Description
This black lace 1950s strapless bra and girdle combo is a style often called a “Merry Widow”: an over-the-bust foundation garment that provides shaping from bust to hips. This particular vintage corset or corselette is by manufacturer Lady Marlene, who called this style a “Bra S Lette” (or “Bridalette”, when it was in white).
The corset features strapless underwired cups which are composed of 3 layers: the sheer black nylon lace, backed with pale pink nylon, and a stiff, padded nylon inner lining with crisscrossed stitching for shaping. Palest pink ribbon trim is threaded through the top edges of the cups. Below the nylon taffeta covered underwires, the black lace is lined with only the sheer pale pink nylon mesh, for a “nude” look. Below the waist at each side in front, the corset has shiny black taffeta panels. The back portion of the corset is a low V, just above the waist. It is completely made of sheer, stretchy black nylon mesh. The corset is boned from the underbust to its high-hip-length hem. It has 4 loops at the hem for garter clips, which are no longer present (but could be easily re-added). It closes in front with a metal zipper over a hook-and-eye placket.
In very good condition, this 1950s vintage Merry Widow corset has 2 tiny breaks in the outer lace layer in front (see close-up photo—they will be hard to notice), and the missing garter clips as its only issues to note. It is labeled a size 36C, and appears pretty true to size, based on the measurements. For fun, I have included a photo of Madonna wearing the exact same Lady Marlene corset in the late 1980s (with added men’s suspenders as shoulder straps). She is definitely still inspiring us with her love of vintage lingerie as clothing and stage costumes! This 50s black lace corselet is perfect for a pin-up photo shoot, moderate shaping under your favorite dress, or of course, as a strapless top on its own!
Size: approx. modern size 34D or 36C.
- Bust: measured over cups, bra is 34 inches unstretched, stretching up to 39 inches max.
- Underbust: 26 inches flat, stretching up to 31 inches max.
- Waist: 25.5 inches flat, stretching up to 30 inches max.
- Hem/high hips: 36 inches flat, stretching up to 40 inches max.
- Underarm to hem length: 13.25 inches.
- Cups: each is 7 inches wide by 6 inches tall.
- Shoulder to shoulder:
- Sleeve length:
- Sleeve opening width:
- Sweep/skirt width at hem:
- Label: Lady Marlene, 36C, Made in USA
