Over the years, women have become accustomed to squishing themselves into all types of weird and wonderful underwear in order to create the ‘ideal’ body shape.
In the 1950s, it was all about the hourglass figure that the one-and-only Marilyn Monroe possessed. To achieve this though, you’d have to squeeze yourself into a whale-boned corset designed to sculpt your torso into an unnatural small middle, with the side effect of suppressing your breathing.
In addition to the corset, there was the girdle, a slightly – only slightly – more forgiving waist-trimming device. Whether you watched your mother pull in her stomach every day with a tight undergarment, then attach her stockings, or you remember wearing a girdle yourself, they were all the rage for decades.
But this style of shapewear was present well before the 1950s. In fact, it was first noted in the days of ancient Greece and Rome! Back then, women would actually wear leather or metal belts with metal corsets to pull in their bodies (and we thought the whale-bone corsets were bad)!
There was also the cotte, which first appeared in France during the 15th century. Unlike the corset your mother may have worn, this one had a square neckline, wide-set straps and no coverage for the bust.
Fast forward to 1999 and Sara Blakely created Spanx after cutting off the bottom-half of pantyhose and wearing them under white pants. It was a revolutionary idea and an instant hit among women.
Since then, other companies have jumped on board to create their own version of shapewear, from firming undies, to camisoles and bodysuits. High-waisted knickers are now also making a comeback, having first shot to popularity several decades ago. There’s something to tuck in every problem area, and thankfully today’s modern underwear is comfy and doesn’t leave you feeling like you can’t breathe or take a bite to eat!
Australian company Bella Bodies has been creating shapewear for 14 years, with products to hold in your tummy, hips, thighs and even your whole body all at once! The items are soft and comfortable – a far cry from the first shapewear of yesteryear – and can be worn underneath your clothes for any occasion.
The tummy control knickers are a popular choice, smoothing all the way from your hips to under your bust, giving you a beautiful sleek silhouette. Meanwhile, the shaping and smoothing slip is designed to make you feel confident and beautiful for that special night out. And don’t forget the anti-chafing shorts, which – as the name suggests – not only smoothes your thigh area, but also helps to prevent chafing on those hot summer days. You can browse the full range of Bella Bodies products on the Sassy Marketplace.
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