Sarah,

You are not alone. DCF wk#3 my friend Miss S. came out in her new dress and unmanageable hoops and we discussed it as I redressed her after she bought her first Dark Garden corset. Since my hoops, corset and camera were still on the floor from the weekend, I took these snaps this morning to show my solution to hoop stability control. (forgive the image quality, I took them of myself)

1. (see picture 1 posted to the photos section) Yes, put it on a real waistband with hooks at different waist sizes to give you options. (heavy vs. light skirts, swiss belt, jacket, bodice…all these will require minor adjustments as to where the hoops ride)

2. Don’t try to wear them at the waist for two reasons: first off, they will slide to the top of the hip bone, so just plan for them there—and more importantly—you want to minimize the bulk around the waist to look as small as possible.

3. (see picture 2) notice that I split the opposite side seam and have hooks on both sides to make it easier to get in and out of. Also notice how short the distance is from the waistband to the first rung. I shortened the over all length of the hoops from the top to give a fuller/rounder shape…and I am only 5’2”.

4. (see picture 3) this is a close-up of the hooks

5. (see picture 4) take a few stitches to hold each rung at the desired width so they do not collapse with the weight of the skirts, and tuck both ends into the casing to keep them from poking you

6. ding-dong characters are great, ding-dong hoops are not: if you find yours swaying too much, wear a small bustle pad under the hoops to brace them against your butt. (this is a period solution to the problem)

7. Lastly, wear a fluffy petticoat over your hoops to avoid unsightly VHR—Visible Hoop Rung—19th c. equivalent of VPL

Everybody sing *I like being a girl*
-todi