Instructions in Spirella Corsetry/Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Classification of Figure Types and Conditions

   1. The Spirella Company from the beginning planned a service
to include a corset for each type of figure. This makes it necessary
that we have a common understanding of figure types. You un-
consciously classify your acquaintances as short or tall, large or
small, stout or thin.

   2. As a simple basis easily understood by all, The Spirella Com-
pany has divided women's figures into four general classes. These
are small, medium, medium and stout with straight lines and stout
with curved lines. In order to link these classifications up with
the style number of the corsets designed for each type they have
been named as follows:

     small, 20-type
     medium, 60-type
     medium and stout with straight outlines, 40-type
     stout with curved outlines, 30-type.

   3. Because 20-type represents slender proportions and outlines,
it means small in size, slender bones with small amount of flesh
and an A or B back curve.

   4. Because 60-type represents medium proportions and outlines,
it means medium in size, medium bones, with a medium amount of
flesh and a B back curve.

   5. Because 40-type represents medium and stout proportions
with straight outlines, it means medium or large around in size,
with waist large in proportion to bust and hips and gives an A back
curve. In the medium size figures of the 40-type it may be neces-
sary to consider the bony structure, but in the large figures of this
.type it is hidden by the quantity of flesh.

   6. Because 30-type represents stout proportions with curved out-
lines, it means large around in size with bust and hips large in
proportion to the waist. This flesh develops so as to give large bust
and hips in proportion to the waist and gives a C back curve. The
size of the bones in this type need not be considered because they are
hidden by the quantity of flesh.

   7. Four normal types, then, constitute Spirella's simple classifi-
cation of types. Each client that you corset will come under one
of these classifications.

THE FOUR NORMAL TYPES

20-type	60-type
40-type	30-type

Back curves

8. This illustration is a side view of the body showing the relative degrees of the four back curves.    9. Normal types frequently have some slight variation, which we term a condi- tion. To help you to understand what we term a condition, we illustrate seven of the more usual ones.

10. This illustration represents a con- dition of gorilla poise, which can occur in any type.

Condition of gorilla poise

Condition of prominent hip bones

11. This illustration represents a con- dition of hip bones which because of lack of flesh, or because they are large in pro- portion to the rest of the figure, become prominent and for this reason are sensi- tive to pressure. This may occur in 20, 60 and medium size 40-types. It will not appear in 30 and large size 40-types be- cause the quantity of flesh covers the bones and smooths the outlines.

12. This illus- tration represents a condition of kan- garoo poise and can occur in any type.

Condition of kangaroo poise

Condition of cut-in waist

13. This illustration represents a con- dition of cut-in waist and can occur in any except 40-type. This condition is usually the result of wearing a corset with waist size too small. This displaces the flesh above and below the waist line. The condition may appear on the back or side of the figure, or may be general.

Condition of flesh developed out of proportion over side hips and abdomen

14. This illustration represents a con- dition of flesh over side hips and abdo- men out of proportion to the rest of the figure. This condition occurs most fre- quently on large sizes of 60 or in 30-type.

15. This illus- tration represents a condition of flesh on thighs, devel- oped out of pro- portion to the rest of the figure, and can occur in any type.

Condition of thigh flesh

Condition of prominent and often pendulous abdomen

16. This illustration represents a con- dition of prominent and very often pendu- lous abdomen caused by flesh accumu- lating over the abdomen out of propor- tion to the rest of the figure. This is found in 30-type.

   17. There are other conditions such as scant bust and shoulder
flesh that may occur, which would make the figure a variation of
one of. the normal types.

   18. While studying the client's figure for the purpose of classi-
fying her as to type, also observe any condition present. In the
past you have observed these types and conditions unconsciously.
Now you will notice these types and conditions consciously. This
conscious recognition is necessary because Spirella corsets are de-
signed to conform to the four normal types as described in this sec-
tion. When conditions appear on the figure they must be corrected
as far as possible through the application of the corset.

SYNOPSIS OF FIGURE CLASSIFICATION

Small, 20-type	{	Small size Slender bones Small amount of flesh A or B back curve
Medium, 60-type	{	Medium size Medium bones Medium amount of flesh B back curve
Medium and stout, 40-type	{	Medium or large around in size Straight outlines Waist large in proportion A back curve
Stout, 30-type	{	Large around in size Curved outlines Waist small in proportion C back curve
Conditions which may occur on 20-type	{	Gorilla poise Kangaroo poise Prominent hip bones Cut-in waist Thigh flesh
Conditions which may occur an 60-type	{	Gorilla poise Kangaroo poise Prominent hip bones Cut-in waist flesh out of proportion over side hips and abdomen Thigh flesh
Conditions which may occur on 40-type	{	Gorilla poise Kangaroo poise Prominent hip bones (medium size 40-type) Thigh flesh
Conditions which may occur on 30-type	{	Gorilla poise Kangaroo poise Cut-in waist Flesh out of proportion over side hips and abdomen Thigh flesh Prominent and pendulous abdomen