Vintage Girdles

From LoveToKnow Lingerie

For anyone who appreciates the look and style of retro lingerie, vintage girdles are a great find. Forget about all of the modern materials and technology that go into girdles today – it’s hard to find any sales associates who even use the term. You’re more likely to hear lingerie retailers refer to body slimmers or shapewear, although these garments of today do the same thing that yesteryear’s girdles did: slim you in all the right places.

When wearing form fitting skirts and dresses, especially in fabrics like knit jersey that cling to your every curve, it’s important to wear the right undergarments. Girdles provide smoothing so that you have a flattering silhouette and pleasing line. When wearing authentic vintage girdles, you can enjoy some real nostalgia in your lingerie.

Where to Buy Vintage Girdles

You can check your local consignment shops or vintage stores to see if they have any vintage girdles in stock. You also have the option of shopping online at vintage lingerie websites such as:

Sleek n’ Chic: This site lets you know that they provide authentic vintage girdles, not imitations. They also provide other lingerie items, but if you’re looking for body-hugging pieces, you’ll find an ever-changing selection here. You get full descriptions, including measurements, and photographs of each piece.
Heavenly Vintage Lingerie: Another good place to shop for vintage lingerie, you’ll find generous descriptions of all lingerie items, including condition and era. Choose from panty-style girdles or allover styles, which smooth you from bust to thighs.
Vintage Slips: You’ll find more than just slips here. You’ll also find a variety of girdles, many of which with garters so that you can attach your retro stockings to them.
Enchanted Oldies: There’s a large selection of girdles and not just your average, bone white ones either. There are some styles from the 1960s when psychedelic colors were all the rage; this colorful craze extended to girdles as well. Not as descriptive as other vintage sites, you should pay close attention to the photographs and any details.

When shopping an auction site like eBay, check the seller’s reputation before you bid. Also, read over the description carefully to make sure you’re looking at an authentic vintage item instead of something made on vintage machines. Finding real vintage sometimes takes a little legwork, but once you hold that piece in your hands, you’ll feel it’s worth it.

What to Expect

When shopping in person or online, you want to make sure you get the real thing, but also in fairly good condition. If you’re able to shop locally, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Look the item over carefully before you buy. Authentic retailers will probably ship your vintage girdles wrapped in tissue paper to prevent damage.

Be aware that some vintage lingerie will be pristine because it was never worn, while pieces that were worn may have slight imperfections. For the most part, retailers try to only sell items that are in pretty good condition. You can extend the life of this precious lingerie by cleaning it with mild soaps and cool water. Also, don’t toss it in the washing machine! Treat these delicates like the precious pieces they are. A hand wash and air dry are essential for making them last.

Vintage girdles won’t be made out of modern-day materials like Lycra and spandex. Instead, lingerie makers of old relied on lots of elastic and “boning” to hold a figure in place. However, while some vintage girdles are rather plain and strictly functional, others are embellished with feminine details like lace. Once you begin learning about different lingerie manufacturers, you’ll see which companies prized form as well as function.

Pin-up Beauty

If you love retro-themed things, maybe this affection extends to your undergarments as well as your outerwear. Women who are used to modern body shapers may find vintage girdles uncomfortable at first, but remember: our mothers and grandmothers wore them all the time! You can feel a little nostalgia every time you slip into a piece that someone else wore and cherished..

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