I remain absolutely grateful to Autumn for all of her help with my bespoke corset needs. She built two medical devices (posture harness & leg brace) for me when I thought my back problems were scoliosis-both of which are fashionable and functional. A few months ago, I was in DG being fitted for my Beau Brummell corset (absolute work of art) when I started having lower back pain. I left that day wearing an off the shelf signature waist cincher and the pain disappeared. 2 x-rays and 1 MRI later, I discovered my back problems were actually being caused by significant lumbar spinal damage (Surprise!) It is hard to leave my house/travel by car because of pain & discomfort right now, but what makes movement bearable is how I wear this waist cincher every day. I'm a very fit & active person, but put my hand to God when I say my DG cincher works better than PT, strength training, opioids, and everything else I have deployed in my arsenal to combat chronic back pain. It compresses perfectly & outperforms the (cheaply made) back braces you see on Amazon, not to mention other (non DG) corsets I had in my collection. I can wear my cincher for long periods of time without it digging into my skin or riding up uncomfortably. Self lacing is easy and fast. I am deeply thankful to Autumn for noticing my back pain & selling me this cincher as I left our appointment that day. It allows me to have an almost normal range of motion and improves my quality of life. It's also keeping me from having major surgery. The added benefit is looking beautiful as I navigate serious injury. This matters because having high morale during a low point in life is also important. Again, thank you (I'll be back to finish my Beau Brummell soon)! read more

Dark Garden - Dark Garden signature cincher in black poplin - Lingerie Near Me - San Francisco, California

Dark Garden is THE place I went before Folsom Faire to acquire the perfect look for Beauty. The black mesh corset was perfect off the rack. The folks at the shop are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. I highly recommend this store. read more

Dark Garden - Mark Chester Photography capture of Beauty - Lingerie Near Me - San Francisco, California

Autumn sized me almost 30 yo! Her corsets are still in fantastic shape. Recently scheduled an appointment to review corsets She made and restring them. Looking at a New fitting and revisit the store some at least 28 years later. Fantastic People at this store, Looking forward for this visit. Skater read more

Dark Garden is one of the original couture houses in San Francisco. They offer the best corsets, the ones that make you chic and look like a million $. They also offer a variety of lingerie, bespoke dresses for galas, weddings and any occasions. Each piece is a work of art and tailored to each body type/ individuals. Must definitely check out. They dress Dita Von Teese read more

Gorgeous boutique with a wonderful selection of corsets and burlesque outfit pieces. Most of the options will be bespoke, taking anywhere from 3-6 months to finish, and while there are some made to order corsets offered, those will also take at least 6 weeks to make. They make the corsets in-house, and the prices reflect that, but each corset is sturdy, made well, and the store assistants are very knowledgeable and happy to answer questions about waist training. I went on their website beforehand and booked a corset fitting in order to be measured by a shop assistant, and was led through the fitting process and laced up by the manager who was visiting from New Orleans. She was able to select several sizes in different silhouettes that she thought might fit me, and the sizing process was pain-free and easy. At the end, she took note of which corsets I liked and added them to my account. Love this local gem and am saving up for a bespoke corset from this establishment. read more

My wife had her wedding dress custom made here years ago. They did a fantastic job and it was less expensive and fit better than the fancy name brands. They make a lot of dresses using corsets. Definitely consider this place for dresses. read more

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Management made me feel uncomfortable about my body and as if I could not afford bespoke garments. Other sales associates were on their phones and seemed to be making fun of meZ a full figured woman, I would never feel comfortable coming here again. I would not come here if you are beyond a size 6 or if a man trying to snatch their waist. Disappointing to say the very least. read more

I didn't know it was possible to be so emotionally overwhelmed by a garment until I saw my completed wedding gown for the first time. I met with Autumn several months before my wedding to discuss my vision and begin planning my ensemble. A couple years ago, I saw the Rosalind gown on the Dark Garden Instagram page when it was debuted. I knew right away that if I were to ever get married, I would be wearing some form of the Rosalind. I had meetings with Autumn, Shelby, Kalico, and Marianne at different stages of the process. To say this is a talented, creative, and gifted crew would be a *massive* understatement. The completed look was exactly the vibe I was going for and I could not be happier with how it turned out. I was so looking forward to wearing it all again at this year's Edwardian Ball, but will have to wait for next year when (hopefully) venturing out to an event will be less stressful (lookin' at you, covid). Thank you to the dedicated and amazing team at Dark Garden for making me feel my very best!!! read more

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The corsets are works of art and Autumn provides the best service on the planet. What more can you ask for.

