Erotic lingerie

Erotic lingerie that is cheeky, naughty and sensuous. Erotic womens underwear that includes tight laced corsets, sheer see through knickers and cone bras in the style of the 1940's and 1950's when ladies wore stylish and original underwear. Our luxury erotic lingerie, underwear & seamed stockings have a 1940s & 1950s retro twist as do our sexy bullet bra or cone bras which create the classic sweater girl look of the 1950's. To match our retro lingerie range and sheer bullet bras are a number of boned waist cinchers and 6 and 8 strap sheer suspender belts perfectly finished by nylon sheer seamed stockings in a variety of shades that are both sensuous and stylish. We also supply high waist knickers with mesh back or frilly underwear and frilly knickers in the style of the Parisian can can girls are also poular as are frilly knickers vailable in a number of different colours.

Erotic lingerie

Erotic lingerie that is cheeky, naughty and sensuous. 1950's style lingerie sublime fetish lingerie for women that know their lingerie.

Lingerie and womens underwear to buy online

Lingerie and womens underwear to buy online. See the new 2008 - 2009 What Katie Did retro lingerie and faux range including the Harlow peach retro lingerie range and gypsy rose knickers and bralets. Buy womens retro underwear, retro lingerie and faux vintage lingerie and lingerie gifts that salute sexy underwear of the forties and fifties. Pandoraschoice has burlesque lingerie styles and vintage lingerie styles of womens underwear from knickers to bras, girdles and suspender belts. Our Corset ranges include an elegant red corset, black corset and lace up corset as well as a velvet corset range and designer corset, made to measure corset and satin corset ranges. We supply burlesque lingerie as well as traditional womens underwear and traditional vintage style lingerie.

Lace bullet bra

Lace bullet bra available from Pandoraschoice. We think this is one of the only lace bullet bras available to buy. Stunning sexy lingerie that is a must for every lingerie drawer

Pinup lingerie

New pinup lingerie range available from Pandoraschoice featuring beautiful soft powermesh girdles and suspender belts as well as lace bullet bras.

Pin up lingerie

Pin up lingerie 1950's style corsetry and girdles a la the pin up girls of the 1940's and 1950's available to buy from Pandoraschoice. Metal clasp suspender straps and nylon seamed stockings create the classic pin up look.

Corset Fashion Show

Corset Fashion Show

See the new what katie did corset range now available from Pandoraschoice online vintage and retro lingerie shop.

Christmas Party Corset

Christmas corset range from Pandoraschoice ideal for christmas gifts and the party season! Availabe with matching suspender straps as an optional extra or with standard metal clasp suspender straps

Retro corset

Comprehensive range of traditional steel boned corsets from What Katie Did available from Pandoraschoice retro lingerie shop. Including the new What Katie Did bubblegum pink underbust corset (as picture) Comes in a variety of colour choices. This is part of the stunning new What Katie Did Lingerie range launched on 13 September 2008.

1950's lingerie

Pandoraschoice lingerie specialises in lingerie styles of the golden 1940s and 1950s women’s lingerie and foundation wear. Pandoraschoice sells retro lingerie, vintage retro lingerie, women’s underwear, bullet bras and vintage lingerie corsets in burlesque styles. Luxury lingerie, underwear & seamed stockings shop with a 1940s & 1950s retro twist. Bullet bra or cone bras and high deep waist boned cinchers and suspender belts were all the rage in ladies underwear.

New What Katie Did Glamour Cincher

Glamour Waist Cincher by What Katie Did from Pandoraschoice. Effective waist cincher that has extra layers of powermesh around the waist to cinch. The long line ensures that it starts just below your bra which should eliminate any squidge.

Waist cincher details
* double layer powermesh* spiral steel boned* hook and eye fastening to front left* 6 adustable metal clip suspenders

New AW08 What Katie Did Glamour Longline bra & Girdle

Glamour Longline Bra by What Katie Did £35.00 at Pandoraschoice. Retro lingerie longline bra with satin cups and tummy panel, at last sexy womens shapewear! Powermesh back and sides, adjustable straps, hook and eye fastening at back, spiral steel boning,The full size range of this bra is 32B to 38F Girdle available in Dress size 10-18

New What Katie Did AW08 Glamour Lingerie range

The New What Katie Did AW 08 lingerie Collection has arrived at Pandoraschoice. Featuring the What Katie Did 'Glamour' lingerie and shapewear collection.

