In late 2000, a charming Zona reader sent a series of messages which she has graciously allowed me to reproduce here.
I grew up in an average sort of family (Mom, Dad, me, and kid sister) in an average sort of town. Dad worked in an office, and Mom was a mom. She wore a girdle of course, just as she wore a bra, and Dad a collar and tie for work. That's what was expected and that was what was done. Her girdles were tough, rubbery, tubular things, with garters dangling from them. They held no great appeal for me.
Come (nearly) thirteen, Mom took me to buy my first bra. No big deal. But she said, "You'll also need some stockings and a garter belt". No mention of a girdle, not by Mom, the sales clerk, or by Arlene. Girdles were what Moms wore. Of course, within a year or two I realised that some of the girls I knew were wearing girdles. Well, that was their choice. I didn't feel the need for one, and Mom never mentioned it. She might have been exceptional. Or perhaps I was. But if that was so, I wasn't aware of it.
One day, when I was fifteen, Mom and Dad had some smart friends round for lunch. With them was their eighteen-year-old daughter, Anne. I looked up to her, since she seemed so sophisticated. And I wore my best skirt, a very neat black one. Imagine my embarrassment when Anne smiled at me, and said, "Who's not wearing her girdle today then?"
Oh dear! Luckily, neither my Mom or Dad were listening. And then lunch was served. Anne sat next to me and was very nice. No further mention of a girdle. But the message got through.!
Well, later I went upstairs, and looked at myself in Mom's long mirror. Yes, I could see now. My butt did show, and my tummy did stick out, if only a little. In contrast I'd noticed that Anne, whilst bigger than me, looked kind of sleek.
Luckily I had some dollars of my own for clothes, etc., and next time I was in town by myself, I duly visited the local bra-and-girdle store. Fortunately, I seemed to be the only customer. There was a nice middle-aged sales clerk.
"Er, I'd like to buy a girdle," I ventured.
"Why, of course. What type do you normally wear?"
Oh dear! "Er, well, nothing special..."
"Oh... I see," came the reply, and I think she understood. "Let's measure you, then."
And she did. And then searched around and produced a neat-looking open-bottom one (this was 1962, before panty girdles were so popular). She assured me that she thought it would suit me, and gave me good advice: pull it on carefully. When it's on, pull the front up, and the back down.
Did it suit me? Well, yes, but I hid it away, and it was a few days before I tried it on. Then one weekend, with kid sister, with whom I roomed, out of the way, I tried it on. Well, it was harder to get on than I'd thought. Quite a lot of wriggling in fact! So this was what Mom had to go through every morning!
But when it was on...well, I looked in the mirror, and, why, yes, Arlene, you look kind of good! Held me in place. Made me feel adult! And, whatever people might tell you, it even felt good.
So on went the stockings, and on it stayed for the day! Mom didn't notice that day, or if she did, she didn't say, but come laundry time, she did give me her approval- "Nice girdle, Arlene!" Even my sister looked approving. Quite something-- I was there!
Now, what was I to do? Go out and buy three other new girdles? No, life wasn't like that. I had some perfectly good garter belts, and not many dollars!
But, as it happened, a few weeks later I read this thing about a fifteen-year-old's wardrobe. She had one girdle and two garter belts, so perhaps I wasn't the only one. And the advice was, "When a garter belt wears out, replace it with a girdle". That was the advice I took, and before too long, I wore a girdle every day. And, as they came more and more into fashion, I moved from open bottom girdles to panty girdles.
Now, what was it like wearing a girdle in the sixties? Well, as I said, I felt okay, even good in one. BUT I never wore a firm one with hooks & zips and bones. I was fairly slim. And I took care to get one that fitted well.
All the same, yes, I was quite often pleased to take it off at the end of the day (or sometimes after school), especially if it was hot. But I can say, that they were no great problem. And when panty hose came along, well, I continued to wear a panty girdle. Girdles weren't just to hold up stockings. Or were they?
Before I answer that question, let's have a final look back to the late sixties. I wore a girdle, my mom wore a girdle, my kid sister wore a girdle, my cousin in Ohio, who I used to room with when we met on vacation, she wore a girdle too. I could no more envisage girdles going out of fashion than skirts or bras.