I received my wedding dress and custom corset just in time for my wedding. They were perfect and worth every penny. I felt like a goddess angel in my white Rosalind. Now I just need it in black! read more

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Always go in person, their work is top notch and they allowed me to return a piece that did not fit due to the fittings being done over zoom. I highly recommend this spot for true masterful work, make the time to go and you'll get a piece that'll last a lifetime read more

Dark Garden - Brace belt - Lingerie Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Dark Garden made my Wedding Dress, back in 1998 by the owner Autumn. It turned out so BEAUTIFUL, and it was perfect in every way. The fabrics were top of the line, the corset had real boning, the details literally caused me to become emotional when I saw them. Best of all , the dress fit me like a glove. Autumn listened to what I wanted , she kept all her customers handmade corsets measurements. (Which she took at least 3 times). She asked questions I hadn't even thought of? There's no place on Earth who can make EXACTLY what you want (involving a corset of all kinds) except Dark Garden and Autumn. If you want a timeless piece, a dress made from start to finish, and one that can be passed down for generations. Dark Garden is the ONLY place you'll ever need! read more

I love this place. They make the best corsets and it fits you like a glove. The people are extremely nice and helpful. I love wearing my corsets. I highly recommend coming here to get one and not those cheaply made ones - you will not regret it and it will last you a long time. read more

WHAT: This is the place to go for a quality corset either over-breast, under-breast, cincher, or uniquely custom made. The prices are definitely up there...$400 or more, but they say you pay for what you get. They have corsets already made you can buy off the rack. You should call ahead of time to make sure a seamstress is there if you want something custom made so they can measure you. They have two photo albums with photos of corsets if you want ideas for something custom made. Yes, guys wear corsets too! Like a Victorian or pirate look from the photos I saw. What else do they sell? Vintage looking hats, veils, gloves, jewelry, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, crowns!, stockings, socks,finishing belts that go over your clothes and the corset, and more. STAFF: The young lady who assisted me and my friend was really nice and wasn't pushy at all. She was patient and personable with a gentle personality. She even took the time to show us how to put a corset on ourselves by showing us on hers. There is one fitting room downstairs (not sure if there is another one upstairs). The associate helped put corsets on after measuring you. WHERE: Located in San Francisco on Linden next to a small coffee shop. Very artsy looking street with wall art. You may have to park elsewhere and walk a couple to a few blocks. Be sure to put extra time in the meter so you have enough time to shop and try things on. BUY: My friend bought a corset, which came with instructions. They direct you to a YouTube video they produced to show you how to put a corset on yourself. They're on all major social media too if you want to check them out. I followed them on Instagram after shopping with them so I can see other people's corset purchases and custom made designs. OVERALL: A cute artsy store specializing in corsets. read more

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Walk into Dark Garden and be transported to another world. Autumn made my wedding dress many years ago. The dress was beautiful. The seamstresses are very talented. They also do their best to stand by their products. My first fitting showed that the corset's hem was uneven. They fixed it right away. The skirt was puckery in the back, which I only noticed on my wedding day. The closure was hooks and they puckered. My SIL and pal actually sewed me into the dress and it looked great. I wanted her to somehow compensate me for that trauma so she gave me a $100 credit which I gave to a friend for her wedding dress. I think it should have been more generous, but that was years ago. They do beautiful custom work, so enjoy! read more

I bought my corset as a custom size 10 years ago, now. It has held up to wear, cleaning, more wear, and everything life could throw at fabric. I love that it still looks beautiful, if seasoned. read more

Extraordinary care in their customer service. The manager helped me authentically make choices about what worked and didn't for my body.

