Date: c. 1950s
Origin: France
Fabric: Nylon
Brand: Cadolle
A suspender belt in a lightweight woven nylon. It is embellished with a ruffled cotton tulle lace trim at the hip line, and the centre panel is hand embroidered with cherry motifs. The suspender straps are non-adjustable, and made from nylon encased elastic. A strip of floral patterned elastic net at the centre back offers some fit flexibility, and the garment fastens with hooks and eyes at the side back.
Suspender belts grew in popularity from the 1920s as an alternative to heavier corsetry. They fulfilled the all important job of keeping stockings from rolling down, without the constriction of standard shapewear. Suspender belts offered a previously unparalleled freedom of movement and such were particularly popular with the young and active. The style began to fall out of fashion in the 1960s, once textile technological advancements led to the creation of affordable pantyhose.
The Cadolle design house was founded by Herminie Cadolle in 1878, originally a shop that specialised in made-to-measure undergarments. Herminie is often credited with designing the first modern bra in 1889, although this is often contested. The brand continues to this day, and is now headed by Poupie Cadolle, the fifth generation of the family to run the eponymous brand.
From the collection of Karolina Laskowska
