Girdles, Corsets, and Underpinnings

[KittyT]

Thanks, Kerry! I think I'll give the underbust a try, as I have some form fitting dresses that I could do with some smoothing for!

You can always try the Rago corselette too.

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

Yeah, I was wondering. I've tried pulling them up much higher also, in an attempt to avoid the wonderful feeling of girdle roll, but it still didn't work. As a result, I've mostly avoided my OB girdles and stuck with my granny-style brief ones lol

Thanks for the info, Lizzie. This is most helpful.

Hey Kitty!
I found a great pair of tap pants at Lady Grace (can't put up the link but they do have a site). Anyway, they aren't the prettiest of things, they only had them in white, they don't even have a damn tag in them so I don't know what the brand is!! But, they are high waisted, long in the crotch shorts that fit perfectly over an OB girdle. I also found a slip by warner's (I think). It's actually shorts, just like an old style of tap pants. They are lace trimmed and high waisted and really comfortable. I think they just called them bloomers, although they technically aren't, it's just a short slip (not short as in length, but as in a pair of shorts). They came in black and also white, and I think they were reasonably priced. I think they came in two lengths as well. I wear them all the time with my dresses and it's so incredibly comfortable to have the coverage from a long pair of shorts verses just an open slip. I've been wearing them even when I'm not wearing a girdle but am wearing a dress. On a windy day like today when my dress could possibly fly up I've got a cute pair of shorts underneath.

Also, go to the lingerie section in Filene's Basement. I found the cutest pair of what they called pajama shorts, but bought them in a bigger size and they are working pretty well as tap pants. They're really pretty too. The line they are in has matching tops, night gowns, robes, and even a bed jacket!! The patterns are all so beautiful too!!

 

[KittyT]

I found a great pair of tap pants at Lady Grace (can't put up the link but they do have a site). Anyway, they aren't the prettiest of things, they only had them in white, they don't even have a damn tag in them so I don't know what the brand is!!

Thanks for the tips, Daisy! I was actually hoping to make it to Lady Grace this weekend for their 20% off sale - just have to find a way to get to one of their larger stores that might have the items I'm looking for.

If the tap pants are nylon, I would consider dying them a pretty color! I like your idea of using pajama shorts or just wearing them under dresses if it's windy. Definitely a problem I've been looking for a solution to.

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

Thanks for the tips, Daisy! I was actually hoping to make it to Lady Grace this weekend for their 20% off sale - just have to find a way to get to one of their larger stores that might have the items I'm looking for.

If the tap pants are nylon, I would consider dying them a pretty color! I like your idea of using pajama shorts or just wearing them under dresses if it's windy. Definitely a problem I've been looking for a solution to.

You're very welcome!!
Thanks for the dyeing idea, that's actually an awesome idea!!

I'm so psyched about the Lady Grace Sale, and if you have their free discount card, you supposedly can shop earlier and get even more of a discount. If you can get over to the Coolidge Corner store, let me know, I'll swing by if I'm home. They actually have a great selection, and some really adorable modern stuff as well. Oooh, I love it when that store puts things on sale.. Just be aware, the coolidge corner store closes at like 5:30, and I think they're closed on Sunday's
Oh, Target had some really cute pj shorts as well, but I didn't see them online just in the store, so if you get a chance to go over there check out their lingerie section.
Since my surgery I've had to wear looser undies, so the boy short style is like a blessing. I had surgery in NOvember and have just started to be able to put pants on again, so it was a very cold winter!! But, shorts under the skirts has made things so much more comfortable, especially with the wind today!!!

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

By the way, I didn't realize that the lingerie I bought at Filenes Basement was a brand called Pfiff. I'd heard of this brand before, but never seen it in person. It's so beautiful!! Really elegant!! Oh, and super expensive, so I'm so glad I got the deals that I did. All of their lingerie has a very glamour, vintage feel to it, oh and the bed jacket I got for $19.99 retailed last year for $100!!! Yeah, it's last season, but I'm sure none of us care about that. I mean after all we're looking for last season!!! But anyway, I can't seem to find much of it online, so if you can get thee to a Filenes Basement and pick up a few of these pieces, do so, it's so beautiful and IMO well worth the money!!

Oh, and the short things I got at Lady Grace are called Petti Pants/nylon flare leg pant, and they are a brand called Carole. Not very pretty I must admit but incredibly comfy. The slip shorts that I got are from Vanity Faire. They are much prettier. The Carole are only $7 and the Vanity Fair slip shorts are $12, less 20% this weekend. Ooh, and I just noticed that the Petti Pants drop down in price if you by 3 or more, to $5.95!!! These are all online at the Lady Grace website

 

[Last_Chael]

Simplicity make a crinoline pattern though, I have it but haven't got round to using it yet. Simplicity 5006

I use that pattern all the time! Though I've never used it to make the petti I used view B as a beautiful long flared skirt (that's the pattern I used for the skirt of my 'Mars Bar' 40's dress that I made. I've also used the corset pattern, but it's for a costume and not actually as underwear. But it's a very simple pattern to follow, and boy does it give me a great shape! I'm thinking about make a few more!

