Strodex

Strodex was a British company that appears to have targeted the same clientele as Spirella, Spencer and Barcley, however, like Barcley, it never achieved the same number of sales as the tqo queens of bespoke corsetry, Spirella and Spencer. Their products were, however, of a similar quality and they could produce everything from the most severe surgical corset in unimaginative coutil to gorgeous confections of nylon and lace.

The matching brassiere and girdle advertised in the early 1960's (left) contrasts with the early 1970's abdominal support (centre) and seriously functional dorso-lumbar support (right - 1950's).

None of my acquaintances nor their mothers or grannies wore Strodex. If they had made-to-measure it was Spirella, Spencer or occasionally Barcley. Strodex was based in Leicestershire where the cotton mills were and produced as diverse a range as the more widely-purchased competition. A number of foundations from the more fashionable end of the catalogue became available at auction recently and we were given permission to use the photographs of these garments. They show the exquisite detail, boning and interior construction of these foundations.