Charnaux advertisement in 'The Home' magazine

Detail

 

Note the rather attractive pattern of ventilation holes, the extremely lumpy side seams, and the equally large and lumpy garters. Cynics might be tempted to feel that whatever improvement the garment made to the shape of the wearer's body was negated by the very obvious bumps the seams and garters would cause under the slender form fitting gowns of the day.

But these girdles were claimed to confer much greater freedom of movement than the rigid corsets generally worn at the time, and they were reportedly very popular with actresses and other performers.

Enthusiasts will note that the ribbons over the suspenders are much shorter than the suspenders themselves, contrary to the argument that the purpose of the ribbons is to disguise the suspender bumps showing through the skirt.

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