What Katie Did AW08 lingerie range combines authentic vintage lingerie styling with retro lingerie that offers a body shaping solution for all your retro clothing outfits from wiggle skirts to pencil skirts. Most of the What Katie Did Glamour lingerie shapewear range uses 2 layers of powermesh as well as spiral steel boning in the waist cincher and of course metal clasp suspenders. We almost forgot the new What Katie Did raw silk corsets called Dolly, Morticia and Sophia. The Sophia raw silk corset range is designed to fit an A to E cup size

Lingerie

Pandoraschoice supplies lingerie in the style of the 1940's and 1950's and is now a main retail outlet for retro and vintage style lingerie. Lingerie available includes classic womens underwear in the style of the 1950's and 1940's movie sirens. We supply girdles including open bottom girdles with metal clasp suspender belts as well as traditional metal clasp suspender belts with metal clasps with either six or eight suspender straps for attaching to our range of hosiery which includes seamed stockings as ell as fully fashioned cuban heel stockings.

Pandoraschoice sells What Katie Did Lingerie on of the UKs most adventurous and stylish lingerie ranges as well as the stunning and sexy lingerie of Kiss Me Deadly.

Another aspect of our lingerie range is our corsets which finish any lingerie ranges we sell with classic underwear style. Our corsets include tight lacing corsets as well as velvet and satin corsets. These lingerie corsets are boned and designed to reduce the ladies waist by up to four inches.

For further information on our retro lingerie ranges available Pandoraschoice please call or email us

Christmas lingerie - Lingerie ideas for Christmas

Christmas lingerie gift ideas from Pandoraschoice who stock a superb range of lingerie that makes ideal lingerie gifts for the lady in your life this Christmas. From Corsets to stockings Pandoraschoice can help you make the wisest lingerie choice this Christmas.

Suspender belt

Pandoraschoice specialises in suspender belts. Our range includes both 6 and 8 strap suspender belts with metal suspender clasps in traditional style of the 1940's and 1950's

Burlesque clothing shop

Burlesque clothing and burlesque fashion is becoming the new womens fashion statement. Tired of those dull and stayed high street styles. Traditional 1940s and 1950s womens sexy lingerie and underwear with a burlesque fashion twist is all the rage. Classic sexy lingerie that makes ideal foundation garments and ideal lingerie gifts for women at Christmas and special occassions. See the whole burlesque lingerie range at Pandoraschoice www.pandoraschoice.com

Burlesque clothing and burlesque accessories

Burlesque clothing and burlesque accessories available from Pnadoraschoice retro and vintage luxury lingerie shop. Including 1950s style gloves, burlesque feather boas, 1950s hotpants and lots lots more

Luxury lingerie

Luxury lingerie with classical siren overtones. Silk luxury lingerie and luxury underwear that brings back the traditional luxury lingerie of the 1940s and 1950s. Pandoraschoice vintage and retro luxury lingerie is the online shop in buying traditional burlesque luxury lingerie and adding to the range available every week.

Plus size lingerie

Retro Girdle dress - corselet girdle available up to 52F bust size. Girdle dress - corselet girdle available up to 52F bust size. Perfect girdle for wearing with stockings and comes with detachable suspender clips. Available in white, beige & black. Plus size lingerie available in 34 -52 B, C, D, DD,E, F Cup. Buy plus size lingerie here at Pandoraschoice

Girdles

Girdles in the style of the 1040s and 1950s with open bottom and hook and eye fastening. Stunning retro shapewear with suspenders. See here for girdle range

Girdles

Range of vintage retro girdles and open bottom girdles in the traditional 1940's and 1950's burlesque girdle style. These vintage style Girdles come complete with metal clasp suspenders. These burlesque girdles are extremely popular and and stylish comfortable and an iconic fashion statement. The Open bottom girdle shapes the hips, tummy and derriere. It is a myth that wearing a girdle will make you significantly smaller but it will give you a little leeway on a too-tight dress. It also smooths out any lumps and bumps which makes an open bottom girdle ideal for wearing with a tight fitting pencil skirt or dress.

