Modern shapewear is so efficient that it may seem like a new concept, but humans have shaped and altered their figures since ancient times. It makes sense that shapewear has such an extensive history given the laws of attraction. In fact, the Babylonian goddess Ishtar was described as wearing a girdle to symbolize feminine fertility. Between the 1920s and 1960s, shapewear saw several reinventions, from minimizing styles that promoted the slender Flapper look to the robust curves of 1940s pin-up stars and 1950s sweater girls. But shaping garments date back much further than the 20th century. We’re stepping back in time to look at shapewear’s fascinating origins.
Early Designs
Bras and girdles are believed to be among the first shapewear pieces used by women. The earliest bras on record were discovered by scientists in Austria and are believed to date back to sometime around 1400 A.D. But the ancient Greeks apparently used bras and girdles even centuries earlier, around roughly 2900 B.C. Depictions during this time showed women with fabric wrapped about their chests in a type of binding design, while girdles of leather and linen were used to cinch women’s midsections.
Figure Illusions
Women aren’t the only ones who’ve reaped the benefits of shaping devices throughout time, either. Renaissance men were known for wearing padded wool stockings and clothing that increased their size. In fact, one of the most commonly used shapers, known as a “codpiece,” added bulk to the front of a man’s pants to showcase his virility and masculinity.
Corsets and Farthingales
Corsets were used by women in ancient Rome as decorative accents placed atop their other clothing. The 16th century debuted steel corsets paired with “farthingales,” or the petticoats placed underneath skirts that made them dramatically wide – a look commonly associated with the Elizabethan era. The Victorians predominantly used corsets made with pieces of whale bone, thus the phrase “boning” that we still use today.
Flappers and Pin-Ups
In the Roaring Twenties, women preferred a very slender frame, which led to minimizing devices being used to smooth out feminine curves. Interestingly, during World War II, women opted for shaping garments that featured discreet panels for carrying important papers. After the war, however, women sought a more curvaceous approach to body shapers and returned once again to waist-nipping girdles and padded bras.
Modern Styles
Fortunately, today’s shaping garments are much more comfortable than those of days past. Stretch fabrics, quality construction and contouring but breathable compression all help to make modern shapers both effective and easily wearable. Let us all breathe a sigh of relief!