I've made a Victorian Corset before, which give me a great shape, but I don't know if I'd wear it under normal clothing. It's incredibly comfortable (despite popular belief), but I have to slowly lace myself in over a couple of hours to get my 3 inch reduction, so it's just not practical.

But the other day I bought myself a couple of shaper garments from Target (20% off sale too!). I bought one that goes from under the bust to mid thigh, and it does everything it says it's supposed to - defines my waist, flattens my tummy and gives a smooth line from the waist to the thighs. My huge problem area is my thighs; I have those awful 'saddle bags'. My hips and waist are at least a size smaller than my thighs, which makes pants and pencil skirts hard to fit and they look awful. But with the shaper on, I think I might just be able to give Pencil skirts another try! I also bought a pair of shorts that has a wide band around the stomach which flattens really well, and also helps smooth out that line from my waist along my thighs.

But I would still love to get my hands on a proper vintage girdle, with the garter attachments How does one find this 'rago' brand? It sounds promising!

 

[MissS]

You can always try the Rago corselette too.

Thanks for the tip KittyT, but I fnd my size-challenged chest rarely has enough oomph to fit into an all-in-one and chicken fillet fillers are so un-sexy!

But I would still love to get my hands on a proper vintage girdle, with the garter attachments How does one find this 'rago' brand? It sounds promising!

Last_Chael I purchased my Rago waist cincher from What Katie Did in LHR. Ordered Wednesday afternoon, dispatched Thursday, in my PO box in SYD Tuesday! Do it! I love mine to death and I've only worn it 2 days!

Oh, forgot to mention, it shaved 3 inches off my waist with no effort at all!

 

[Last_Chael]

Thanks MissS! They certainly look nice, but I just can't afford that price at the moment But I'll keep it in mind! I'd love to shave 3 inches off my waist!!

I was wondering what they meant by 'vintage figures' and 'modern figures'?

 

[KittyT]

How does one find this 'rago' brand? It sounds promising!

Do a google search for Rago girdle

Or go to Ebay, amazon.com, girdlebound.com, alexis4u.com, ladygrace.com, freshpair.com, herroom.com..... There are tons of places online that sell them. Just google search and price shop from there.

 

[NicolettaRose]

A great lingerie company I found that I want to share

One of the problems I always have is finding great slips to go under sheer vintage dresses, I have found most in department stores, to not be high quality like the ones of the past were, and today while looking online, I found this company, they make 100 percent silk slips and, nightgowns, pajamas etc and a lot of them come longer, perfect for vintage dresses, especially for ones cut on the bias from the 1930's

http://www.treesha.com/

 

[Goldfish]

I have found a site that - as I heard - makes good quality corset for really cheap: http://www.corsettailor.info their order min. is 800 $, I am quite tempted

 

[KittyT]

So I got my Rago waist cincher today - the 821 maximum control style. I just don't think I like it, but it's hard to tell.

I'm very short waisted, and even with it hitched up just under my bra, it comes down too far over my hips and squeezes them, causing a bulge in my hips just below the cincher (and I have the standard 10" difference between my waist and my hips). It does accentuate the hourglass shape nicely, but I'm not sure if it's a visual effect on me or what, since it's only reducing my waist by 1/2"! In order to get a nice line with it under a wiggle dress, I think I'd have to wear it with a regular OB girdle too, which might just be too bulky. Also, mine didn't come with garters, which is kindof annoying. I thought they all did - maybe it's just the lighter control lace one that does.

Who knows, maybe I need to try a smaller size, but then I'm thinking that the hip squishing issue might be worse! This cincher feels pretty snug on me, but it just isn't giving me that much of a waist reduction.

 

[kerry]

For the UK ladies. I bought a longline bra in M and S today and it is really nice. They do it in DD cup aswell.
Kerry xxx

 

[MissS]

So I got my Rago waist cincher today - the 821 maximum control style. I just don't think I like it, but it's hard to tell.

I'm very short waisted, and even with it hitched up just under my bra, it comes down too far over my hips and squeezes them, causing a bulge in my hips just below the cincher (and I have the standard 10" difference between my waist and my hips). It does accentuate the hourglass shape nicely, but I'm not sure if it's a visual effect on me or what, since it's only reducing my waist by 1/2"! In order to get a nice line with it under a wiggle dress, I think I'd have to wear it with a regular OB girdle too, which might just be too bulky. Also, mine didn't come with garters, which is kindof annoying. I thought they all did - maybe it's just the lighter control lace one that does.

