Lingerie Love – Rago Shapewear

Buying vintage lingerie is a bit of a minefield. For starters, we don’t all feel comfortable in someone elses old undercrackers, and if you’re lucky enough to find some deadstock, then what are the chances you’ll find it in your size?

There are some fabulous reproduction companies out there, but today I’m going to share a secret favourite among vintage ladies who’ve been making their support wear since the 1940s.

rago advert 1954

Rago Shapewear was established in 1945 as Rago Foundations in the US. It was started by Italian immigrants Jack Rago and Matty Marchisella who refined the function of their shapewear over 50 years using feedback from consumers and the staff in corset fitting rooms to create the perfect shape with their shapewear.

As the 60s arrived and tights or pantyhose became more popular than stockings many manufacturers went out of business, or just stopped making traditional girdles and corselettes. Much to the relief of many a modern vintage gal, Rago struggled on, and saw an upsurge in the 80s and 90s.

One of the reasons it’s such a popular brand among vintage loving ladies is that the shapewear from Rago is glamorous but also practical and comfortable shapewear, that gives an authentic vintage silhouette.

Rago is stocked by one of my sponsors Pin Up Parade, and I’ve managed to persuade her to give me a £20 voucher to spend on Rago Shapewear to give away to one of you, details on how to enter at the bottom of the post!

Rago 21 Waist Cincher

This waist cincher was one of the first cinchers I found out about when researching shapewear when I started wearing vintage. It’s perfect for wearing under 50s frocks with a tight waist.

rago 21

 

Rago Extra Firm Corselette

I love corselettes for a smooth line under fitted dresses. The Rago one also has a great bra that gives the bustline a vintage silhouette. Not as extreme as a bullet bra, more like the Triumph Doreen, with a subtle “lift and separate” vibe!

corselette

 

Rago Light Control Girdle

A good sort of “everyday” girdle to keep your stockings up and smooth the hip area. I often wear girdles under pencil skirts.

light control

If you’d like to add some Rago to your lingerie drawer, then Pin Up Parade has very kindly given me a £20 voucher to give away to one of you. All you need to do to enter is leave a comment, and then fill in the Rafflecopter widget. You can leave a comment anyway, but your entry will only count if you fill in the rafflecopter widget afterwards! I’ve also added 2 optional extra entries, because, well, why not, so if you’re a Facebook fan of Pin Up Parade or Retro Chick then that’s 2 bonus entries.

The competition is open worldwide, as Pin Up Parade ship worldwide!

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Comments

203 responses to “Lingerie Love – Rago Shapewear”

  1. Louisa avatar
    Louisa

    Great article. Such wonderful lingerie. So feminine.

  2. Emily DeFelice avatar
    Emily DeFelice

    I really like the Rago Extra Firm Corselette I had a nosy on Pin Up parade but alas they don’t seem to have my bra size. 🙁

  3. I’m going to need something like this if I ever want to fit into my Viv of Holloway dress again! x

    1. I know that feeling!

  4. A Shute avatar
    A Shute

    Interesting blog post. Going to have a look at pin up parade now….

  5. Siofra avatar
    Siofra

    I usually only wear shapewear when I’m wearing a pencil dress. I have to say it’s no where near as fancy as this though. I love the Rago 21 Waist Cincher. 🙂

  6. La procratineuse avatar
    La procratineuse

    I have a Rago 1294 in black. I love that this shapewear can also look pretty (unlike most spanks style garments). The 6 stocking straps can be easily tucked in if not needed (too bad thay are not detachable).

  7. I’ve had one of the waist cinchers for about 5 years and it is great – can’t recommend it enough. I’d love to try one of the corselettes.

  8. Hannah avatar
    Hannah

    Beautiful shapewear! Would love some to wear underneath my beautiful pencil skirt

  9. Rago is my favourite shapewear brand! I was bought their firm girdle for christmas – and I tell you, that thing is AMAZING. Pulls in my tummy without the “too tight” feeling, makes my bum look awesome and is incredibly comfortable. Plus, I love their hook-and-eye and zip closure – that closure is not going to wear or pull any time soon!

