50s New Look waist cinching.

[Lili-May]

I want to cinch my waist with a corset like they did in the 50s for Diors New Look. Most corsets are too long and too fussy to be hidden easily under clothes. What sort of corset did movie stars like Sophia Loren wear, and where can I get one?

[Roxy Tart {PL Team / Comm. Mgr}]

http://www.pinuplifestyle.com/forum/topics/binding-undergarments

Most women in the 50's didn't wear corsets. After the early 1920s corsets went out of style and were worn mostly for costumes. Women wore girdles, waist cinchers, and merry widows by the time the 50s rolled around. Dior created his own version of the corset for his New Look and called it "The Waspie". This new version of the Victorian corset was five or six inches deep, made of rigid fabric with elastic inserts, and contained boning and back-lacing. Generally, all corsets of the era were described by fashion magazines as "super-light weight" and were advertised as containing feather boning. Such corsets were worn well cinched at the waist, and were usually worn over a panty or roll-on girdle. Another important thing about the New Look is that Dior would add boning to his shirts and skirts to give even more of a cinch. He also added padding, flounces, and peplums to his skirts and suits to make the hips look bigger. 

Good luck on recreating the New Look, there is a lot more to it then people think. If however the look that you want is the more general 50's small waist look, you can achieve it with many of the underpinnings talked about in the link above. 

[Lili-May]

Thank you Roxy Tart. The problem I have is that I have virtually no fat round my middle, therefore girdles dont work for me. I have a small waist anyway, but I wanted to emphasise it and also take the strain off my clothes. I have a lovely late 40s early 50s new look dress that is silk and although it fits me nicely I am worried that I might put strain in the seams if im not careful. I have found a waist cinching corset on What Katie Did called the Baby Corset. I think that might do the trick.

[Lolita Black]

Also shapewear and awesome girdles can help you. I have  afriend who has been wearing her shape wear everyday and she says it helps.