, generously contributed to our website by Abby with thanks, because someone stole my camera at the very end and nearly ruined the whole evening, I was sooooo upset! You can see Abby featured in our Corset of the Month for April. We are really happy to have attended with Barbara from Sacramento, CA, a friend whom we had not seen for years! Barbara read our special offer of a free Cotillion ticket on our January home page, and ordered a corset she had been considering, in order to win the ticket! It pays to read our specials! It was quite nice to renew her acquaintance and have her join in the festivities with us. Had someone not stolen my camera, we would have a photo here! Monica really caused a stir on the judges stand wearing her new hot pink Simple Pleasures cincher that Ann dsigned and embellished for her. It sported a pink feather and black sequined fringe trim, and matching head piece! Abby looked quite elegant in her brand new BR Creations piped Victorian Corset and a new wig we chose the day before. As a graduate of our Image Salon, we were very proud to be in Abby's company. Jeannette Vonier, our photographer, looked great in her True Grace copper leather and snakeskin brocade Lily Corset, while Marcia and I did the unthinkable: changed corset outfits half way through! I started with a True Grace burgundy Lily corset and matching hat, Marcia started with her black BR corset over a sexy leopard catsuit. At intermission I donned my green ballgown skirt with my "Autumn Harvest" Simple Pleasures cincher embellished with peach flowers and clusters of berries as trim, and matching headpiece. Marcia simply reversed her BR to its red side and donned a black dress and silver fantasy wig for her debut on stage as a Debutant, accompanied by a long term friend and client, Barbara from Sacramento. Everyone enjoyed the great professional ballroom dance team who entertained us! The competitors: note Miss DiDi far right, 5" heels and our Simple Pleasures Cincher! Leslie Bailey wears Sheri's Valentine Corset (3rd from left)

Miss Monica in Simple Pleasures Cincher adorned with feathers and fringe. Marcia in a red satin BR Creations and Ann in her Autumn Harvest Simple Pleasures Cincher. The Winner! Miss Savanah.

THE CAMPAIGN AND THE CORONATION

Jeanette and Ann help campaign for Chablis before election day!

I was really proud to be invited to participate in Chablis' campaign for Empress during February. You may remember or know that this nation-wide program of fun and frolic raises thousand and thousands of dollars of funds for local charities from breast cancer to children's AIDS prevention. Several years ago when I knew nothing about it, I thought it must be just a another crazy and frivolous San Francisco drag queen event, and I was not very enthusiastic...until I began to understand the good works and generous spirit behind all of the festivities. This was my third Coronation...and I was front and center sitting at the TGSF table, as you shall soon see!

Jeanette wearing True Grace Lily leather and brocade corset, Ann in her Butterfly corset by Isabella.

Ann and Chablis pose after the performance.

Abby and I attended the kickoff campaign party for Chablis at Harvey's Bar in the Castro District, then at Marlene's Bar, Marcia and I took polaroid photos of Sweethearts on Valentine's Day, to raise over $400 for her designated gay youth nonprofit program. Of most fun was one Friday evening Bar Hop with Jeanette. We served as 'advance ladies' to pass out flyers and lapel stickers before Chablis and her contingent of lovely drag queens arrived at each bar. The next day I helped pass out flyers and urge people to vote for her on Castro Street. Not even rain could stop The Outrageous Miss Didi Mau and Lesley Bailey (former TGSF president) from participating as well.

The new Empress and Emperor! At last!

Jeanette and I really enjoyed ourselves at the Coronation proper on March 3! We wish Chablis much luck as well and her Emperor,Tom, in their year of reign and for the wonderful charity work they will direct. Charity benefits remain the main heart and soul of the Court System established over 30 years ago in San Francisco by Empress Jose. Hope you can join in the festivities this year and help Chablis and Tom in their duties, plus join us next year for one, if not both of these wonderfully uplifting transgender events. We hope you enjoy our photos!

Happy Easter to all!

Tata's New Boyfriend...from Germany, Mr. Minchen!

LAUNCHING A NEW "COLLECTION" OF CORSETS...."BRIDAL BLISS" Speaking of Sheri, ROMANTASY decided to inaugurate different theme-based corsets from time to time, starting with Sheri's Bridal Bliss Collection of lovely corset wedding gowns! Don't forget to order our corset in time to take to your gown alteration appointment (corsets take 2-6 months to make depending on maker chosen!), and to be delivered at least two weeks before your wedding, so you can break it in. See below for tips on how to dress on your wedding day!

