How the old girdle works?

In Hollywood portrayals of medieval ladies, there are clothing accessories that are often wore with the help of a maid. These accessories are called as the girdles. During the medieval times, princesses, ladies, and queens use this piece of clothing for them to tuck the tummy in so they might have an hour glass looking body especially emphasize by ballooning skirt with the help of a crinoline. But as time advanced, the girdle design also improved. There are now girdles that are already part of the underwear making the waist line of a panty raise up to the belly area. There are still that type of girdles that are still worn and clipped in to a pantyhose.

How does then a girdle works? Before, girdles can be tightened using ropes that are patterned in front of the girdle. The maids then tightens the girdle according to the desired shape. Nowadays, girdles primarily use high quality garters and a specific pattern of stitches. The garter is the one responsible in tightening the belly while the pattern of the stitch and cut is what shape the belly. When the tummy is tightened, the tendency of the skin and fats including the internal organs to be pushed creating an illusion that the wearer actually has a small tummy. thus creating an hourglass shape especially when the wearer has big hips.