Excellent custom work from people who know corsetry. My ribbon corset was purchased almost 20 years ago and it is still in perfect condition. read more

The staff is very friendly. The place is clean. I have one complaint and that is that the price for my custom skirts changed about 3 times. That was pretty disheartening, and sort of made me mistrust them a bit. However, after I looked at my previous gown that I had bought from them, and realized that it was the same fabric and also half the amount of fabric AND just about half the price, I settled down a bit. My husband seemed to think that it's because I told them it was my wedding, and that's why we were gouged from other companies as well. Honestly, after I received my pieces, I forgave them. Their corsets gowns, and skirts are one-of-a-kind, gorgeous/glamorous pieces and the staff is so nice and timely. I give them 4 stars. I wore two pieces during my bachelorette party and two during my wedding. read more

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This is a review I have been wanting to put off as I felt very bothered when I exited Dark Garden the first and last time back in 2017. I had been an avid corset wearer for a few years but nothing was fitting right because of off the rack pricing from other corset shops, being short, and decent-sized hips. I found DG as the only local place around the Bay Area. I wanted to invest a decent amount of money (which involves at least paying for it with a few month paychecks worth) into a custom corset from them if their standard fits wouldn't fit my needs to feel comforted. I took the time out of a day off to come to the city by transit and walk what feels like forever to their store (city blocks are no joke!) When I got in, I was blown away and excited to start talking to someone. I saw a sales lady (slightly bigger than average african american gal, i briefly remember at the time) over at the register was on the phone talking to setting up an appointment with another individual for possible skype session. I wandered around the store and tried to figure out what standard fits they had there would work for me for a little while until the sales lady was finished with the call. She asked if i had any questions and I did by starting to ask her about the different cuts and possible custom corset pricing. Probably thought I was only there to invest with all my money to buy some fancy lingerie for a bloke. As I tried to explain how I wanted to get a constellation-themed corset that I wanted to design, she caught me off asking if I had an inspiration board or anything put together on Pinterest. I said I didn't since I didn't know I needed to have one to get work done (her response is that it gives the seamstresses an idea of my image, even if it was just a random mashup from Pintrest?!!?). She stopped me with any other prompting of the conversation by giving me a pamphlet with the standard & custom cuts, giving me the prices and how I should just make an appointment over Skype if I can't seem to make it over. I left so demoralized in not bothering to ask if even the standard cuts would work with my hips (they didn't) and felt like this was a slap in the face for so many reasons. 1) I like going into shops to do in-person clothes shopping or fittings to make sure IT IS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE. So trying to do my own measurements or taking the time out of my past busy week (worked weird hours for on-call work) to skype was out of the question. Second, the fact that she was suggesting to get a Pinterest board together even though I had sketches of this project I wanted to get done as a personal piece at home (like when someone gets a meaningful tattoo)... It hurt as an artist to feel like my vision wasn't important enough. As a young 20-something woman, it is kind of a bummer when it feels like one of your few options to express yourself kindly shows you the door since you don't smell ambitious (or maybe rich enough) to get a custom corset. read more

Dark Garden is an SF staple around the women I hang with. Every year they have a trunk show where they sell off pieces that were never picked up and have steep sales on about 70% of their merch. During one of their sales I picked up a corset I'd fallen in love with. It was also during this visit that I found out my ribcage will be the reason sweetheart corsets will never fit me correctly, which is always good to know! After receiving just fantastically friendly (and knowledgeable!) service I purchased a straight top corset and had a back panel specially made for me for a total of around $300 or so. I love the corset, but the issue for me is that I change sizes pretty consistently, so I've worn it perhaps 3 times in the 5 years I've owned it. It feels sacrilegious because I swear by Dark Garden but I personally like my cheaper Living Dead Souls underbusts better because they have more give. My advice to people who want to adore one of their pieces from Dark Garden is to be someone who stays about the same size regularly and has few rib and hip issues (though they can specially design for you at an extra cost) and additionally be someone who actually loves wearing corsets. Which, sadly, I don't. You should definitely come on by and try some gorgeous pieces on! You'll mostly likely fall in love with something and at the very least they'll make you look fabulous! read more

