A Little Vintage Va-Va-Voom

So you may or may not remember I recently bought two vintage skirts - one pale pink, hi-waist wool pencil skirt and a cherry-red wool wiggle skirt. I am totally in love with them. And I'm always trying to find ways of wearing them with a slight twist, rather than authentically emulating their original styling (remember this post?).

One thing I have noticed is that I need to watch my tummy and derriere - I need to be careful which knickers I choose that day and keep reminding myself to suck in my tum. But then I discovered the good ol' girdle. Something your Nanna knew all about and most of today's burlesque artists are on intimate terms with. I have to say that modern shapewear can learn a thing or two from times of old when it comes to the aesthetics of structured undies.

I mean, just look at that girdle! It's a piece of art. It's something you wouldn't be afraid of wearing in front of your boyfriend. In fact, he'll probably like it. The other beautiful feature of girdles is the garter straps. As every good pin-up girl knows there is something oh-so-sexy about sheer stockings that need to be rolled on and off with extra care and delicately fastened (just look at all the imitation suspender stockings around lately). It might be shapewear vintage-stylee, but it beats full brief stockings and modern shapewear anyday. [I will confess there are some nice, chic shapewear garments around today, but nothing with the detail of yesteryear].

So to celebrate my discovery and to preface my jolly jaunt in search of a Rago girdle - I give you Joan Holloway, Foxtrot India and two outfit collages (and my evident obsession with red, cream and pink - I think I'm going to have to revisit fire-engine red hair). Oh I do love curves!!