Who knows, maybe I need to try a smaller size. This cincher feels pretty snug on me, but it just isn't giving me that much of a waist reduction.

Darn, sorry to hear it's not fitting quite right, KittyT. I have the #21, which is firm control and it came with garters. I have come across a firm control without garters, which appears to be the one you have - maybe you can exchange? I was between sizes and opted to get the smaller size, so my cincher is very firm (which I quite like), but maybe that's why I was able to lose 3"?

 

[KittyT]

Darn, sorry to hear it's not fitting quite right, KittyT. I have the #21, which is firm control and it came with garters. I have come across a firm control without garters, which appears to be the one you have - maybe you can exchange? I was between sizes and opted to get the smaller size, so my cincher is very firm (which I quite like), but maybe that's why I was able to lose 3"?

Do you get the hip bulge I'm talking about from yours? Maybe I need to try one size smaller but with the lighter control. That might do it!

 

[MissS]

Do you get the hip bulge I'm talking about from yours? Maybe I need to try one size smaller but with the lighter control. That might do it!

No hip bulge on me, KittyT, and I have a 10cm difference between waist and hip as well. When I wear mine, the top part touches my bra strap (normal bra) and the bottom of the cincher just grazes my hip bones. I'm thinking of trying the lighter control one as well (I came up negative on the underbust girdle - they have my size), so I'll post results when I do! Let me know how you go.

 

[JupitersDarling]

It does accentuate the hourglass shape nicely, but I'm not sure if it's a visual effect on me or what, since it's only reducing my waist by 1/2"! In order to get a nice line with it under a wiggle dress, I think I'd have to wear it with a regular OB girdle too, which might just be too bulky. Also, mine didn't come with garters, which is kindof annoying. I thought they all did - maybe it's just the lighter control lace one that does.

Who knows, maybe I need to try a smaller size, but then I'm thinking that the hip squishing issue might be worse! This cincher feels pretty snug on me, but it just isn't giving me that much of a waist reduction.

The reduction problem might just be that: being short waisted! I don't have any rago cinchers to compare with you, but I am short waisted as well, and I can only get at most 1-2 inches or so reduction compared to the "usual" 3-4 from a regular underbust corset. It does give me a fantastic hourglass, but only because it makes the shape of my waist circular instead of the natural ellipse. (If you look at me from the side, my torso looks slightly thicker than when I'm not wearing it.)

From what I can figure, shortwaisted people either would have to wear the waistband lower to avoid the ribcage and get more reduction, and/or get something with a shorter 'waistband' area to fit in between the ribs, with more room in the hips to go over the curve. Anyway, if the shape at the waist is looking ok for you despite the lack of reduction, I wouldn't worry too much about that- figure out the hip bulge first!

 

[PS]

So I got my Rago waist cincher today - the 821 maximum control style. I just don't think I like it, but it's hard to tell.

I'm very short waisted, and even with it hitched up just under my bra, it comes down too far over my hips and squeezes them, causing a bulge in my hips just below the cincher (and I have the standard 10" difference between my waist and my hips). It does accentuate the hourglass shape nicely, but I'm not sure if it's a visual effect on me or what, since it's only reducing my waist by 1/2"! In order to get a nice line with it under a wiggle dress, I think I'd have to wear it with a regular OB girdle too, which might just be too bulky. Also, mine didn't come with garters, which is kindof annoying. I thought they all did - maybe it's just the lighter control lace one that does.

Who knows, maybe I need to try a smaller size, but then I'm thinking that the hip squishing issue might be worse! This cincher feels pretty snug on me, but it just isn't giving me that much of a waist reduction.

I have this one and it is very very snug. I got a little more reduction but it takes alot for me to opt for this one over my 721. I don't get a bulge but the last time I wore it for several hours I did have a bruise on my hip. The snugness with the lack of garters makes it kind of a pain.

I just ordered 2 of these, from e bay.

I thought this might be my best summer option for around the house. Of course now I find a seller selling them in packs, I really got stung on shipping! Darn :eusa_doh:

 

[AllaboutEve]

For the UK ladies. I bought a longline bra in M and S today and it is really nice. They do it in DD cup aswell.
Kerry xxx

Oooh do they go any bigger than that, do you have a link? I've just been to the website and can't seem to find it!!

 

[kerry]

Oooh do they go any bigger than that, do you have a link? I've just been to the website and can't seem to find it!!

Here is a link http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/node/n/43283030/026-1434676-0896427?ie=UTF8&mnSBrand=core

Looks like DD is as big as they go

Hope this helps anyway.
Kerry xxx