Part Two: Girdles Today
Most girdles available today are made from an interweaving of nylon and lycra spandex. Contemporary girdles made from this blend are the most comfortable girdles that have ever been made. Although they are light and comfortable, they are almost as controlling as the much heavier and stiffer girdles that were worn before Lycra was developed in the early '60's.
Girdles sold today are normally classified as light control, medium control, or firm control. The difference in these levels of control is usually a reflection of the thickness of the girdle material or the degree to which a girdle is paneled. That is, a firm-control girdle will normally have more areas in which the fabric has been doubled or tripled to form a panel design that will have more controlling power.
Although most contemporary girdles are relatively light, pull-on garments, it is still possible to find girdles which contain boning, which incorporate materials like rayon, cotton, or satin, and which must be hooked and/or zipped.
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The term "girdle" has acquired such a negative connotation that garments such as that shown at left are marketed under names such as "shaper" or even "bike pant." The G-word has been essentially banished from polite discourse, but the garment has shown a limited resurgence. |
Girdle nomenclature can be confusing, because over the years, manufacturers and retailers have come up with a myriad of new descriptive terms to avoid the negative connotations many find in the word, "girdle." Ads will feature such terms as shaper, control bottom, shapesuit, sports brief, body-briefer, long-line slimmer, hip slip, and even bike pant!
However, no matter what they're called, four basic styles account for the majority of figure- shaping garments worn in the last fifty years. In the U.S., these are most commonly referred to as the long-leg panty girdle, the open-bottom girdle, the control brief, and the all-in-one:
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Though the panty girdle attained its greatest popularity in the nineteen-sixties, they can easily be found in stores today. It is an excellent choice for all-around smoothing. |
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The open-bottom girdle, garment of choice in the forties and fifties, is harder to find. Nearly always worn with gartered stockings, it lends the figure an air of retro elegance. |
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The control brief is the most popular shaping garment worn today. They typically provide lightweight smoothing, though firm control models are made. Tummy panels, as on the brief at left, are a common feature. |
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The all-in-one, or corsolette, combines girdle and bra. They may be brief-style, like this one, or have long legs, or an open bottom. Light-control versions are often sold under the term bodysuits or body-briefers. |
All sort of variations are possible on these basic themes. Girdles may come with high, cuff tops for control above the waistline. They may come with or without garters, zippers, or reinforced panels to provide extra control at a particular spot. It is even possible to buy girdles with lacing reminiscent of nineteenth-century corsets.
A few additional points:
- A panty girdle with short legs is sometimes referred to as a boy-leg girdle. Don't ask me why.
- A waist cincher is essentially an elastic band extending from the bottom of the rib cage to mid-abdomen. As its name implies, it is intended strictly for waist and stomach control, and does not extend to cover the hips. It usually closes with hook-and-eye fasteners.
- A Merry Widow is much like a waist-cincher, but extends upwards to support the breasts.
- The pantsliner, designed to be worn with pants, extends all the way to the ankles. They were never common, and are quite rare today.
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A recent marketing innovation is the so-called hip slip. This is simply a lightweight, garterless open-bottomed girdle, usually trimmed with lace and made to resemble a half-slip. |
Continue to Part Three: Setting the Record Straight
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Updated December 2003