And when the seventies came, I was married. We lived in a little house alone, and mine were the only girdles there, and I didn't room with anyone else but my husband. So if girdles were going out of fashion, well, it wasn't that obvious to me! But they appeared less in shop windows, and I heard critical comments, of course. But surely, these were just the exception?
But not having to use garters did change things. And here are two incidents which did, too. One hot Sunday, hubby and I had been trying to sort out our tiny garden. We were casually dressed, and for once I wasn't girdled. But Mom was coming round to see us that evening, so I showered and started to put on something smarter. But, on an impulse, I decided to keep the girdle off. Yes, for the first time for years, I wore a skirt without a girdle underneath. And nobody noticed! Or at least they didn't seem to!
Of course, the next morning, when I dressed for work, I put on a girdle again. But a few weeks later I was in a shop in town trying on a new dress. The girdle I was wearing was a bit past its best, a fact I explained to the sales clerk who was helping me. "Oh, don't worry about that," she said. "Not many people wear them any more. They're old-fashioned!"
Well, were they? I wasn't sure. But gradually I started not to wear girdles, and not to replace them when they wore out. Panties were cheaper, more comfortable, and easier to wash. And soon, girdles were things of the past.
Well, for better or for worse I never wore a girdle for the best part of twenty years! Nobody commented or seemed to mind. I doubt they knew, except my husband, and he wasn't worried! Anyhow, I was fairly slim, took plenty of exercise, and ate sensibly.
But over twenty years, things happen. I had a child. Stopped smoking. Took less exercise. And enjoyed good food! Then I took a part-time job, and so it was back to business dress. It was at that stage that I felt I needed a bit of "support". But as before, things happened gradually. The line between girdles and "non-girdles" seems to have blurred anyhow. So I started buying control top panty hose, control panties, "shapers" etc.
But let's not get too concerned about names. In effect what I now wear is a panty girdle. And when I buy one, I ask for "a girdle". Not a shaper, control brief or whatever the retailer calls them. The sales clerks know just what I mean!
Why do I wear a girdle? Well, it gives me a smoother line and holds in my tummy and butt. I feel more confident in one, and I think I look better in one. And they're not as uncomfortable as they used to be in the sixties!
I did ask my husband what he thought of me being back in a girdle. He told me I looked "kind of neat" in one, and I hope he's right! I'm not sure how much it adds to my sex appeal, but I think I can say that it doesn't reduce it.
Well, there we are! I wonder how typical or untypical I am?
Arlene's Girdle Drawer
Many years ago I remember reading that you should have three girdles, "one to wear, one to wash, one to dry." Well, things have moved on a bit since then, and I've a few more than that in my drawer. Here are some good choices:
For day-to-day wear:
There can be few women in their fifties who have never worn a Playtex girdle, but it's not just for old times sake that I recommend their "tummy control brief," style 2502. Their description says it all: "Remarkably light weight, this classically tailored panty provides comfortably firm tummy control." True!
The Rago Contour Brief (6195) is my everyay "best girdle." It's very comfortable, but gives good control too, especially round the tummy. Just right for all-day wear.
For weekend wear:
A very good "weekend girdle" is the Maidenform "Moderate Control High Leg" (style 77414). Yes, it does what it's claimed to do, "provides smooth, sleek minimizing all round for shaping and tummy flattening." It's in beige, and looks very attractive. I've also got a similar "control brief" by Playtex, style 989 (in beige too!).
For casual wear:
Well, I like to think "Arlene always wears a girdle". But perhaps not quite! Under really casual clothes I sometimes wear a Bali "Freeform Panty". It's a good full brief, made of nylon, and it gives "a beautiful fit and a smooth line under clothes". Relaxed and comfortable.
For "Something Special":
As you'll have gathered, I'm a "medium control gal." I don't like long legs or bones, zips, or garters! Sorry! But that's just me. But I do have one stronger girdle, and it's back to Rago, their style 6197 Panty Brief. It really does everything a girdle should do, and it makes me feel real smart.
I realise that this is all a question of taste (and shape!), but I doubt you'll go wrong with any of the above!
-Arlene
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Orginally Posted September 2, 2001