Black white contrast seamed stockings

White with black contrast seamed stockings with black cuban heel and foot in true 1940s and 1940s stocking style. These are very popular and at a great price. No woman can complete her vintage retro look without seamed stockings. These contain elastane to give that stetch required to avoid wrinkles. See the full range of seamed stockings here at Pandoraschoice retro and vintage lingerie shop

Cerise contrast seam stockings

Cerise and natural contrast seamed stockings with cerise cuban heel and foot in true 1940s and 1940s stocking style. These are very popular and at a great price. No woman can complete her vintage retro look without seamed stockings. These contain elastane to give that stetch required to avoid wrinkles. See the full range of seamed stockings here at Pandoraschoice retro and vintage lingerie shop

Natural seamed stockings

Natural seamed stockings with natural cuban heel and foot in true 1940s and 1940s stocking style. These are very popular and at a great price. No woman can complete her vintage retro look without seamed stockings. These contain elastane to give that stetch required to avoid wrinkles. See the full range of seamed stockings here at Pandoraschoice retro and vintage lingerie shop

Black seamed stockings

Black seamed stockings with black cuban heel and foot in true 1940s and 1940s stocking style. These are very popular and at a great price. No woman can complete her vintage retro look without seamed stockings. These contain elastane to give that stetch required to avoid wrinkles. See the full range of seamed stockings here at Pandoraschoice retro and vintage lingerie shop

Contrast seam stockings

Stockings with contrast seams were all the rage in the 1940s and 1950s. This contarst seamed stockings range features the widest selection of stockings with seams in different colours including red stocking seams, black seams, cerise stocking seams and natural seams. This range of seamed stockings is available to buy here at Pandoraschoice retro lingerie shop.These stockings are ideal for wearing to goodwood and Ascot ladies day

Retro Girdle dress - corselet girdle available up to 52F bust size

Retro Girdle dress - corselet girdle available up to 52F bust size. Girdle dress - corselet girdle available up to 52F bust size. Perfect girdle for wearing with stockings and comes with detachable suspender clips. Available in white, beige & black. See plus size girdle range here

Fabric composition: 80% Polyamide, 20% Elastane

Plus size retro lace 6 starp suspender belt

Six strap plus size lace suspender belt with metal clasps up to size 26. Available in black only, it has hook and eye fastening at the back and metal suspender clips. Made of lace, it is extremely pretty and great quality. Visit pandoraschoice plus size suspender belt range

Long line non wired retro bra available up to 44DD

Long line non wired retro bra available up to 44DD. This is a very flattering longline non wired bra with embroidered detail on the cups and the front of the waist. It is fastened by hooks and eyes at the back and gives great support.

Fabric composition: 90% Polyamide, 10% Elastane

Plus size retro long line bra

Long line non wired retro bra available up to 44DD. This is a very flattering longline non wired bra with embroidered detail on the cups and the front of the waist. It is fastened by hooks and eyes at the back and gives great support.

Corsets and waist cinchers with a vintage twist

Pandoraschoice offers corset advice and information on their corsets range, corsets include over bust and underbust corsets by What Katie Did as well as Angels Carrying Savage Weapons bespoke corsetry, made to measure corsets from the UKs most original lingerie corset designers. Most corsets come with tight lacing backs designed to reduce the ladies waist by up to four inches to create the classic lingerie corset look of women in the 1940s and 1950s as well as the shapely figure of the Holywood film icons. With cincher corsets and girdles we offer an alternative to full blown corsets. These classic vintage lingerie corset alternatives also pull in the waist, tummy and bottom to create the perfect female hips and bottom shape. View this corset

Sheer seamed stockings 1950's style

Pandoraschoice supply elegant lingerie overbust and underbust corsets with matching skirts and pencil skirts to create a matching skirt and corset outfit for special occassions as well as fully fashioned seamed stockings including nude seamed stockings, black seamed stockings as well as seamed fishnet stockings and seamed fishnet tights together with metal clasp suspender belts in real 1950s vintage underwear style for the classic couture vintage lingerie including valentines day lingerie gifts. The new Kiss me Deadly lingerie is an ideal womens lingerie gift see the range here. Bullet bras and cone bra styles of the 1940s and 1950s are available at Pandoraschoice. The bullet bra cone on all our bullet bras has traditional circular stitching in the tradition of the 1950s pin up sweater girl look.

