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SDSU Extension Fact Sheets SDSU Extension

1966

When You Buy Foundation Garments

Cooperative Extension South Dakota State University

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Recommended Citation South Dakota State University, Cooperative Extension, "When You Buy Foundation Garments" (1966). SDSU Extension Fact Sheets. 901. https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/extension_fact/901

This Fact Sheet is brought to you for free and open access by the SDSU Extension at Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in SDSU Extension Fact Sheets by an authorized administrator of Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Iy FS 318 H til When

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111 tii ;:1: Reprinted with permission from tl~';i•.;.J Kansas Extension Service, L-138 ~. When You Buy Foundation Gar- : ments, by Donice A. Hawes, former ~1 extension specialist in clothings and Ii textiles.

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when you shop for a foundation garme nt . Properly chosen foundation garments improve your appearance ... make your clothes fit better . • ls it suitable for my figure? mold you into the silhouette ... guard your • ls it correctly fitted and comfortable? posture. • ls it appropriate for the clothes l wear? 1::.~ FIGURE TYPE GARMENT TYPE Those that offer minimum control and maximum freedom: • High bust line - type or lightweight, long line; • small waist padded for rounder contours. • Not-too-slender hips ·- soft, lightweight, roll-on type of all • Firm Aesh elastic or with front and back panels for addi­ tional control. Corsekts - pull-on style, mostly elastic.

• Well-developed bust Those that offer moderate control: line Bras - any type that gives good uplift; long line • Curved hips and thighs if roll is noticeable. • Tendency toward roll at Girdles-front and back panels to flatten; hip waistline panels if flesh is soft; minimum boning; high • Broader bone structure top if needed to flatten roll. and fuller flesh than - stitched or reinforced cups, bon­ Junior ing, nonstretch panels alternating with elastic.

Those that control and redistribute flesh: Bras - built up at back and sides, with wide straps, reinforced cups. Girdles and corselets - with closures (pull-on • Ample bust line types don't give enough control); front and • Full waist and hips back boning and special control features. • Fleshy thighs Full figures that are the result of large bone struc­ ture can wear lighter-weight foundations. Know About Size and Fit

To Find Cup Size ..

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To Find Garment Size . Check Before You Buy

Are the cups full enough so that there is no bulge above the brassiere in front or under the arms? Measure around the Do the straps lie flat, without cutting into the body (over a brassiere, shoulders? not nude) just under Does the band lie smooth across the back, with­ the bust, holding the out causing a bulge above or below? tape snug but not tight. Is the band proper\ y anchored beneath the shoul­ der blades I Is there enough "give" in the undercup or midriff J back to permit easy breathing and movement? Does the brassiere give you attractive contours?

If the underbust measurement is less than 38 inch- es~ Add 5 •inches to odd-numbered measurements. :~:::::;:::.~i~,~~~-,~i:::,E:.::;:::: Add 6 inches to even-numbered measurements. If the underbust measurement is 38 inches or Measure carefully to be sure that you select a well­ more- fitting . Add 3 inches to odd-numbered measurements. Add 4 inches to even-numbered measurements. To Fit a Girdle . EXAMPLES: Underbust measurement 33 inches Add 5 inches Bra size 38 Underbust measurement 40 inches Add

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• Measure thigh to length. Size of roll-on girdles is usually designated as Take These Measureme nts for fitting . small, medium, large, and sometimes extra-small (petite) and extra large. Other girdles and pantie girdles are sized by waist measure. • Bustline to determine Hip development is the differente between waist garment size. and hip measurement. The hip development is 10 •waistline to help deter­ inches if the waist measures 28 inches and the hips mine figure type. 38 inches. Average hip development is 8 to 10 inches. • Hip at fullest part to de­ Straight hip development is less than eight inches. termine h i p develop­ Full hip development is 11 inches or more. ment. are "stretchy" Most two-way stretch girdles • Back underarm to waist they do not enough to fit any hip development, but length. If less than eight with non flatten and control soft flesh. Garments inches, choose a half­ stretch panels help to control soft flesh and improve size garment. appearance. • Waist to thigh length to Length corresponds to body measurement from help determine if you waist to thigh. If the measurement from waist to need a short, average, or thigh is 14 inches or less, you probably need a short long garment. length; 15 or 16 inches, a medium length; 17 inches or more, a Long length garment. To properly anchor any type of girdles, must be the right length. Stockings which are too short tend to pull the garment down and the stock­ ings run because of the strain. .When stockings are Check Fit Both too long, they must be fastened below the Sitting and Standing reinforcement to keep the foundation garment from riding up. This causes bunching at the stocking top Are the cups the right size? that is hard to hide under narrow skirts. Does the fit well up under the bust? Is the back Aesh controlled so that there is no Check Fit bulge? Both Sitting and Standing Does the garment fit smoothly through the mid­ riff and waist? Does boning, if any, curve with the body? gaping or Does the waistline fit well without Does the corselet allow you to move freely, or does pinching? it ride up? Does boning, if any, curve with the body? Do outer garments fit smoothly over the garment? Docs the garment control, yet permit easy breath­ ing? Is the garment long enough to stay down as you move about, molding hips and thighs without caus­ ing a bulge at the lower edge? Designers of outer clothing expect dresses, skirts, a pantie style, is the girdle long enough from H blouses and suits to be worn over foundation gar­ waist to crotch? ments. The proper fit of these garments depends upon Does it give you a smooth line under a dress or proper foundations. skirt? • When you shop for a new dress or the foundations over which you plan ~,~.!~~:;~;:;; the new garment. ~E for both outer garments .~~ shopping s are ;~;;::·::. • 1f you \.....,.., provide smooth, all-over control with- and foundation garments, choose the founda­ out a at the waist. They are usually sized by tions-first. bust measurement. While most women can be fitted in a corsclet, you may prefer a separate brassiere and • If you are making a dress or suit be sure to fit girdle if your hips, bust, and waist are not in pro­ it over the foundations with which it will be poruon. Cooperative Extension Service hn1cd ia furthcr,acc of Coopcrath·c Extcn1ioa work, ICU of M1)' I ind J••e JO, 191 ◄, i11 coopuatioa wich the United 511te1 Deparonc.t South Dakota State University of A1ricult11rc. Joh• T. tone, Dean of Extc11ion, So•d'- D1kou 5t111 United States Department of Agriculture Univer~it)', !hookin11JM-l• 6-f'ilc: _ 6 135 4727