Many years ago, whilst helping to clear out an old lady's apartment I came across a 1950 Vogue magazine, which I still have. As well as pictures of the New Look; Dior's revolutionary new take on women's wear, long full skirts and very nipped in waists that totally rejecting rationing and rationality, there was also the distinctly dated advertising. All so modest, mainly in black and white, with discrete underwear ads, none exposing anything. This reminded me of the ladies' underwear advertisements on the walls of the London tube escalators even in the mid to late 50s. Girdles, well covering bras, corselettes, none showing the sexuality implicit in modern lingerie advertising, but for a 16 year old with TG tendencies, immensely exciting. These were the underclothes worn by women of that epoch, as the occasional exploration of my mother's underwear drawer proved.

I have always had, due to these influences or not, a liking for retro underwear. A few years ago M&S came out with lines of retro underwear; pull on girdles with 6 suspenders and matching long-line bras & zipped up corselettes For sale to whom? I cannot be the only client, yet does one know women friends who wear this type of underwear? Is it only granny wear? However, paying a visit to M&S the constant display indicates that such underwear and its modern equivalent such as "magic knickers" obviously sells well.

So, in opening my lingerie drawer one day last week, I pulled out a corselette, zipped at the front, reinforced by hooks and eyes and wriggled into it. Stockings stop it from riding up; it stops stockings from sliding down. Bra, knickers and tights are, and I must be honest, more comfortable, but the foundation garment certainly helps the look and its feel cannot be ignored. But does it add to the feeling of femininity? For me yes, as it is hard to ignore the restriction and the pull on the body in several directions of these clothes. It is impossible to ignore the corselette when walking and sitting as there is the feel of the suspenders against the legs; not comfortable, but enough present to ensure constant awareness. I suspect it changes my walk, subtely shortening my stride.

Does this add to femininity? For me, very much so, as the awareness of what I "am" is so much enhanced by these clothes.