Binding undergarments!

[Kim Bombshell]

What's your favorite? What pieces are essential under your vintage and retro dresses?

Personally, I never wear a dress without an open bottom girdle underneath. Not only does it hold my tummy in and keep my butt from jiggling too much, it also holds up my stockings. I also like to wear a corset/cincher under tight dresses to make my waist just a little tinier.

Under high waisted pants I wear a spanks...just for that extra firmness and to keep my tummy in.

[Gathalia]

Well I think the underwear is a personal preference, but depending on the dress design a pettit coat is not optional.

[Mabel Snow]

This is such an interesting thread! I tried the Rago OBG and it made me look so weird! I thought it was because of my short waist, but maybe not. It actually made me lumpier, instead of smooth. I immediately returned it. Maybe I just ordered the wrong size. I ordered according to my bra size (36C). I know these things are supposed to be snug, but even with my husband helping me..I barely got into it. I'm a bit squishy, but not a big big girl. Just have a bit of a post baby belly that refuses to go away (I had an 11 pound child 2 years ago). :) Any recommendations on garments that might work better on me? I got a spanx waist cincher, but it doesn't really do that much. Seems to stretch out and get comfortable too quickly to really be that binding. Maybe I should go with an actually underbust corset? 

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

A real waist cincher sounds like it would work for you. A corset will give you a great waist, but depending on what you're wearing it might be too much. A real waist cincher will do way more then the Spanx one but not as much as a corset. It looks very "1050's natural". 

Mabel Snow said:

This is such an interesting thread! I tried the Rago OBG and it made me look so weird! I thought it was because of my short waist, but maybe not. It actually made me lumpier, instead of smooth. I immediately returned it. Maybe I just ordered the wrong size. I ordered according to my bra size (36C). I know these things are supposed to be snug, but even with my husband helping me..I barely got into it. I'm a bit squishy, but not a big big girl. Just have a bit of a post baby belly that refuses to go away (I had an 11 pound child 2 years ago). :) Any recommendations on garments that might work better on me? I got a spanx waist cincher, but it doesn't really do that much. Seems to stretch out and get comfortable too quickly to really be that binding. Maybe I should go with an actually underbust corset? 

[Mabel Snow]

I'll have to look into it. I actually had the full body corslette thingy, not the OBG. Mistyped there!

Thanks everyone for this awesome thread!

Roxy Tart {Madam/Community Mgr} said:

A real waist cincher sounds like it would work for you. A corset will give you a great waist, but depending on what you're wearing it might be too much. A real waist cincher will do way more then the Spanx one but not as much as a corset. It looks very "1050's natural". 

Mabel Snow said:

This is such an interesting thread! I tried the Rago OBG and it made me look so weird! I thought it was because of my short waist, but maybe not. It actually made me lumpier, instead of smooth. I immediately returned it. Maybe I just ordered the wrong size. I ordered according to my bra size (36C). I know these things are supposed to be snug, but even with my husband helping me..I barely got into it. I'm a bit squishy, but not a big big girl. Just have a bit of a post baby belly that refuses to go away (I had an 11 pound child 2 years ago). :) Any recommendations on garments that might work better on me? I got a spanx waist cincher, but it doesn't really do that much. Seems to stretch out and get comfortable too quickly to really be that binding. Maybe I should go with an actually underbust corset? 

[retro-chic]

I saw open bottom girdles being mentioned and, seeing as i'm fairly new to acting upon my retro obsession (and this website!), was wondering if I could get some advice.
I've ordered this: http://www.stockingsdirect.co.uk/suspender-belts/nylon-dreams-8-str...,, with the aim of holding up stockings and smoothing my love handles/those indentations where the waist band of jeans rest. The fact it pulls you in is a bonus too!

Problem: It doesnt smooth out these areas, if anything just outlining them.

Does anyone else experience this with their girdles? Is it an indication of requiring a bigger size? (as i was instructed to order smaller to pull in more).

[Trudaughter]

I have a Rago OBG that I love & I'm a curvy girl. I also have a full corselette & the brand is What Katie Did. Both the of these undergarments are great.

retro-chic said:

I saw open bottom girdles being mentioned and, seeing as i'm fairly new to acting upon my retro obsession (and this website!), was wondering if I could get some advice.
I've ordered this: http://www.stockingsdirect.co.uk/suspender-belts/nylon-dreams-8-str...,, with the aim of holding up stockings and smoothing my love handles/those indentations where the waist band of jeans rest. The fact it pulls you in is a bonus too!

Problem: It doesnt smooth out these areas, if anything just outlining them.

Does anyone else experience this with their girdles? Is it an indication of requiring a bigger size? (as i was instructed to order smaller to pull in more).

[Ophelia Dahling{★}]

I love to use either my waist cincher or a corset I made.  The corset is Victorian but, it is amazing and looks super hot to boot!

[Lilly F Elliott]

I seem to have that problem with corselettes and merry widows etc..anything that goes by mu bra size never fits right. I always use seperates.