Peach 1950s underwire bra

1950s style peach underwired bra.

see matching peach deep 6 strap suspender belt
see matching peach narrow suspender belt
see matching peach french knickers
see matching peach mesh knickers
see matching peach satin thong
see matching peach sheer thong

New Peach 1950s lingerie range - Bullet Bra

New 1950s peach lingerie outfit with matching bullet bra or underwired bra, powermesh knickers and six strap metal clasp suspender belt. Featuring the famous bullet bra

see matching peach deep 6 strap suspender belt
see matching peach narrow suspender belt
see matching peach french knickers
see matching peach mesh knickers
see matching peach satin thong
see matching peach sheer thong

New 1950's style wiggle pencil skirt

What Katie Did 1950s style wiggle pencil skirt. Create that classic feminine sexy bottom wiggle of the 1950s Holywood film icons with this stunning wiggle pencil skirt. Don't forget to set it off with nylon seamed stockings and watch watch the effect it has with glee! See more here

Tight fitting wiggle pencil skirt with side zip and fishtail back. Fully lined. These skirts are manufactured from the same non stretch satin as the What Katie Did Corsets corsets and are very close fitting.

It is advisable to measure yourself before ordering.

Size 10: waist 25", hips 35"

Size 12: waist 27", hips 37"

Size 14: waist 29", hips 39"

Size 16: waist 31", hips 41"

Size 18: waist 33", hips 43"

Rose Dashwoods new movie - wearing Pandoraschoice lingerie no less!

Rose Dashwoods sizzling comedy movie featuring our favorite frilly knickers, satin knickers and stockings

See the sizzling retro lingerie and frilly knickers worn by Rose at Pandoraschoice

About the title: "Living Pictures" or "Tableau Vivant" is defined as "a scene presented on stage by costumed actors who remain silent and motionless as if in a picture". In the 1940s the UK government ruled that depictions of nudity on stage were legal providing they contained no movement. The reasoning being that this made them like great art works - statues, classical nudes in art etc. Any movement rendered the depiction obscene and was prosecuted.

Hence strip and burlesque clubs to remain within the law, only depicted full nudity as part of a "living picture" - usually a historical or biblical scene. This way the audience could claim they were watching legal artistic displays not sex. Famously Paul Raymond later got around the law by having stage hands move the models (who remained absolutely still) around the stage on wheeled platforms etc - so allowing him to advertising moving nude models while still remaining within the law (much to the annoyance of the authorities).

Bottomless French knickers available now from Pandoraschoice

Pandoraschoice are proud to present what they believe are the only bottomless satin style French knickers in the world. Truly saucy truly unique these bottomless knickers are designed for the ultimate cheeky experience! Available in black satin style or red satin style with black lace trim these bottomless knickers are extremely popular and make a great original gift or fashion statement. Go ahead and treat yourself!

Waist Cinchers

If you're trying shapewear for the first time, one of our waist cinchers is a must! They nip in your waist to give you a '50s hour glass figure and, more importantly, do so comfortably! Unlike corsets you don't need to save them for an evening out, but can wear them on a daily basis with no pinching! Woman today don't seem to have as defined waists as in the past and not only is our power mesh cincher a best seller, some customers claim it has changed their lives! Yes, really!From a fashion point of view a nipped in waist is the look for Autumn/Winter 2005. The emphasis has moved away from the breasts, with push up bra sales falling dramatically, and the waist is the new focal point.Waist cinchers are ideal for wearing with tight waisted, full skirted dresses for a 1947 Dior 'New Look' image, or under tight pencil skirts for a 2005 Roland Mouret look.Like the ones here

Corset sizes

All our corsets come in even waist sizes (22", 24", 26" etc). To determine your corset size take 3 to 4 inches from your normal waist measurement. If you have a natural waist measurement of 28", then your corset size will be 24". If you have a natural waist measurement of 29" then your corset size will be 26".Most of our corsets feature a busk front (front opening) and laced back. To try on your corset don't undo the lacing at the back, simply untie the bow in the middle and 'jimmy' the corset apart. Once you have a gap of a few inches you can undo the busk front and put the corset on like a belt. If it doesn't fit simply 'jimmy' the back ties a little further apart. Once the corset is on. Pull the centre loops of the back ties gently but firmly to tighten the corset. If the corset is a longer style you might need a little help to tighten the top and bottom of the corset but with practise will be able to do it alone. The corset shouldn't close completely and easily on the first try. If it does, it's probably too big! Once you've worn your corset a few times you'll be able to gradually lace tighter so both sides meet at the back giving you a perfect fit.

