Spirella Foundations

 

Catalogues

 
Spirella sold their foundations through the agency of the corsetiere. Brochures and leaflets were distributed to the corsetieres and thence to the customers until the very early 1980's. Sadly, with the demise of the foundation wearing public, so the glossy catalogues and beautifully posed photographs passed from the corsetiere's briefcase.

Spirella described its foundations as corsets, girdles (1928), corselettes and bandeaus, until they realised that nobody else referred to bandeaus and the name was changed to brassiere. In 1949, panty-girdles were introduced followed by 'waist-nippers' (popular amongst brides). As the 1970's drew to a close, the term 'corset' was replaced by a number of euphemisms such as 'laced foundation', however, we all knew what they meant and the subterfuge fooled nobody.

Each picture will take you back to an elegant era that is barely remembered today.