Girdle: The Original Shapeware

Girdles were widely popular for about 50 years from the early to the mid 1900's. Made& originally of rubber and later elastic, girdles smooth the body line and made the wearer appear to have a nicer form. Girdles replaced the very restrictive corset and in turn were replaced by the panty girdle. Like corsets and other types of vintage sexy lingerie, girdles are enjoying something of a renaissance.

The first girdle was made of rubber and was likely created by the French fashion designer Paul Poiret for American ballroom dancer Irene Castle sometime between 1910-1912. Follwing a corset pattern he used rubber so that Irene's dancing could be more fluid. Poiret's girdle brought the ultimate end to the corset. Poiret was quoted as saying I freed the bust but I bound the legs.