item details
NameGirdle
ProductionDowd Assoc. (N.Z.) Ltd.; manufacturer(s); 1970s; New Zealand
Classificationgirdles, underwear
Materialsnylon, metal, cotton, plastic
DimensionsOverall: 485mm (width), 540mm (height), 20mm (depth)
Registration NumberGH016987
Credit lineGift of the Estate of Mrs M Barber, 2010
Overview
Girdles are women's underwear made to support and shape the appearance of the abdomen, hips, and buttocks. Sometimes boned, sometimes elasticised, they can help 'streamline'a body to suit certain fashions and give a more slender appearance. They continue to be sold and worn today regardless of women's attempts to shape their bodies through diet and fitness regimes.