ROMANTASY TAKES ON NEW WAIST TRAINING
STUDENT IN EARLY FEBRUARY

We are quite pleased with the three-week progress notes of our most recent corset trainee, Camille.  Despite undergoing a serious stress experience during the third week and falling slightly off her program, Camille reports:

"I've been an emotional basket case the last few days.  Surprisingly, I'm finding the tight hug of my corset rather comforting. Is that weird?...My snug waist is down to 27.5" (from 28.5").  Yeah!!"

No, it is certainly not weird.  We have often heard that corsets seem quite protective, even nurturing at times.  For Camille and those of us who think the tight squeeze similar to an affectionate hug, the corset can be experienced as comforting during times of stress--quite the opposite that many people unfamiliar with wearing corsets might think!

Life does have its many stressors, but maintaining the discipline of a set waist-training program gives one something regular to hold on to, a type of "rock" as it were.  We wish our student the best and know she will continue to progress, seeking only a 95% success rate that we set for our students. After all, it is not perfection that we seek, but progress!

WHEN YOU DON'T GET THE SUPPORT YOU DESIRE
FOR YOUR WAIST TRAINING EFFORTS....

...do not despair!  As in all areas of life, we will surely encounter those who disagree with us, think us silly or even ill-informed to pursue our own corseting passion and set our own goals. This may be particularly so in the area of waist-training with corsets.

We assure our readers as must be evident from our entire website on corsets and corseting, that ROMANTASY is above all, devoted to MODERATION IN CORSETING!

Read on for some thoughts about what lies behind resistance of husbands or boyfriends to a lady's corseting practices.

White crocuses, calas, daffodils almost ready. Can spring be here at last??!

We have also envisioned a new series of springtime Garden Glory Corsets to which several of our corsetmakers have contributed--or which Ann has designed. We hope you enjoy the "Autumn Harvest" one below, worn at the recent Cotillion. But we want you to exercise your own imagination and send us your best Garden Glory Corset design. The one we select on May 31, midnight PST will be featured as our Corset of the Month on our June home page, plus will win the contributor a $75 discount on a corset of his/her choice! With each Garden Glory corset ordered we will send you either California Poppy seeds or sunflower seeds planted and harvested out of my very own garden!

My plum tree in bloom and orange crocusmia lilies.

Tata manages Ann's winter garden planting.

Of course, Webkittymistress Tata has helped nurture the garden over the past year and is quite interested to see your submissions! Ann and Tata's decisions are final with no appeal possible, based on whatever criteria they feel is applicable, creativity being the top one of course! We hope our seeds will grow in your garden, and that gardening brings you as much pleasure as it has brought me over the past year. And don't forget to wear that garden corset to protect your back while bending over to plant seeds, carry heavy bags of soil or do other chores!

The Autumn Harvest Simple Pleasures Cincher

NEW CORSET MAKER ABOUT TO JOIN
ROMANTASY CORSET HOUSES

We are happy to introduce the first unique style produced for us by Jane Smith, a new corset maker in town. See photo of Ann modeling the Vest Style corset. Stay tuned for the inauguration of Jane's web page very soon indeed, including maid's caps and collars, the cutest pantaloons and chemises we have seen, also pictured here, and other costumes.

NEW ** FOR IMMEDIATE SALE ** CORSET PAGE A HIT!

We've been surprised at the interest expressed in our consignment corset page, new in December! Be sure and visit it from time to time to see if you run across a great value in a corset that might fit you!

NEW EXTENDED WEB JOURNAL RECEIVING GOOD
RESPONSE- MORE SUBSCRIBERS INVITED!

We invite you to jump now to our Shopping Cart and complete the order for our journal to become a subscriber. Once we have a few more subscribers, we will publish as expected, on a quarterly basis with each issue $15, or all four for an annual pre-paid rate of $50. We invite, as ever, your photos, submissions, questions and articles, including fiction (subject to editorial rights) for both the newsletter and the journal. Please write for submisison guidelines, shopping credit and publication schedule.

ANN'S INTERVIEW WITH A FASHION
STUDENT FROM ENGLAND

Here is Michelle, our long time client and friend, also a BR Creations Corset fan, wearing a corset underneath a casual outfit, to improve her figure, of course!

NEW CORSET MAKERS WANTED!

ROMANTASY is seeking new corset styles and makers to add to our notable collection and website. We are particularly interested in leather corsets, and the following styles: underwire, ribbon, Regency, and medieval. Details are set forth in this page. Extensive corset-making experience is NOT required, but professionalism and excellent technical, communication and customer-relations skills are! Kindly send email to , or write us expressing your interest: 2912 Diamond St., Ste. 239, San Francisco, CA 94131. We'll be happy to hear from you, as our workload and client demand is ever-growing, and many web visitors would appreciate new styles, or a faster turn-around time.