    One thing I think is a great selling point of their garments is the size range, they go up to a 6XL if I remember? Brilliant. And the pricing is so on point.

  10. I’d been eyeing their new shapewear for a while! Shapewear is a must for sure, I’ve been wearing simple Kiss me Deadly girdles and belts for everyday stockings hold-up but some frocks just require a flatter figure.

  11. Kathryn Lawrence avatar
    Kathryn Lawrence

    I love my Rago corselette. It was the first piece of shapewear I bought in 2006 and still going strong 🙂

  12. Joanne Curtis avatar
    Joanne Curtis

    Never tried any of the Rago shapewear, its always been a little too expensive and the kids need feeding first! lol

  13. @carolinesweetie avatar
    @carolinesweetie

    I bought my first bullet bra last week, quite a different shape from what I’m used to. I think some Argo in my wardrobe would be good, especially for my dresses.

  14. Lesley avatar
    Lesley

    Can’t get the look right without the right silhouette! Will check Rago out, thanks 😉

  15. Really loved the fitted Corselette, but it doesn’t go down to my back size. The dresses are lovely though, especially the red Gigi Bettie Page one. Site could be a little easier to navigate, but there’s some lovely stuff there!

    1. I’m working on a site redesign, never fear

  16. this type of lingerie is coming back… ladies looks more attractive and sexy with this type of lingerie… great article by the way

  17. Kinga Regulska avatar
    Kinga Regulska

    This is a competition for me! 🙂 would love to win it

  18. Only usually wear shapewear for special occasions but love my WKD merry widow!

  19. Georgina avatar
    Georgina

    Have been mooning over these rago products for months!

  20. Anytime I wear shapewear, it creates a new bulge at the top or bottom!

    1. That’s where te corselette comes in!

  21. Natalie avatar
    Natalie

    These are so pretty! And a lot more reasonably priced than some other vintage-style shapewear brands I’ve seen

  22. sarah brooker avatar
    sarah brooker

    wear stockings on special occasions only.

  23. pauline simpson avatar
    pauline simpson

    Very interesting I remember my mum wearing corsets and suspenders

  24. Thanks for having this giveaway!

    1. Oops, I hit the post comment button a bit too fast.

      A waist cincher is on my wish list!

      OccaI wear occasionally shapewear, certainly not on a daily basis.

  25. Sharon Griffin avatar
    Sharon Griffin

    i wear my control underwear on special occasions and feel more confident when i have it on, especially when wearing tighter dresses 😉

  26. Louise Asekokhai avatar
    Louise Asekokhai

    Like this underwear as it holds it all in and looks good.

  27. Tina C. avatar
    Tina C.

    I don’t but would live to!

  28. KATHY DOWNING avatar
    KATHY DOWNING

    I wear shape wear every day but nothing as glamorous as this unfortunately.
    I once wore hold up stocking inside out and as I walked down the road they were getting lower and lower = in the end I had to hold the tops through my skirt until I could take them off. Was not funny at the time but now I laugh whenever I think of it

  29. What a lovely prize – for a nice treat!

  30. I would love to be able to splurge on one of these!

  31. Harriet avatar
    Harriet

    Rago Extra Firm Corselette

  32. Only for special occasions.

  33. Ooh, I’m saving up for a waist cincher myself! I’m hoping it will help me get into some circle skirts that are just a wee too tiny to breathe….

  34. I like the RAGO Style 824 – Parisian Lace Corset Medium Shaping.

  35. I have been meaning to get myself something from Rago for ages – I love the pretty designs on all their things.

  36. i love the shape wear!! every woman needs a little help sometimes =p

  37. Isabel avatar
    Isabel

    I wear my giant shaping pants when I am wearing a fitted dress, so usually on special occasions. Nothing as pretty as the ones above though, mine are bog standard M&S.

