Chili Bouchier* – under whose name I would like to write saucy Hollywood gossip, while wearing a smart little 1930s hat and holding an ivory cigarette holder (all the better to point out scandals from my table at the Stork Club) – has got something very special for you today. It is a beautiful massaging corset made by a woman called Nurse Sinclair.
Nurse Sinclair is never seen in the ad, she is the Wizard of Oz of corsetry, hidden behind the black background, telling Chili Bouchier when to slouch (on the left) and when to stand up straight and suck in her stomach (on the right).
Behold the Slymlastik!
Which saves you from doing anything gymnastic;
And that’s because it’s made of supersonic elastic.
In a word, it is jolly well fantastic.
As you can see. See how much happier Chili looks on the right? She went from Mae West to Jean Harlow in – probably in about half an hour. It takes about that long to wrestle the Slymlastik on.
But why does it take 10 whole days to lose 3 inches? Because the Slymlastik “massages” the fat away. And that is going to take it a few days. Doesn’t that make you feel glamorous and special? As Chili says:
I must certainly advise slender women to try the Slymlastik.
If you are not slender Chili doesn’t know what you are going to do. She’ll get back to you on that one.
Big version here; from British women’s magazine Woman’s Journal, May 1937.
*Chili Bouchier was a famous movie actress in England in the 1930s.
If you're already slender why do you need to lose 3 inches in the first place? Or is that one those questions we're not supposed to ask?
Good God, isn't wearing a bra torture enough? I think Nurse Sinclair is really a very sadistic man who sat around dreaming up painful undergarments for women. I want to see some man girdles. They are the ones who get the beer bellies. Right?
Oh wow – what baltantly false advertising! I once ruined a wedding by wearing bridget Jones knickers. I decided to never wear a silky dress again (rather than do something about my luvverly love handles).
I'm impressed that her balloon breasts suddenly went all perky thanks to the wonder-unders…now, if it were just true…
It's oddly reassuring to know that slimming advertising hasn't changed in +70 years: "here's how to lose weight without exercise or dieting!"Mind you, I could definitely use something like this to help remove the extra inches of waistline I seem to have gained over the last week or so…
I think I have one of those in closet. Actually, I have two. lol
Tori – Not supposed to ask!Midcenturymadam – Nurse Sinclair is indeed sinister, I think.Emm – It really is blatantly false, and yet they sound so confident!Barbara – I was thinking that too
Richard – Yes, even the 19th century diet ads sound hauntingly familiar…Dr. Lauren – I think I might have one or two from the 50s somewhere in my vintage collection, but have never worn them (they look painful!)
Ah what woman do to themselves…I mean did, No make that do
We will try anything to lose 3 inches still 
Happy New Year!Hope 2010 brings all the best for you & your family.Regards, Mizé.
happy new year, hopefully in this year's good for your family
If this ad was on television, in the 'before' shot she'd be shaking her head and looking completely exasperated.