"Melissa" remembers...

When I was a young girl, I remember watching both my older sister and mother getting into and out of their girdles. Not really appreciating the nature of the apparel and exactly why anyone would want to wear one, I remember giggling as they struggled.

On many occasions, after finishing with her bath, my mother would be in her room getting dressed.

If I joined her in the master bedroom or was within her range of vision, she would occasionally call to me and ask me to go into one of her dresser drawers and bring her girdle to her while she was seated on the edge of the bed.

When it came time for her to put the girdle on, I would usually start to act silly. By the time it was properly in place, my mother sometimes would appear to be somewhat out of breath after the mild struggle. I have a distinct recollection of being asked a question by her once during my time of amusement. She looked at me warmly and said, "Missy, tell me why you always seem to find this part funny when I'm getting all dressed up."

"Mom, it just looks like you won't be able to pull it all the way up, that's all. Is it too small for you?" I asked innocently.

"No, it's the right size, sweetheart. Girdles are supposed to be tight for a reason," she added.

"Why?"

"They are supposed to hold in a woman's tummy and fanny and make her look thinner than she really is. You could say that they allow ladies to cheat just a little. Cheating in school is wrong, but this is a different kind of cheating. Do you understand what I mean?" She flashed that trademark smile of hers knowing that I knew just what she meant.

(1996)

Top to bottom: Sarong, 1950s; Kayser, 1964; Kayser, 1960s; Ragno (Italy) probably 1960s; maker unknown (Dutch) probably 1950s; unidentified manufacturer, 1990s.

The convention resurfaces in these 1990s bra-and-panty ads.

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The Image Gallery is presented in hopes of preserving a small bit of a vanishing cultural resource. All material is posted for educational purposes only.

If you have a secret stash of treasured girdle images, please consider sharing with others... contact Virginian for details.