sooooo I was not feeling that great. I was having a colossally bad work week. Went to Blue Bottle Coffee for my caffeine ba-ba for sad squinka baby. I remembered Poe's 5 star review of the place next door, Dark Garden. Poe, Yelp's own Gardener of the Dark had encouraged me to get over my shyness and try on some stuff there. I was immediately drawn to a deep burgundy and black silken lace-up corset. I thought I would take it and try it on. Corsetry requires a competent friend. You actually cannot do it alone. I was greeted right away by a sweet and efficient young woman artfully dressed in a way that said librarian, film noir, and Fellini filmstar. She greeted me and let me know right away she would need to measure my waist. She came back with a measure, in half a breath's time, wrapped it around my waist, saying "mmmhmmm." I told her my bra size. "Not necessary" Apparently all the corsets go by waist size and the whole of it is shaped to be brought in-in-in! by the laces, squeezing you until you are a bewbie bouquet. "uh ok" She showed me to the dressing room and instructed me in her melodic soft library voice to take off my blouse and my bra as the corset would "do everything". I undressed from the waist up. A moment later the curtain opened. "Hello lovely! " in the kindest voice. I almost cried. I had had probably one of the most heartbreaking fuck-awful weeks ever. Something about feeling vulnerable, being partially naked and being called lovely by someone handing me a bundle of brocades just got to me. There was very little crybaby time, however. In short order Mother Garden (ok her name was Jessica) whisked the fabric around me, had me place my hands tightly on my waist, drew quickly on the laces until my waist held my ribs hostage and I think the ransom might have been oxygen. But after a while I actually felt giddy and unexpectedly comfortable and omg I began to think that all my years of the tussle between my head and heart, my sense and my sex...wrong. From now on my bewbies can decide what I do. Corseted cleavage is cooperation, physics and pranayama. My custom-made corset will be ready in two weeks. Watch out heartless bottom-line business world. My breasts are making decisions. read more

Dark Garden - lace me up! - Lingerie Near Me - San Francisco, California

The female form is treated as individual works of art here and the lingerie fitting expertise is perfection. Buy your ludicrously beautiful and fanciful undergarment what-nots here and skip cheap mass market noise like Vicky's and Freddy's at the mall. I might as well give Dark Garden a retainer--I paid a pretty penny, waited a month, fell in love with what I ordered, and am now plotting my next purchase. Moral of the story? You really CAN pay to look like hot shit, oh yes. Take my money now! read more

Most girls grow up dreaming about Vera Wang wedding dresses and Versace gowns but I always pined after a real steel boned corset. Since I was 15, I've had various cheap costume versions but never the "real deal." I was super excited to discover Dark Garden while I was attending the Dickens Christmas Fair and even more delighted when I discovered that Dita von Teese is amongst their clientele. I mean, if it's good enough for the queen or burlesque (who I deeply respect and have a HUGE girl crush on), then how can I possibly go wrong here? So after chatting with one of the staff members at DCF, I took a card and made plans to visit once I return from my trip to Asia. Months go by due to being super busy at work, prolonged illness, and bad timing... But finally the day came when the stars aligned perfectly and I found myself in Hayes Valley during their open business hours. I hightailed it over directly and was really excited to be fitted and to try on the various styles. Danielle was super sweet, educational, and not at all pushy. She encouraged me to try different styles even though I went in thinking I would prefer an underbust style like the waist cincher. She also fitted me in different colors and suggested the sweetheart style which I was initially ambivalent about. I really thought I would be coming in to get a better idea on styles and fit options and was planning on a second trip to come back and pick out a corset but I really loved the sweetheart style in black poplin and thought it would be perfect as my first starter corset. Danielle was great and even humored me as I got my male companion that day to try on a corset as well. He gets props for being a good sport and Danielle was really nice to take the time to lace him up. Euphrates was also in that day and talked to me about tips on caring for my corset and sharing her YouTube video on how to lace yourself into a corset. I was eyeing the Lancer style as I left the shop so I suspect I'll be back again to get myself a Christmas gift later this year :) read more

