Shorter bodies, a type of body shaper that covers a woman’s body from the panty line to the shoulders, are making a comeback. They have their origins in buskers and corsets from the 16th to 19th centuries and have evolved with the advent of lycra and spandex. Female celebrities have reinvigorated their popularity, and they can be purchased at department stores, catalogs, or online for around $30 USD.
“I haven’t left the house without Lycra on these thighs since I was 14,” says Truvy in the movie “Steel Magnolias.” This is how the opinions of most women used to run. Truvy, of course, was talking about a girdle, or a shorter body. Once the exclusive domain of the “mature” ensemble, the shorter body and similar base garments are making a comeback. A body shorter is usually a lycra and spandex garment that covers a woman’s body from the panty line to the shoulders, which fits like a bathing suit, to firm the woman’s silhouette and make her appear slimmer .
The shorter body has its origins in 16th and 17th century buskers and 18th and 19th century corsets. No respectable lady went out without the proper undergarments of hers. Although corsets began to go out of style in the late 19th century, it wasn’t until the “Flapper Age” of the 1920s that they saw their final demise. The slender, boyish silhouette of the jazz age needed undergarments that played down the curves and flattened the tummy under fringed dresses. A modified top, the forerunner of the brassiere and rubber girdle later appeared.
Rubber girdles were common until the 1950s, when space-age fabrics of Lycra and spandex revolutionized them. In the 1970s, girdles only had rubber thigh grips and were sold under names promoting their comfort. Do you remember the girdles from the brand I can’t believe it’s a girdle?
The shorter body also came to prominence in the 1950s with the advent of lycra and spandex. The shorter body is generally found in various styles. It can be a high-rise girdle, stopping just below the bust line, or it can fit with shoulder straps and an open bust line, so the wearer can wear her own bra with it. It can have the bra built in, and it can have a tight leotard around the legs, or have legs that fall over the thighs.
Female celebrities who want a perfectly smooth silhouette under their designer dresses have reinvigorated the sale of the shorter body. The Spanx company makes several varieties, for women of all shapes and sizes. However, a woman should probably be measured for a shorter body, to ensure the best fit. She should also try several, to find the most comfortable.
A shorter body can be purchased at department stores, in catalogs, or online. Their prices usually start at $30 United States Dollars (USD) and go up from there.
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