Figure 1.--The underwaist was an alternative to garter waists. Both were designed to hold up long stockings and or pants. Wards offered two different styles of underwaists done in different lengths. Wards stressed the comfort and warmth of these garments. Apparently they were meant to be worn for some time as one had two rows of taped on buttons to allow for growth. The other had metal pin tubes.

The underwaist was an alternative to garter waists. Both were designed to hold up long stockings and or pants. Wards offered two different styles of underwaists done in different lengths. Wards stressed the comfort and warmth of these garments. Apparently they were meant to be worn for some time as one had two rows of taped on buttons to allow for growth. The other had metal pin tubes.

Underwaists

Underwaists were another type of support garment. Underwaists (sometimes called panty-waists) were worn by younger boys and girls to support additional underwear (such as bloomers or panties) or outer clothing (such as trousers or skirts). These bodices tended to be worn by boys only until about age 10, although some models came in ages for boys as old as 12. Some models were specifically for girls and others for boys, but the great majority of styles could be worn by both boys and girls. They tended to be made of elastic knitted fabric (and therefore rather form-fitting) or of cambric material and a bit looser. They nearly always were equipped with reinforcement straps, waist buttons, and garter tabs for attaching hose supporters. The popularity of underwaists declined in the later 1930s and early 1940s although they were still available, usually in the preferred knitted style, up until about 1945. When long stockings stopped being worn by school children, the main function of the underwaist ceased to exist.

Terminology

Notice that Wards refers to these garments as "garter waists". This is one reason this subject is a little complicated There was no consistency in period catlogs and fashion magazines as to the erms used for the various support garments. HBC would classify these garments as underwaists.

Wards

Wards offered two different styles of underwaists done in different lengths and material. Wards stressed the comfort and warmth of these garments. Apparently they were meant to be worn for some time as one had two rows of taped on buttons to allow for growth. The other had metal pin tubes. The heading read, " Comfortable Garter Waists [i.e., Underwaists to which garters can be attached] . . . For Warmth" Some mothers favored this style of underwaist because in addition to its function as a support for stockings and other clothing, it provided additional warmth and was like an extra undershirt in winter.

Cambric

The Wards ad copy read, "Buttons Back or Front. Bias Bound Edges. Cambric strips over shoulder equalize garter strain. 2 row of taped-on bone buttons allow for growth. Metal eyelet pin tabs {for supporters]. White. Ship wt. 3 oz.; 2, 5 oz. Sizes: 2, 4, 6, 8. State size. 31 A 2042--Each 27 c.; 2, 52 c.">

Elastic knit

The Wards ad copy read, "17 cents each. Self Material Reinforced Strips. Warm elastic knit Cotton. Metal pin tubes [for supporters]. No ironing needed. Sizes: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12. White. Ship. wt. 5 oz.; 2, 9 oz. State size. 31 A 2000--Each 27 c.; 2, 52 c." This underwaist was done in larger sizes than the other one. It was done for children up to 12 years old. I'm unsure as to what feature made it more suitable for the younger children.

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Created: 2:55 AM 3/19/2006
Last updated: 2:55 AM 3/19/2006