So I agree with Roxy. A waist cincher could be the way to go. I recently did a comparison of all the main cinchers - Rago, WKD, Squeem, maidenform..if it will help it's here - waist cincher comparison test

Mabel Snow said:

I'll have to look into it. I actually had the full body corslette thingy, not the OBG. Mistyped there!

Thanks everyone for this awesome thread!

Roxy Tart {Madam/Community Mgr} said:

A real waist cincher sounds like it would work for you. A corset will give you a great waist, but depending on what you're wearing it might be too much. A real waist cincher will do way more then the Spanx one but not as much as a corset. It looks very "1050's natural". 

Mabel Snow said:

This is such an interesting thread! I tried the Rago OBG and it made me look so weird! I thought it was because of my short waist, but maybe not. It actually made me lumpier, instead of smooth. I immediately returned it. Maybe I just ordered the wrong size. I ordered according to my bra size (36C). I know these things are supposed to be snug, but even with my husband helping me..I barely got into it. I'm a bit squishy, but not a big big girl. Just have a bit of a post baby belly that refuses to go away (I had an 11 pound child 2 years ago). :) Any recommendations on garments that might work better on me? I got a spanx waist cincher, but it doesn't really do that much. Seems to stretch out and get comfortable too quickly to really be that binding. Maybe I should go with an actually underbust corset? 

[Lilly F Elliott]

I think I know what you mean. Im not sure if a different size will fix the problem because I fixed my similar problem by switching to a waist cincher with control shorts.
If you just want smothing rather than cinching you could try the full length Glamour waist cincher from What Katie Did. Its reall comfortable, easy to get into as you just need to close it at the front rather than pull it on, and it will hold your stockings securley with (hopefully) no bumps. For a smaller waist choose a size too small, for a natural waist + smoothing choose the recommended size. If you feel you need it you can combine the cincher with the matching control panties too.

 

Thats just what I prefer for a smoothing effect, I would personally choose that over an OBG.

retro-chic said:

I saw open bottom girdles being mentioned and, seeing as i'm fairly new to acting upon my retro obsession (and this website!), was wondering if I could get some advice.
I've ordered this: http://www.stockingsdirect.co.uk/suspender-belts/nylon-dreams-8-str...,, with the aim of holding up stockings and smoothing my love handles/those indentations where the waist band of jeans rest. The fact it pulls you in is a bonus too!

Problem: It doesnt smooth out these areas, if anything just outlining them.

Does anyone else experience this with their girdles? Is it an indication of requiring a bigger size? (as i was instructed to order smaller to pull in more).

[VixyZen]

 

I just purchased my very first OBG and am waiting for it to arrive! I found this discussion AFTER I made my purchase. So I was very pleased to see that this is the first choice of many who wear dresses. I have a massive collection of the cutest dresses and had to step outside of what I normally wear to cover new scars on my legs (due to an outbreak of a skin disease, blah!), and wasn’t sure what the best under garment would be. I’m glad I found this thread… I am waiting until it arrives to purchase hosiery.

Any suggestions on the best kind/brand to use with garter snaps? I’m not looking to really cover/hide my legs, just kind of tone down the appearance of the scars. So color really doesn’t matter, any kind would do. Seemed, elastic at the top, lace tops?

[Lilly F Elliott]

The best seamed stockings are from What Katie Did and Secrets In Lace IMO. Loads of colour and denier options, you can chose from fully fashioned or every day RHT, some even have lace tops. The seamed tulle mesh stockings from WKD are gorgeous, they have lace tops -  seamed tulle stockings. They are $18.00 a pair, but really hard to rip...and I destroy sockings!   The tulle creates a kind of optical illusion that makes your legs look more shapely, I have, not scars, but dark marks on my legs. the tulle seems to reduce their appearence...sort of breaks them up if that makes sense.

But probably any of the darker colours would work including the browns and bronze stockings Secrets In Lace have, they are beautiful. I'd just avoid the full contrast ones (nude with black seams), the nude on them is really sheer, you can see everything through them.

VixyZen said:

 

I just purchased my very first OBG and am waiting for it to arrive! I found this discussion AFTER I made my purchase. So I was very pleased to see that this is the first choice of many who wear dresses. I have a massive collection of the cutest dresses and had to step outside of what I normally wear to cover new scars on my legs (due to an outbreak of a skin disease, blah!), and wasn’t sure what the best under garment would be. I’m glad I found this thread… I am waiting until it arrives to purchase hosiery.

Any suggestions on the best kind/brand to use with garter snaps? I’m not looking to really cover/hide my legs, just kind of tone down the appearance of the scars. So color really doesn’t matter, any kind would do. Seemed, elastic at the top, lace tops?

[Aoife 24K]

Since this topic has been reactivated by some of you gals I thought I'd add my newest info. A few couple of months ago I bought two corsets from Corsetdeal.com. One is under bust the other is an over bust. The prices were amazingly low and the quality seems quite high. I have just recently started wearing them and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE how they help my figure achieve that hourglass look.