I have been trying for ages to find some 1950s style underwear – all-in-one shape-wear known as a corselet, or a girdle with suspenders for stockings.
1950s Modern
Modern versions tend to be shorter, so you don’t get that smooth shape over the hips. In country Queensland they seemed aimed at brides, and are so only in white or cream, with hefty price tags of around $190. I haven’t had much success online either, in Australia that is except for the not quite so cute body shaper on the right above. Thankfully vintage underwear seems to be making a comeback in the UK and USA, so I may try ordering something from overseas when funds permit. This little number from What Katie Did looks pretty, as does the bullet bra, but they only go up to size 40.
The nicest and most similar underwear I have found is the all in one body shaper, which you can wear with a separate suspender belt. And I found the place to go in Melbourne – the Queen Victoria Market. This market sells everything, including fruit and veg, deli goods, clothes, fabrics, gifts, handbags and pets. It also sells underwear.
I was stopped by the amazing display, mostly a little erotic for my taste, but lurking at the back were black and beige body suits, in sizes up to 24! And so cheap - I bought one for $50 and then got a discount on a second, and then also bought a separate suspender belt and some stockings, all for under $120!
I am still on the look out for real vintage underwear, but these will keep me going for a while.
Our week in Melbourne was lovely. We didn’t just shop and eat, but also caught up with friends and family, including my aunt and uncle who live in Sunbury just outside Melbourne, with lots of sheep (and hand made teddy bears), wild life an 18 year old dog and a couple of cats.
I also caught up with my gorgeous friends Shell and Jacqui, who I have known for nearly 20 years but not seen for at least 5 years. Love you girls!
We also got some culture, visiting the Melbourne International Art Gallery for the Viennese exhibition, including paintings by Gustav Klimt.
Klimt’s Emile
Our last day in Melbourne we caught a train into Flinders Street Station and walked over the bridge to South Bank. Unfortunately it was all being renovated, so not much was open, but we did spy a lovely gelati shop.
It was a lovely sunny day, but the Yarra River still looked muddy – not like our beautiful blue river in Mackay!
We then went back into the city and looked at the beautiful old buildings in Collins Street, including my favourite shopping strips, The Block Arcade and Royal arcade, which both opened in about 1900.
There are some quaint little shops, including some vintage clothes shops, Haighs chocolate shop, Kosta Boda, the Hopetown Tearooms, a toy shop and one shop just selling Russian nesting dolls.
Some of the shops are tiny, just one small room with a miniscule staircase to a store room above, as seen in this empty shop, above.
So that was our week in Melbourne – shopping, eating, drinking, friends and family, art, fashion and lots of sitting in the wintry sunshine dreaming!
Love Deb xxx
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