We've got our own little corset shop tucked away just off Portobello Road and although we've tried to make it as authentic as possible it is still very different to the corsetoriums of the past.

Earlier this year I was lucky enough to stumble upon a copy of 'The Speciality Shop' by the Architectural Book Pub Company. Published in 1950 it shows various layouts and plans for American shops including several 'Corsetoriums'.

It'll be of no surprise to you that I'd love to have an authentic 1950s boutique, or I did until I looked at the reality! Although the shops featured are undoubtedly stylish there really isn't much to look at.

This was the era when, as you reached your mid teens, you'd make your first trip to the Corsetorium with your mother to be fitted for your first girdle. Hardly any of the stock is on show and you'd sit at a table whilst the Corsetier decided what foundation garment would be most suited to you. From the following pictures it looks like it was taken very seriously and probably put a lot of women off girdles for life!

Gotham hosiery shop. Note the stocking built into the logo.

Inside Gotham hosiery shop.

 Shops devoted to hosiery were uncommon even in 1950, most women bought their hosiery in department stores or specialist lingerie stores. To your left is the interior of Gotham hosiery shop. As mentioned above, very little is on display and the sales lady would have to work out what the customer required and come up with something suitable.

Blackton Shop, Fifth Avenue

A 2 storey lingerie store in New York. It's difficult to tell what the shop looked like from the black and white picture which makes it look rather serene. In fact, the side walls were turquoise and chartreuse yellow whilst the drop ceiling is grey and the carpet heather. The floor and wall cases are straight grained oak, light pickled oak finish.

An in-store seamstress was on hand to make any adjustments needed and was conveniently positioned next to the changing rooms.

Corsetorium, Great Neck, L.I.

Apart from the big window display (see the retro style satin bustier in the background?) the stock on display in this boutique really is minimal.

Like before, this shop was very colourful with white fittings against an aqua wall and a grey and rose slatted screen separating the changing rooms from the front of the shop.

Although this shop is a lot smaller than the Blackton Shop it also has it's own in-house seamstress to make repairs and adjustments as required.

Unknown Corsetorium, New York

Note the corset style chairs in this boutique. From the styling I think the owner was a bit of a lingerie fetishist. The book says that the 'corset shaped chairs in grey and flesh pink designed by architect at owner's vigorous request'.

The fixtures and fittings in this boutique have a less modern feel than the Blackton Shop which, make it look softer and more inviting (to my eye at least). The fixtures were in antique glass and bronze surface mounted. Unfortunately no colour-scheme information is available.