Hose supporters

 

1908 Sears catalogue

In the 19th Century children were put into supporting bodices, or waists, as soon as they became mobile. Boys usually dropped these after a few years, but girls continued to wear them, and as their bodies developed their 'waists' became firmer and more shaped, so that they gradually mutated into the adult corsets. Speaking of the late 19th century, Elizabeth Ewing writes:

A stayband had traditionally been worn from babyhood by both sexes, for warmth as well as support, though it was dropped in fairly early years in the case of boys. It took many forms and was made in depths varying from 3 in. to 14 in. The most usual style was a flat, unshaped stiff band made of red or grey cloth on the outside, with an interlining of hessian and a white lining. The band was usually also corded, for firmness, … from the age of about 10 girls wore a more shaped type of bodice, but one of similar construction, corded or boned.

Elizabeth Ewing: Fashion in Underwear p67


These illustrations are from the 1908 Sears catalogue, but are typical of the second half of the 19th century, and show the foundation garments the well dressed girl of the day wore (or at least what Sears hoped she would wear). At age four she would start with the Ferris Good Sense Waist. This was made of good-quality strong corset jean, nicely corded, with 'buttons for everything and everything nicely buttoned'. It 'supports the body, healthful, comfortable and natural; easily adjusted and easily washed'.

It came in waist sizes 21" to 28".

Ferris Corset Waist

Robinson p113

Another advertisement for the Ferris Corset Waist. This time there is no beating around the bush -- the garment is a 'Perfect Health Corset'. It is shown on quite a young child, but already has a significant degree of shaping in the waist. And just to emphasise that it is intended for shaping, the mother (in a very similar garment) is holding a mirror for the girl to admire her figure. The advertisement is undated, but would appear to be of a slightly earlier vintage than the one above.

     


1908 Sears catalogue


 

Then, presumably, she moved on to the Martha Washington Misses Corset Waist For Girls. This was 'made from fine sateen, had a button front with adjustable shoulder straps and laces in the back; tab for hose supporter, trimmed at the top with pretty edging; a waist that is helpful and will help the girl grow as she should grow'.

It came in sizes 20" to 28". [No age range is specified for this garment, but it appears to be designed for the gap between the Good Sense Waist, which finishes at six, and the Misses Common Sense Waist, which starts at 12.]


 

     

1908 Sears catalogue
 

Finally, at age 12, our young lady moved into the Misses Common Sense Waist. This 'has plated bust so arranged as to lay flat or distend. Especially adapted to growing girls of slender form. Made of good quality corset jean, bound top and bottom with tape.'

This came in sizes 19" to 28".

It is interesting to note that the minimum waist size decreases by one inch at each step, while the maximum remains at 28" all the way.

But some relief was on the way, at least for the younger children. During the last part of the 19th century various health movements began to question the desirability of the corset, and the stayband began to lose popularity. Special clothes for children also started to appear about this time.

     

Beatrice Fontanel Support and Seduction

P62

 

One example is the Corset Juvénil, shown on the left. The text of this charming advertisement can be translated, very roughly, as follows:

 

Liberate your girl.

The Corset Juvénil is designed to liberate your girl from harmful and stiff corsets which paralyse her vital energy, and to give her a simple, flexible, comfortable garment which shapes her as she develops, without crushing her waist, and permits her to maintain her happy disposition.

When you see the marvellous results it gives, you will be delighted at how the Juvénil, which is fashioned from flexible fabrics and whalebone, encourages the proper growth of the young body. This proves the excellence of its design, as opposed to the usual rigid, tight and heavy corsets, which are so harmful to the girl’s delicate young body.

The secret of its design, which is perfectly adapted for the girl’s body, is that the vital organs (the heart, lungs and stomach) are completely unrestricted.

The effect is immediate and spontaneous. The girl feels happier, livelier and more nimble. Her body is supported, guided and shaped as it develops, but she never suffers from any abdominal pain.

 

However, although the advertisement shows that this corset also came in an adult version, and despite vigorous debate, women generally remained as firmly corseted as ever.

Original text.

This page gives the original text of the advertisement, together with my translation and another by Babelfish.


 

     

Unisex Hose Supporters

1908 Sears catalogue

As mentioned above, boys usually wore waists only for the first few years, if at all. However they often wore cotton stockings, especially in colder climates, and these required suspenders to hold them up. An example, from the 1908 Sears catalogue, is shown on the right. The illustration shows a boy wearing them, but the accompanying text says that they are for "Boys and Girls".

Possibly girls did not always wear corset waists, or possibly these hose supporters were worn over them. The advertisement above this in the catalogue shows ‘Ladies Shoulder Braces’, and ‘Misses Shoulder Braces’, both with hose supporters, which are very similar, except they do not have the waistband, and which are clearly intended to be worn over corsets.

I think this style of garment was introduced in the latter part of the 19th century, and continued in use well into the 20th century.

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