  38. Emma Thackery avatar
    Emma Thackery

    i wear shapewear for special occasions

  39. katie skeoch avatar
    katie skeoch

    Usually only on special occasions but the waist cincher looks great

  40. Sophie V. avatar
    Sophie V.

    Such wonderful shapewear! Have wanted to try some of their pieces for ages.

  41. Ooh I’d love to win the light control girdle, been after one for a while. I mainly wear shape wear and stockings for going out and special occasions but would love to wear stockings more often
    Vic

  42. claire gray avatar
    claire gray

    waist cinchers is my fav piece 🙂

  43. Thank you for this blog post! I’m new to wearing vintage and I’m in need of some good lingerie!

  44. Ruth Shaw avatar
    Ruth Shaw

    Just what I need some extra control

  45. I’ve been eyeing the waist cincher for a while, would love the voucher to put towards finally getting one!

  46. marie yeardley avatar
    marie yeardley

    Rago Extra Firm Corselette my husband bought me one for christmas and I love it, I wear it when we go on a date night with some lovely fully seamed stockings

  47. Robyn Lambert avatar
    Robyn Lambert

    This all looks so wonderful <3

  48. Beautiful underwear!

  49. My mom could do with one of these, lets just say she got caught out when we were on holiday – we went to a restaurant and there was a very powerful fan above us as we walked in. What she had on was not quite as attractive as these!! very embarrassing for her but a great memory for me!

  50. Im a special occasion girl 😉

  51. ohhh. please enter me! I wear girdles quite frequently and have always wanted to try some of Rago’s stuff!

  52. Hannah avatar
    Hannah

    What fabulous lingerie! Thank you for the give away

  53. Isobel Gibbons avatar
    Isobel Gibbons

    oh so chic and femanine

  54. How fabulous! Just discovered your blog and its great, a peach of a post too – the only sort of shaping underwear I have is a pair of spanks! eek. May have to invest in something like this!

  55. Fiona Matters avatar
    Fiona Matters

    Just for special occasions 😀

  56. I’ve never actually worn any but I’d love to try it!

  57. I’ve only worn shaping underwear for special occasions….but as my waist wastes away, perhaps I should do it more!

  58. liz ferguson avatar
    liz ferguson

    i love the waist cinchers. Great site – will definitly be buying in future!

  59. Amanda Milton avatar
    Amanda Milton

    I wear shape wear for special occasions,under my 50’s dresses,love the waist cincher 🙂

  60. Alex Backhouse avatar
    Alex Backhouse

    Ooooh I’ve always loved the look of Rago shapewear, but I still haven’t got round to buying any! Tut tut me!

  61. laura jane avatar
    laura jane

    Id love something like these sexy pieces, i own nothing like them 🙁

  62. claire griffiths avatar
    claire griffiths

    love the Extra firm control corselette

  63. Ronni Astroff avatar
    Ronni Astroff

    Shapely and retro, I like. I only wear for special occasions, would wear more often if I could find comfortable shapewear.

  64. Gabrielle Hill avatar
    Gabrielle Hill

    I like the extra firm corselette 🙂 very flattering 🙂

  65. this is so interesting, and I’m really loving your blog! following you now 🙂
    Rebecca @ tr[i]b[e]cca

  66. So so beautiful! X

  67. Liz Tierney avatar
    Liz Tierney

    I Have to say that I love this! 🙂 http://www.rago-shapewear.com/catalog/product.php?productid=16227&cat=270&page=1…I do find that i feel very uncomfortable waring stocking as they make my legs look fat lol but I love them with the right outfit and I only wear shape wear on special occasions 😉 xx

  68. Elaine avatar
    Elaine

    My favourite is the Light Control Girdle, and yes I would definitely wear it every day

  69. Frankie Tuck avatar
    Frankie Tuck

    I wear it on special occasions ; p

  70. Tammy Tudor avatar
    Tammy Tudor

    Everyday as it makes everyday an occasion and makes me feel good!

