Conundrum of a burgeoning 'authenticy maven' - to cable tie or NOT to cable tie...

So, here's the deal.

Given my *ahem* Mae West-ish upper body, when making my current project (a corded corset) I decided to use some heavy duty cable ties periodically for added support -- because cord on its own would just not be stiff enough to hold things up or tight against the body.

However, since I really wanted to create as authentic an outfit as possible, the burgeoning authenticity maven in me is having problems with the use of the plastic cable ties. On the one hand, aside from the fact that I have now announced the use of cable ties to the world (okay, my 5 or so readers) no one would ever know about it. I mean, it isn't like anyone but Ken is going to get close enough to my corseted body to see that the cable ties are there.

On the other hand, I feel a bit 'wrong' about using the ties.

Hence the question...what to do...what to do?


At this stage of things, since I do not have metal boning, nor whalebone, nor even broom-straw, and I need something more substantial than just cord. So, for the moment, cable ties are my only option. That said, over 80% of the boning in the corset is cord.

And, for the next version I'm going to use broom-straw to see what kind of support I can get from that. If that doesn't work for me, then metal boning it is. :)