The Best Foundations

ever made

 

 

My husband pointed out at an early stage of compiling this page that the foundations I have chosen are what I wear regularly or have worn in the past. This is true, but having researched the topic for so many years I would, wouldn't I!

 

This is potentially a very subjective judgment, clouded by national favourites, marketing and even litigation. To avoid all these pitfalls, I must state from the outset that many of the brands and foundations that are mentioned here are no longer made and, due to our researches, I may be in a better position to discuss this topic than many, however, I know that as many again will disagree with my conclusions. I hope to hear from those that agree and disagree. Only from constructive feedback can our researches be furthered and opinions optimised.

 

The foundations described below are not the Rolls Royces of the foundation world, they are far more akin to the Ford Mondeo (my husband drew this parallel). There is no brand snobbery here. What we are after is the brand that was so popular that it became the mainstay for millions of women due to a clever combination of comfort, cost and convenience.

 

 

 

BRASSIERES: The Triumph Doreen

 

Many years ago, the Triumph Doreen surpassed anything that my favourite made-to-measure brand Spirella could produce and I've been a devotee ever since. Their sizes in short, medium or long length range from 32A through to 52K (and possibly more besides).

 

 

 

 

CORSETS:  The Spirella 305

 

Certainly not mainstream, Spirella, with its hundreds of corsetieres on three continents managed to supply millions of women with made-to-measure garments for close on eight decades. Their best selling garment was the 305 series corset. It was made-to-measure and provided a superb support for any women traditional enough to require it. The front-lacing was relatively easy to adjust and since a corset is a specialised garment, the availability of options such as extra suspenders, stiffer boning and under-belts meant that the device could be adapted to suit all shapes.

 

 

 

 

GIRDLES:  Marks and Spencer  1960's - 1970's

 

The dozen or so girdles in our collection are as powerful today as they were 40 years ago when some of them were purchased. Not one is less than 30 years old and I have worn the one that fits me on several occasions. If it were to be my regular foundation, I'm sure it would last another couple of decades.

 

 

 

 

PANTY-GIRDLES:  The Sears Hi-rise

 

 As standard wear for millions of women in the 1960's and 1970's, nothing beat the Sears panty-girdle for popularity, style, cost and elegance. The marketers managed to get all the elements of the equation just so.

From grannies through mothers and onto their daughters, the Sears panty-girdle was almost part of an unspoken uniform that would only be challenged as the age of the hippy and flower power persuaded American and then British womanhood to discard their foundations. Sadly, no alternative was ever suggested at the time and it has taken nearly three decades for the foundation garment, other than the brassiere, to stage a realistic comeback.

We have but one in our collection, a tribute to the fact that these girdles were worn to destruction and would never see the advent of the electronic auction.

Indeed, only the Triumph Doreen conceived before flower power has lasted into the electronic era.

  

The Sears hi-rise panty-girdle was to American womanhood in the mid-1960's what the Marks and Spencer girdle was to her British cousin. Even after the demise of the British girdle in the late 1960's, nothing as elegant or as powerful as the Sears panty-girdle was ever offered to replace it.