Dark Garden - Lingerie Near Me - San Francisco, California

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:: sigh :: it's places like this that make me wish I was a woman. These corsets are gorgeous. I dropped by to check it out after hearing about it from friends. Also bought a gift certificate for someone, which is a well-designed post-card thing inside a lovely box. One of these days, I'll get up the confidence and figure out enough of my personal style to get a corset and somehow integrate that into my wardrobe, at least for some semi-fancy events. read more

I have a couple off the rack Dark Garden corsets, which are beautiful and well made. This review, however, is dedicated to the beautiful Autumn and her staff for creating the most beautiful one-of-a-kind sari steampunk wedding dress. I have seen many of the wedding dresses that have come from this show and each one was more stunning than the last. The most impressive thing is their ability to capture the brides style and personality. Each garment being a unique and well made artistic representation of each person's fantasy. It isn't a cheap process but why would it be? You get what you pay for and after the months of dress shopping i discovered getting a custom dress is the best way to get what you want at the best price.' A $2000 dress at davids bridal or wherever it seems all well and good until it comes to alterations. Since i am short i would have needed 12-15 in cut from the bottom of a standard dress. After the first 3 inches it would be 100-150 per INCH! not to mention trying to shorten a waist increase the bust etc. I love my wedding dress, even a year after my wedding i can honestly say i wouldn't have done a damn thing differently. read more

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I'm amazed with this shop, it's a San Francisco treasure that I wish I would have known about years ago. Just bought my second corset from DG: it is the best piece of clothing I've ever owned and probably ever will own. From the Risqué Collection, when I hold it in my hands, it looks and feels like a piece of art. It has sheer, super-strength nylon panels that are set between satin-encased boning. Unbelievably light weight, and it can be worn under or over clothing. (I attached a photo from the DG website.) On top of the beautiful construction and light weight, I'm blown away by the comfort. Extremely comfortable and invisible under clothing. It has a huge positive effect on my silhouette. I can't believe that I didn't know about this magic years ago! In the past, I've wasted money on shapewear that was uncomfortable, flimsy, and didn't have much of a noticeable effect. As much as I love the product, it was just as much the staff that made my experience with Dark Garden winderful. They spent a ton of time showing me all of the options available, doing the fittings, and answering all my ridiculous questions. The first corset that I bought was off the rack, but the second one was semi-custom, and it fits like a second skin. I'm a certified addict, and I'll definitely be back to DG for more. Highly recommend this product and experience, it's fun even if you do t immediately make a purchase. read more

Dark Garden - Lingerie Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Who thought lil' ol' me could find a corset off the rack? I sure didn't? My dress had been ordered and I was running around looking for foundational garments. I had just left my go-to spot, broken hearted from an epic fit fail. I had massive doubt that Dark Garden had anything for me so I had little faith. They popped up in a local bridal magazine so I decided to check them out. My goodness, they have everything! They have it for everybody. You need not be the size and build of Dita VonTeese they have something gorgeous for you. You can be fancy and get something customized but you don't need to. They even give you instruction on how to put on, take off and care for your garments. There is even a YouTube video. I encourage you to visit and see what they have for you. The price tag may seem daunting but it is really worth it. These undergarments are appropriate whenever you're wearing clothes... or not! What I mean is that these are not exclusively worn for your wedding day. They are worth every cent. read more

