Vintage Style: The Modern Girdle
Girdles are strange contraptions. The ones at the vintage stores are downright menacing, with their straps and elastics and all-rubber cinchers. Support garments went out of vogue when styles changed and sportswear came to the forefront. But new technology has brought them back. Today’s undergarments are designed to smooth lines, tighten jiggles and make you more comfortable in your clothes. And they look nothing like that picture above.
The hurdle for most women is the idea of buying a support garment. There is no shame, ladies, in buying shapewear (unless you are trying to fit into clothes that are too small and then for shame, for shame). Buying a smoother isn’t admitting defeat. A dancer friend who has a terrific figure wears them. Recently someone said they’re too self-conscious to wear such items because their boyfriend might see it. If you’re super-worried, ditch it in the bathroom when you get home. Undress with the lights off. My husband has no idea (until now) that I wear them because they don’t show through my clothes and I’m crafty.
One line that is blowing up right now is called Spanx. They have revolutionized this market with wearable and comfortable shapewear. Their garments are seamless and made from compression yarns. One of their best-sellers smooths the waist, back and bottom and attaches to your bra. Genius. Spanx footfless tights and pants are popular for holding in the thighs and smoothing at the hips and derriere. They even sell maternity sizes.
Most women have visible lines and indentations on their blouses caused by bras. There are seamless cups and such to create smooth lines up front, but even a well-sized bra can create bulges along the back. Solution: a camisole or other garment that covers from the bra line to the waist line.
You can do a lot better than that tiny thong for hiding panty lines. Thongs are basically crotch covers and provide zero support. I wish so many women didn’t wear the wrong thong — when you can see the shape of a thong through your dress or sticking out the top of your jeans, you’re wearing the wrong drawers. One great way to avoid visible panty lines are to wear boy shorts or even longer footless tights. Some women are addicted to capri-length footless tights.
Wearing a shaper can also make clothes easier to wear. Scratchy waistbands or clothes that ride up are solved. Clothes drape better over smooth surfaces. Fashion’s fine knits and jersey dresses are a continuing trend through spring and both are body-conscious looks. Just try one. Trust me.
I wear Spanx all the time and they are absolutely wonderful (Power Panties with most of my skirts and the Higher Power with most of my dresses). There is also, I think, no need to be selfconscious about wearing them in the presence of the man in your life. My husband sees me wiggle into them every morning. No secrets in our house! He has actually commented on how he likes how I dress up so much more now that I have discovered Spanx. The reason is that I feel confident and sexy because I have a sense of being smooth and firm in my clothes. So, in that respect, my husband even finds my wearing Spanx to be sexy. I certainly don’t think they’re anything to hide. They are increasingly just a part of being a well-dressed woman.
I think there are quite a few guys who would benifit from a nice firm high waist girdle and now that they don’t have the lace at the ends of the legs or those panels at the navel and butt, they look like bike shorts.