See pandoras corsets

Vintage knickers guide

A wide variety of types of panties exist. Bikini panties are designed so that the hip connectors are small, like on those of swimwear. String bikini panties are the most commonly worn type in the United States and are similar to regular bikini panties, but instead of a thin hip grip, they have a small string, which sometimes ties around the waist rather than being pulled up over them. String bikinis are considered more revealing. String bikinis are usually made of satin or silk, but occasionally from other fabrics. High-cut, or control top, are cut higher on the hip to slightly pull in and shape the stomach to conceal obesity. High-cut are usually worn by older women and are often shunned by younger women. Boyshorts describe a type of female underwear that has a lower, thicker cut of material around the hips, making them appear as shorts that men would wear. They are sometimes criticized by men and women alike as not being feminine, although some women do wear them. The g-string is a thong panty with a string running between the buttocks. It is often jokingly referred to as "floss" by critics and some comedians.
Panties are made of a variety of materials and fabrics including satin, silk, pvc, cotton, nylon, mesh, lace, rawhide, leather, latex, lycra, and/or polyester.
In British English, and in places such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa and India, panties are often referred to as knickers. The term knickers is not generally used in the USA and Canada, where the term "panties" is usually favoured.

Girdle guide

Girdle Guide
The word girdle originally meant a belt. In modern English the term "girdle" is most commonly used for a form of women's foundation wear that replaced the corset in popularity the girdle can be a scanty belt-shaped textile for men and/or women, worn on its own, not holding a larger garment in place, and less revealing than the loin-cloth, as was used by Minoan pugilists.
Constructed of elasticized fabric and sometimes fastened with hook and eye closures, the modern girdle is designed to enhance a woman's figure. Most open-bottom girdles extend from the waist to the upper thighs. In the 1960s, these models fell from favor and were to a great extent replaced by the panty girdle. The panty girdle resembles a tight pair of athletic shorts. Both models of girdles usually include suspender clips to hold up stockings.
Girdles were considered essential garments by many women from approximately 1910 to the late 1960s. They created a rigid, controlled figure that was seen as eminently respectable and modest. They were also crucial to the couturier Christian Dior's 1947 New Look, which featured a voluminous skirts and a narrow, nipped-in waistline, also known as a wasp waist.
Later in the 1960s, the girdle was generally supplanted by pantyhose. Pantyhose replaced girdles for many women who had used the girdle essentially as a means of holding up sheer nylon stockings. Those who want more control purchase "control top" pantyhose. Many women forswear girdles, stockings, and pantyhose entirely.
Girdles and "body shapers" are still sold to women who want to shape their figure with a garment. Some of these garments incorporate a brassiere and thus become functionally equivalent to a corset. However, they do not incorporate boning and hence do not produce the constricted waistline characteristic of Victorian-era corsets.

View girdles at Pandoraschoice vintage lingerie shop

Vintage lingerie style and types of vinrage lingerie

Advice and information on choosing different styles and types of vintage and retro lingerie