I've been wearing corsets for a long time and got tired of the plastic boning that most stores sell. I yearned for a proper strong corset. I got a Dark Garden gift certificate for my anniversary and was happily on my way to a beautiful custom-made, steel boned, built-like-a-batlleship corset. Their shop is lovely and lavishly decorated. In addition to custom corset creations, they also sell ready-to-wear corsets and a variety of cute accessories... ended up buying some hair clips and a kick@ss little pirate hat. My custom corset was not cheap but MAN it compresses me quite nicely. Visit Dark Garden in San Francisco, or find them at any number of events (I've seen them at the NorCal PirateFest, the Edwardian Ball and the Dickens Fair). read more

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The first thing that Dark Garden tempts you with is all the eye candy that you find to the right and left of you as you walk through the doors. It's impossible to ignore the stunningness of the ready-made corsets and little hats and fascinators that range from delicate and pretty to complete works of art. Then you find the glass cases filled steampunk and Victorian style jewellery. But all that is just the beginning. The ladies who work here are professional, patient, knowledgable and kind all at once. I had never tried a corset before but the pure comfort of their corsets instantly made me feel like I was wearing something of seriously good quality. Autumn was able to understand easily what I was looking for in a wedding dress during our consultation and they were able to get the whole thing made in less than a month. The first time I tried it on, I couldn't believe how beautiful and perfect it was. It felt like a dream that I had the perfect wedding dress and the best part is that it was made just for me! I just can't wait to go back and fill my closet with more corsets from Dark Garden! read more

Dark Garden - Back of my corset. Plus the most amazing fascinator ever!! (also from DG, of course) - Lingerie Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I bought my custom corset from Dark Garden in 2006 or 2007. It is absolutely gorgeous. The fit is perfect and it is more beautiful than I ever imagined it to be when picking out my materials. It has been almost 7 years and my corset is still in perfect condition. Every time I am in San Francisco I stop by Dark Garden to see what other people have had made. After seeing so many of their individual creations I can say that the staff at Dark Garden is always open to ideas and they do a wonderful job of working with YOUR creativity, vision, and personal style. If you are looking for a professional , down-to-Earth atmosphere and a quality product definitely go to Dark Garden. read more

Dark Garden - My gorgeous 7-year-old custom corset from Dark Garden. - Lingerie Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I adore Dark Garden! The fabrics they use are sumptuous, and the styling of the corsets are fabulous. There are so many options as far as corsetry. I have several, one of my favorites being a emerald green silk. The fits can be customized & the staff is knowledgeable. They will help you get laced in if you call ahead of time for an appointment too. I also bought one of the delightful and unique period hats they have in shop. I love the hourglass shape I get, like a Victorian mermaid when I'm laced properly in a corset. Merci Beaucoup! xx Tessa read more

This place is *THE SPOT* for a Corset, hands down. Seriously, if they can't get you what you want, you don't deserve it. read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about Dark Garden... I've gotten several pieces from them over the years, and can always spot a Dark Garden corset from a mile away. No other product compares to their attention to detail. So it was an obvious choice as to where to go for my wedding dress. We designed the dress from the ground up: it had to be "engineered" to accomodate my specific movement needs- dancing, sword fighting... The result was breath taking- see for yourself in my photos! read more

I have a DG corset that I adore and when I became engaged there was nowhere else I wanted to go but here for my dress. Dark Garden is NOT just about corsets sure their corsets are the most amazingly professional and comfortable corsets I've ever worn, and I've worn a lot of corsets over the years, but they have decades of experience for other types of clothing as well. Just take a look at my two photos.(2007 wedding dress in the gallery) As you can see there is no corset. I wanted something with a 1930's or 40's feel to it and I got it. The dress is the most beautiful garment I've ever owned and everyone was in awe of how lovely it was. So even if you think you don't need a corset but you are getting married Dark Garden can give you a one of a kind dress something you can't say about those bridal boutiques! read more

