Month of Vintage Underwear Day 2

Today was the first real test…

There was no way I was wearing a girdle today. I had an audition, followed by a rehearsal, followed by an acting class, and didn’t want to answer questions like:

Why can you only move up and down, and not side to side?
Did someone tell you that you should stand up that straight?
Why are your sides reinforced like a robot?

So I popped on a bullet bra and a garter belt and some stockings and called it a day. Continue reading “Month of Vintage Underwear Day 2” →

Vintage Underwear Challenge Days 3-5

Just a little check in.

On November 3, I wore:

A brand new long line black bullet bra.
The same vintage stretch girdle as day 2.
Long johns turned into knickers.
Stockings clipped to garters.

My bra is repro, my table and chairs are not.

In This Getup I:

Went to my job.
Sat at a desk most of the day.

Notes:

Perfectly comfortable.
Had one moment when I thought my garter had come undone. False alarm!

Day 4

On November 4th I wore:

Same repro bra.
The heavy duty girdle from the first day.
Leggings.
This is an entirely appropriate situation for dancing with toddlers.

In This Getup I:

Drove a car
Voted!
Taught a toddler music class.
Went to my office job.

Notes:

Teaching class was surprisingly possible.
My bra did eventually get uncomfortable, but only after I’d been wearing it eight hours.
I did not wear these things during my dance rehearsal that night, because that just seemed silly.
But I did put them back on after.

Day 5

Today I wore:

A Rago girdle that is probably a little older, but I’m not sure it qualifies as vintage. Rago is a vintage brand–they’ve been manufacturing shapewear forever, in pretty much the same styles. This is the most constricting of my garments–it does not mess around.
My nice soft pretty long line bra.

The slip is a lie. I was wearing pants today, and didn't want to try to get a pair of leggings under the girdle, or show my underpants to the Internet. — The slip is a lie. I was wearing pants today, and didn’t want to try to get a pair of leggings under the girdle, or show my underpants to the Internet.

In This Getup I:

Went to work.
Went shopping (more on that later).
Went home.

Notes:

Again, I was squished, but it really didn’t bother me most of the day.
This was constricting enough that I didn’t keep it on once I got home.
The girdle may even be slightly too small, it’s hard to tell. There’s some tug on the hooks, but man, does it work.
I had to change pants this morning, because the ones I put on were too big over the girdle. This is a piece of machinery.

What is the most constricting garment you own? How often do you wear it?

Vintage Underwear Day 1 & 2: It Begins

November 1, 2014. The Dawn of the Girdle.

Okay, so it isn’t that dramatic. Yesterday was the first day of the Vintage Underwear Challenge. It went pretty well.

I wore:

A pretty serious girdle, of unknown date, of possibly French or Canadian manufacture. I got it at a clothing swap a year or so ago. It has a u-shaped piece of boning on the tummy panel, and fastens at the side.
A long line bra of a sort of bullety variety, that I had altered. From eBay. Probably from the 50’s. Heavy elastic waist band.

I wore leggings over my girdle, because it was cold. I have decided that is legit. I wore it underneath for photos, because the world (or at least my mother) does not need to look at pictures of my bits.

I am making a ridiculous face, so as not to appear sexy.

Activities Completed in This Get Up:

Rode in a car.
Saw a play.
Walked a bunch.
Ate a lot of nachos.
Wore it for a good 10ish hours.

Notes:

It really wasn’t uncomfortable. It felt like a gentle hug around my middle, without being terribly obtrusive.
Running to cross the street requires adjustment. I had to bring my legs straight up and down like a show pony, rather than extend my legs in front of me. I am sure this looked super dignified.
This ensemble definitely created more of a waist than I actually have, a teensy bit lower than my actual waist. I am unsure of what I think of this.

November 2, Return of the Girdle

Today, I wore:

A much lighter “roll on” style girdle, with heavy-duty stocking clips. Obtained from eBay.
Long-line bra, from a clothing swap.
Vassarette stockings (from eBay, in original packaging).

Activities Completed in This Get Up:

Walked short distances.
Went to a party.
Wore about 8 hours.

Notes:

It was warmer today, but not warm enough to just wear stockings. I think I’ll eventually make a pair of bloomers, but for now, I chopped off the legs of an old pair of long johns. They came down to my stocking tops, and kept me quite comfy.
Real stockings are way, way sturdier than the kind sold for costumes.
Again, nothing felt too confining or uncomfortable.

So far, so good. Of course, it’s only been two days!