Babydoll, vintage retro short nightgown or negligee intended as nightwear for women.
Basque, vintage retro tight, form-fitting bodice or coat
Bloomers, vintage retro lingerie underpants with short legs.
Bodice, vintage retro lingerie covers the body from the neck to the waist.
Boy shorts or french knickers, a style of panties, so named for their resemblance to male shorts.
Brassiere vintage retro lingerie bullet or cone bra
Bustier vintage retro lingerie bra for pulling overbust
Camisole,vintage retro lingerie sleeveless and tight fitting, covering the top part of the body
Camiknickers, vintage retro lingerie camisole and knickers joined as one garment
Cami Shorts vintage retro lingerie knickers usually see through
Chemise vintage retro lingerie top ususlly silk to cover bust
Corset by bone, vintage retro corset bodice worn to mold and shape the torso.
Corselet = vintage retro lingerie brassiere + Girdle
Drawers a pant-like garment worn during the 19th century for modesty and warmth. Some drawers were split-leg, in that the crotch seam was left open.
Frilly knickers
G-String/Thong, vintage retro lingerie narrow piece of cloth passes between the buttocks, and is attached to a band around the hips, worn as a bikini bottom or as underwear by both men and women.
Garter belt, vintage retro lingerie suspender belt usually 6 or 8 strap with metal clasps used to keep stockings up
Girdle, resembles a tight pair of athletic shorts
Girdlette vintage retro lingerie tummy shaper
Hosiery vintage retro seamed stockings and fully fashioned nylon stockings
Knickers vintage retro lingerie womens sheer underwear
Panties vintage retro lingerie ladies underwear
Petticoat vintage retro lingerie womens undergarment
Slip (Full vintage retro lingerie slip and Half slip / Underskirt)
Stockings vintage style with a stocking back seam and heel
Suspender belt retro style (British), aka Garter belt (US)
Undergarment for ladies and women,vintage retro lingerie and underwear

Present day use of the metal clasp 6 & 8 strap suspender belt

Present day use of 6 and 8 strap suspender belts
Six and eight Suspender belts continue to be sold through specialty and some department stores, as well as catalogues and websites, because many women find them more comfortable than girdles or pantyhose. There is also a certain element of sex appeal, too, because many men like their wives or girlfriends to wear garter belts and stockings rather than pantyhose. There are also panties with attached garters, similar to those seen in some of the men's magazines in the early 1960s. Garter belts today are available in a variety of colors and materials; red or black satin garter belts are particularly popular. Six-garter and four-garter versions are available; women find the six-garter styles more practical. Many garter belts today are made of a mixture of nylon and spandex.

6 or 8 Strap suspender belts functionality
A 6 or 8 strap suspender belt or garter belt normally had three or four suspender straps with metal clasps or garters fitted to the suspenders on each side attached to a stiff, reinforced strip of material (at least two or three inches wide) that fastened around the waist. Three garters worked best in attaching the stocking because the two-garter version did not hold the stocking as tight.

Six (6) & eight (8) strap metal clasp suspender belts

History of 6 (six) and 8 (eight) strap suspender belts

In the medieval period, garters or suspender belts with six or eight straps were worn in a similar fashion. The Order of the Garter is the highest order of knighthood in Britain. Its motto, Honi soit qui mal y pense ("shamed be the person who thinks evil of it"), is based on the story of a gathering in which a woman's garter fell off, and the King picked it up and slid it up her leg for her. The king said the motto in answer to the knights snickering at the event. Also, in medieval times, the groom's men would rush at the new bride to take her garters off her as a prize.

20th Century use of 6 and 8 strap suspender belts
Garter belts were a common, popular alternative to the girdle in the 1940s through the 1960s, especially among teens and young women. The garter belt was simpler and more practical than the girdle because it basically was used only to hold up stockings. It was considered more comfortable than a girdle. Some men's magazines featured models in garter belts and stockings, sometimes with slips or petticoats.

Advice information and purchase of (6) six and (8) eight strap metal clasp vintage lingerie suspender belts

Ladies wearing open bottom girdles and fully fashioned stockings

Two ladies trying on fully fashioned seamed stockings modelling open bottom girdles and bullet bras. Available to buy on line at Pandoraschoice


Return to Pandoraschoice website

How to wear vintage seamed stockings

Useful video showing all you ladies how to wear fully fashioned seamed stockings



http://www.thecastingcouch.biz

Danielles hard day at the office in her What Katie Did lingerie!

Danielles hard day at the office filmed by Nylon flash

Buy this lingerie at Pandoraschoice vintage lingerie shop

Slinky Sparkles gets jam on her seamed stockings

Slinky sparkles gets jam on her stockings

Buy fully fashioned seamed stockings at Pandoraschoice

Another great What Katie did vintage lingerie video - NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED!