Dark Garden - My Dark Garden Wedding Dress 2007 - Lingerie Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Trying on corsets at Dark Garden is like trying on sports cars or love. You know it's not something you need, but you try it on anyway to get it out of your system. Once you do, you cannot imagine your life without one. Having experienced both a gain and a loss in 2011, I can assure you that motives to acquire corsets, sports car, or love may be complicated, but the decision is made in a split second, and without regret: a gasp upon seeing one's own beautiful silhouette looking back in the mirror, with tinier than imaginable waist, the inexplicable sense of femininity and power mixed in with sexiness. It was like being told I had a huge grin on my face when I test drove that sports car, and kissing back that someone who makes me want to become a better person. You know you need to hold onto it as long as you can. So my "test drive" quickly turned into an order for a made-to-order corset of my own. Made-to-order corsets are made with precut patterns of individual size with fabric and style of your choice. Little alterations are possible with extra charge to make it fit as best as possible. You could also get custom-made corsets which involves cutting a pattern just for you based on your sizing. Special thanks to Autumn and Lauren for their expert and friendly advice and help during the process. The shop is also full of beautiful things like accessories, jewelry, sexy under garments, outer wear, and hats. I can't wait to go pick up my corset (currently it's a seven-week wait) but I might have to visit sooner to take a stroll again in this beautiful *garden* indeed. read more

This Place is ok. Don't really care for it but we always stop and check it out when at the DCF. The one thing that really amazes me is the models in the windows wearing whatever it is. How they can just stand or sit for such a long time without moving. They just pose for everyone to take pictures. It is quite a site to see. And oh yes, they do have things for men read more

This place is amazing. I've always wanted a custom corset, but unfortunately lack the funding for it. (This IS an invitation gentlemen...) I stopped into Dark Garden with my sister when we were in the area and both of us were blown away with how beautiful everything they make here is. From the corsets, to the hats, to the waist cinchers everything is definitely top notch and gorgeous. The craftsmanship is absolutely breathtaking. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because I don't have a corset from Dark Garden yet. However, Christmas IS rapidly approaching. HINT HINT. read more

My wife and I have a few Dark Garden corsets. They are very well-made and we love them to death. Dark Garden makes some of the most attractive corsets available. However, my experience with them has been mixed. On the plus side, they have a variety of attractive styles and amazing fabrics. They draft a pattern to fit you perfectly. If you ask for (and pay extra for) a given date, you will get it by that date. However, if you don't, expect your corset to come 2-4 weeks late. Some of their corsets are relatively fragile. I noticed the boning wearing through its tape on one of the corsets after about a year with infrequent wear. Finally, some of their staff behave... oddly. Half of the time I feel like a valued customer, and the other half they make me feel like an intruder who is barely tolerated and asked to leave as soon as my business is concluded thankyouverymuch. While they are among the best, I'm not sure that the price premium is worth dealing with the chronic lateness, the questionable durability, and the attitude. I suspect there are other corsetmakers out there who might offer a better package. read more

Curious about how a 22 inch waist would look...I barely ate for two days in anticipation of being strapped into this luxurious handmade garment. I dare any of you young ladies out there to even try to walk in this store without ordering one of these handmade goodies. The pieces are just stunning and you can choose fabric and borders and give it a personal touch or add on a garter option (of course I did). The experience will make you feel like a princess. It is very pampering. A few weeks after my order, the designer contacted me with the sweetest voice message ever about how my Corset was ready. My husband and I triumphantly made our way to the Dark Garden, giddy and giggling the whole way in anticipation. It was a rainy afternoon and in anticipation of wanting to wear the corset out the door, well, I basically showed up in a skirt and boots and long trench (no I didn't flash anyone on the way -- this comes later). My "lady in waiting" as she so claimed, warned me as she attached the front and laced the back: "be careful if you are drinking tonight as you will get light-headed". I responded, "you are too late - we just polished off a bottle of champagne and a bottle of pinot at Hotel Biron". Eating at my normal rate was not an option as I still needed to wear it in a bit. Do restrict the urge to flash people on the street just because you are feeling a heightened sense of confidence due to the fact that you are forced to walk so erect that you have suddenly grown an extra couple inches. In addition to my addiction to yelp and sore ribs, I am now addicted to researching the history (& increased recent popularity) of corsets. I am already saving up for my next which will be a lighter shade and different fabric. This is such a unique store in SF - you must check it out for yourself! read more