10
Check the fit
Be sure the brassiere fits by checking these items:
- Are the bust cups filled out properly?
- Is there complete division between bust cups?
- Does the underbust band fit snugly, but not tightly?
- Do the straps lie flat, without cutting into the shoulders, and stay in place without slipping off the shoulder?
- Does the brassiere lie smoothly across the back and is it anchored beneath the shoulder blades, even when you lift your arms?
GIRDLES AND CORSETS
Choose the right garment
Your occupation, your body build, the type and distribution of flesh are all determining factors in your choice of a girdle or corset.
A foundation garment should fit your way of living as well as your body. If you do strenuous work, stand for long periods, walk a great deal, lift and bend, you will want a garment that supports the back and abdominal muscles, but which will allow plenty of freedom. If you sit a good part of the day, you will need a garment that is comfortable, gives firm control through the hip and thigh region, and molds the figure into smooth lines.
Soft flesh can be more easily controlled and distributed than firm flesh. The woman with soft flesh may require a smaller garment than her measurements indicate in order to give the control and support that her figure needs. The figure with firm flesh can wear a garment with more resiliency. A foundation garment should control but never constrict.
Control in a foundation garment is accomplished by the use of elastic fabrics, rigid fabrics, boning, lacings, and inner belts. Several of these may be used in one garment for firmer control (Figure 8).
Rigid fabrics which do not stretch are used when firm support is needed. They are almost always combined with elastic so the body can move freely. Elastic fabrics can be made to stretch vertically, horizontally, or in both directions. Two-way stretch elastic molds and controls flesh, but does not flatten. Therefore this type of garment is a good choice for the slender, youthful figure.
To give more control than the two-way stretch, panels of one-way stretch elastic are used at back and front; these control and flatten prominent curves