A heart stopping vintage lingerie sizzler from What Katie Did on putting on seamed stockings
See the What Katie Did Lingerie range

More What Katie Did Corsets filmed by Nylon Flash

Filmed by Nylon Flash.

Sizzling vintage lingerie corset video by Nylon Flash

Buy What Katie did vintage lingerie corsets at Pandoraschoice vintage and retro lingerie shop

Visit Nylon Flash

How to put on a Corset Video film by What Katie Did

You can buy the What Katie did range of corsets online from Pandoraschoice

Corselettes and girdlettes

A corselette is a retro lingerie combination of a girdle and bra. Extremely popular in the 1950s due to their ability to accentuate more than one part of the body at once, corselettes are a must have for any stylish 1950's reto lingerie collection and essential in the woman's wardrobe. When retro lingerie is mentioned, it is often corselettes that come to mind. The upper bra often had a cleavage gap so you could show off your newly enhanced goods in a sexy evening ball gown. Pushing up the breasts and sucking in the stomach were the functions of the corselettes, and while probably not very comfortable, it helped women achieve the desired look of slim waistlines without sacrificing their bosoms

What Katie Did vintage lingerie

See the what ktie did lingerie range at Pandoraschoice vintage lingerie shop

'What Katie Did' was set up way back at the end of the 20th century as a online stocking retailer, over the years 'What Katie Did' have expanded into lingerie and have built up the biggest collection of faux vintage lingerie hosiery and lingerie in the UK today.

The 'What Katie Did' designs are not simply inspired by the 1940s and 1950s but actually made using vintage patterns adapted for women of today. As far as possible What Katie Did stick to using fabrics and manufacturing which were available at that time, which does causes some merriment at their factories as they are frequently asked questions like: 'are you sure you don't want a nice modern seam in these stockings?'
Lingerie and shapewear played a very big part in fashion in the first half of the 20th century. Corsets and bustles shaped women in the early 1900s whilst breasts were strapped down in the 1920s.
What Katie Did focuses on the 1940s and 1950s when woman's natural figures were celebrated and breasts and hips were in fashion. Hooray! However, all was not as it seemed as underneath the dresses serious help was at hand.

Girdle Advice

Open bottom girdles shape the hips, tummy and derriere. It is a myth that wearing a girdle will make you significantly smaller but it will give you a little leeway on a too-tight dress. It also smooths out any lumps and bumps which makes an open bottom girdle ideal for wearing with a tight fitting pencil skirt or dress.

"Putting em on. The nails I have broken until I learned how to put on a girdle properly! Here's how. Fold girdle in half. Step into it. Pull up on hips, unfold, roll up. Run your hands under the girdle at the side of the hip and smooth the fabric, pulling it down gently."

"I like to fasten my back garters first, seems to make it easier". 'I Haven't a Thing to Wear,' by Judith Keith, 1968

A corselette or includes a bra and covers the whole torso. Imagine a beautiful, fitted, black silk cocktail dress. Now think of the visible lines left by your bra, knickers and suspender belt. A corselette comfortably solves all of these problems and ensures a smooth line from bust to top of thigh"You Never Thought You'd See The Day department: Ms. magazine, under it's new Australian management, adds a regular column on clothing in the February issue, to wit: 'A lot of women are finding that, far from being demeaning, ...corselettes are marvelous novelties and ...fun to wear'. Well, we know those Aussies were bottom-line conscious." Parade Magazine, 'On Parade', 1988.

Waist cincher advice

If you're trying shapewear for the first time, one of our waist cinchers is a must! They nip in your waist to give you a '50s hour glass figure and, more importantly, do so comfortably!

Unlike corsets you don't need to save them for an evening out, but can wear them on a daily basis with no pinching! Woman today don't seem to have as defined waists as in the past and not only is our power mesh cincher a best seller, some customers claim it has changed their lives!

Yes, really!From a fashion point of view a nipped in waist is the look for Autumn/Winter 2005. The emphasis has moved away from the breasts, with push up bra sales falling dramatically, and the waist is the new focal point.Waist cinchers are ideal for wearing with tight waisted, full skirted dresses for a 1947 Dior 'New Look' image, or under tight pencil skirts for a 2005 Roland Mouret look.