Back in the 18th century the corset was used in upper society to dramatically shape a woman’s figure, emphasising the hourglass shape, pulling breasts forward, and pushing the buttocks outward. This fashion trend was called the wasp waist. This restrictive garment later inspired what we know today as the girdle.
Today the girdle is often an elastic undergarment, not so strict as the corset of days gone by but still intended to give shape. Girdles and corsets are used today for support as well as shape.
Most girdles today are made from one or more materials: lycra spandex or powernet. Blends help to keep shapewear comfortable as well as durable.
How do you classify the support or shaping power of a girdle? Most present day girdles are usually classified in groups such as “Light-Compression”, “Medium-Compression”, or “Strong-Compression”. The thickness of the material tends to be a real deciding factor in the amount of control. Super strong compression girdles have more panels of fabric, giving them more contouring power.
You can still find girdles that use hooks and snaps as well as boning, though it is not likely to be the same materials as the girdles of days gone by. The majority of girdles these days are pull on garments.
In this video we look at one present day girdle and its use by many celebrities! The Compression Corselette Body Shaper by Vedette is a popular modern version of the corset. The transformation of the girdle is clear in this short video clip:
