Marlene is based on a historical pattern from circa 1890. It is a corded corset with cording over the hips and in the bust gusset. The internal fabric is cotton twill or herringbone coutil. The choice of face fabric and hand-flossed design is optional and may affect the final price. Marlene is strengthened with spiral and flat steel boning and has a busk closure at the front.
The original corset from which this pattern was developed was designed more for support than for waist reduction. Its shape falls somewhere between conical and hourglass, with a relatively straight cut through the ribs and waist while allowing more room for the bust and hips. This corset is designed to be worn with a 10 cm gap at the back when fully closed.