TIPS FOR DONNING YOUR CORSET
ON YOUR WEDDING DAY!

USEFUL ARTICLE ON BODY RESHAPING
THROUGH CORSETING AVAILABLE

Ann has completed her final draft of her monograph on the above topic, available for sale on our shopping cart. Some folks do not have the budget to enroll in our three-month email coaching system, but might find this 85 double spaced page article quite helpful in designing their own waist-training program. Order an email copy for $10 plus 8.25% Ca sales tax. Order a USPO copy for $15 plus $3 shipping and 8.25% CA sales tax.

May Visit by MP Garrod of True Grace Corset Co. Last year we enjoyed a special outing with 10 people, Mr. Garrod and his guest, Sandy Harrup. We surely turned a few heads with our corsets worn visibly above our gowns and dresses. One guest looked very manly wearing his corset like a cummerbund under his dinner jacket! Ann and Mr. Garrod at the former 2000 Outing  Now Mr. Garrod and Sandy return and we have another great event scheduled: we plan to go on Wednesday, May 9, for hors d'oeuvres and dancing at the Tonga Room, Fairmont Hotel. This will be a $13 contribution per person toward the cocktails and dancing evening for our guests. Mr. Garrod will bring some of his corsets to show and discuss. Mr.Garrod and Sandy at the former 2000 Outing If you haven't seen the Tonga Room, it's a real trip: a swimming pool in the middle, periodic rain storms, the deck of a ship for dancing, and great tropical snacks and drinks with real k-o punches! Get out your finest corset, call (415) 585-0760 to reserve a space, and let's go dancing!

BREAKING IN A NEW CORSET:

During January, PH, our fall waist-training student from London, shared some of his observations and feelings during his three-month coaching program, to reach his waist reduction goal. He did not train with a corset provided by one of our makers, but another one he previously owned and had broken in. Here are his comments upon receiving two new BR Creations corsets, in smaller size, to continue his waist training. We also follow with some of his tips for "seasoning" or "breaking in" his new corsets.

"Oh la la, I don't know what to say, I am so delighted with the corsets that I received today, once I unpacked them. They are light and practical, compared to what I mostly have. They seem to fit me well. I have not broken them in but will do so over the next couple of weeks. I am most impressed with the stitching and the cut and feel of the fabrics. I feel that once broken in they will be most comfortable and unobtrusive." We thank PH for his comments and wish him well during the breaking in period which should take anywhere from 1-2 weeks for him, because he will wear it every day!

For others who wear corsets only once a week or month or so, the seasoning period could take from 6 up to 12 months! Remember that this period of time is extremely important to avoid both damaging the corset plus causing an unpleasant expectation as you prepare to corset. It is our belief that you develop "body memory" that can help you look forward to -- or dread -- putting on your corset and lacing down. Here are a few tips on how to season your corset:

1. From ROMANTASY: to continue to gently bend the stays when you are not wearing the corset, lace it onto two pillows, tightly, and leave it overnight or whenever you are not wearing it.
2. Do not sleep in a new corset, since this might place an uneven strain on the corset and result in pressure for the front busk to move diagonnally (Charlie).
3. prepare your body first by wearing an old. familiar and well seasoned corset, lace it down tightly and wear for several hours. Then change to your new one at a looser level (PH, London).
4. Both before and especially after wearing your corset, always drape it over the back of a chair by the back lacings to let the corset air out. (PH, London).

We received a lovely email letter on February 24 from an affianced couple after they attended a consultation regarding her wedding corset order: "Dearest Ann, S. and I would like to thank you for your hospitality and attention to detail at our consultation. We were both extremely happy with our descussion about my wedding ensemble, and are looking forward to working wth you and Sheri...I cannot express to you how delighted we were having met and worked with you thus far. It was our pleasure and a true joy. You are indeed a gem. And I am truly glad to have found you. Thanks again, C and S"

We are happy to see spring come. We are enjoying our flowers are in full bloom now, with crocuses, daffodils, freesias, crocusmia lilies and cala lilies gracing my yard! But we are a bit sad to see the Cotillion and Coronation come and go so fast! "The most fun since college" I call both events! On to summer and even more flowers. I hope you have much bright sunshine in your life and many fragrant flowers to enjoy this summer! with Corset Dream Makers, Robby Cannedy and Martina Ostermann