Part Four: Buying a Girdle (For Ladies)
Girdles are available today from several sources:
- Major department stores now have reasonably extensive selections. As recently as a fewyears ago, it was difficult to find a good selection of girdles in a department store.
- The old-fashioned corset shop still exists and it is worth going out of your way to find one. Look in the Yellow Pages under either Girdles, Corsets, Foundation Garments, Lingerie, or Brassieres. Look for an old-fashioned sounding place, usually with a pseudo-French or campy glamorous name, or the name of the woman who owns the store. These places tend to have the widest selection of girdles. They are an endangered species and are worth patronizing.
- The cyber-boom may have gone cyber-bust, but there are some wonderful on-line retailers specializing in foundationwear. There's an extensive listing of on-line merchants at the Zona Shopper's Guide.
In the United Kingdom
It seems to be harder and harder to get a decent pantie girdle nowadays. Marks and Spencer are as reliable as ever, but their range seems to be getting more limited: they only have one medium control model (a "shaper"), and that's in a two pack. Even the large department stores don't offer much variety: and are expensive at that.
So here are three other options. First, a High Street chain, Contessa. Their "own brand" medium control pantie girdle is well made and easy to wear. If you need a little more control, try their firm pantie girdle: a bit heavier, but a good buy. In the south, the chain store Peacocks are very good value. Their medium contol pantie girdles are pretty, but perhaps a little light, but their firm control version is first rate: not expensive, and good to wear all day. Finally, there's Damart. Yes, I thought that they only produced thermals, and they do indeed do a thermal girdle. But they also do a more convential range, including a high-waist model which is hard to better.
-A Friend
The Right Size
Girdle sizing is generally done by waist size. Some girdles are sold by even waist sizes, but most are designated as Small (24-26), Medium (27-28), Large (29-30), 1-X (31-23), 2X (33-34), and so on.
Girdles are generally designed to fit women whose hip size is no more than ten inches greater than their waist size. If your hips are more than ten inches larger than your waist, as mine are, what you should do is a matter of controversy. Most sources suggest that you go to the next larger size. Many women, myself included, believe that you should still choose your girdle according to your waist size, since the added tightness at the hips is less of a problem than the ineffectiveness and even discomfort of a girdle that is too large at the waist.
If a girdle is firm-control, if it contains any boning or rigid fabric, or if you have never worn one before, you should definitely try it on before you buy it. Otherwise, trying the girdle on is up to you.
-Suzanne
More information on Getting A
Girdle That Fits.
The answer to this question is dependent on your figure type and the sort of outfit you'll be wearing. However, a few basic principles:
- The long-leg panty girdle is probably the most effective choice for all-around shaping. Long- leg panties can provide excellent waist and tummy control, while giving a smooth line to hips, derriere, and upper thighs as well.
- Control briefs are generally most effective for tummy control alone. If worn under straight skirts, they tend to produce a visible indentation at the hip.
- Open-bottomed girdles have a classic elegance about them. Some consider them to somewhat less practical than the other styles, virtually requiring the use of gartered stockings. If you don't object to that, you'll find that a firmly constructed open-bottomed girdle produces an exquisitely elegant shape and carriage, virtually impossible to duplicate otherwise.
-Virginian
But I'd Be Embarrassed!
Don't be embarrassed about going into a store and asking to buy a girdle. Every source I've discussed the matter with says that an increasing number of young, stylish women with excellent figures are buying them. Virtually every adult female can probably use one with at least one dress in her wardrobe. Before 1970, it was assumed that every woman over the age of 13 needed one to look her best. While no one is likely to make this assertion nowadays, it is still the case that virtually any woman over the age of 13, even women with excellent figures, will find that a girdle will make them look better in many of the dresses, skirts, and pants in their wardrobe.
-Suzanne
Continue to Part Five: Buying a Girdle (For Gentlemen)
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