  71. I love the Rago Extra Firm Corselette, I only wear shapewear for special occasions.

  72. Ohh I need that corselette since I’ve gained weight!

  73. Hannah Ellis avatar
    Hannah Ellis

    For me I only wear them on a special occasion x

  74. Darlene Ovenstone avatar
    Darlene Ovenstone

    I really like the Rago Extra Firm Corselette. I have never tried any of the stuff but would love to. 🙂

  75. Absolutely love the Firm control zip-fastening girdle by Rago…will be very useful too!

  76. whiteshadows1 avatar
    whiteshadows1

    I wear shapewear for special occasions

  77. I have never venture into retro shape wear, would love a Rago Corselette.

  78. I always look at waist cinchers, but have not bought one yet – will have to have a look on Pin Up Parade!

  79. valley girl avatar
    valley girl

    I love this brand!

  80. Fab underwear – makes me want to be in Mad Men!

  81. julie baxter avatar
    julie baxter

    i wear shapewear on a night out when im wearing a dress it gives me more confident 🙂

  82. I have the waist cincher and absolutely love it! It smooths and nips very well.

  83. This all looks absolutely stunning! I only usually wear it for special occasions, but the rate i’m going with confidence everyday with be an absolute boost! x

  84. Absolutely love the Rago Extra Firm Corselette
    Gorgeous gorgeoous gorgeous!

  85. Nicky Hopkins avatar
    Nicky Hopkins

    Very fine lingerie

  86. Victoria Smith avatar
    Victoria Smith

    I never wear it but I really should!

  87. Like the look of the girdle!!

  88. I can’t believe I’d not discovered you could get this brand in the UK! I’m *so* up for this giveaway 🙂

  89. Argh… technology fail! It would’nt let me log in via FB to leave a comment. Thankfully I managed to log in to the Rafflecopter widget via FB though and it then said “Tell me your favourite piece of Rago shapewear, your stories about stockings, or whether you wear shapewear every day, or just for special occasions!” – is that what I should have put in my comment? I’d like to try the Rago 21 waist cincher because all my 50s frocks and skirts feel a bit snug on the waist now. The What Katie Did glamour girdle that I’m wearing today doesn’t go up high enough, sadly. I’m trying to wear shapewear more often these days – it used to just be for special occasions.

    1. Ha ha! Don’t panic, any old comment will do, I was just trying to give people ideas 😀

  90. Eloise stingemore avatar
    Eloise stingemore

    Sassy lingeria

  91. beautiful shapewear

  92. Susan Ellams avatar
    Susan Ellams

    I wear shape wear for special occassions

  93. Ooh I need some of this shape wear in my life!!

  94. lynn mackay avatar
    lynn mackay

    lovely site, great clothes

  95. The corselette looks nice but would only be for a special occasion for me 🙂

  96. jessica agyin avatar
    jessica agyin

    i have never worn retro style lingerie. but always wanted to try. i think it looks very sexy and classy

  97. leonie silk avatar
    leonie silk

    how beautiful! retro rocks!

  98. Great Give Away! Would love a new rago as mine falling apart. Adore lingerie.

  99. Samantha R avatar
    Samantha R

    I have never tried shape wear, I am planning on investing in some for my wedding later this year

  100. I love shapewear, especially anything that keeps my stomach flat. I’ve had two kids, and let me tell you, it’s not pretty down there…

  101. clare davies avatar
    clare davies

    think the Rago Extra Firm Corselette looks fab!!

  102. Karen Lloyd avatar
    Karen Lloyd

    I only wear shapewear for a special evening out to flatter my figure in a nice fitted dress

  103. Emily Fowler avatar
    Emily Fowler

    I wear corsets quite often, just not normally under my clothes 😉 I wear a lot of pencil skirts and 50s style dresses so am going to start taking the plunge and get some shapewear to avoid having to suck it in!

  104. wow, would love to win!

  105. leanne williams avatar
    leanne williams

    I really like the Rago Extra Firm Corselette

  106. Dawn Fletcher avatar
    Dawn Fletcher

    Some great items on here and they look so comfy and feminine too.

  107. I had no idea this brand really dates back from the 1940’s! This makes them even more appealing! I’m hesitant to buy a real corset, but their awesome waist cincher looks like something I might actually wear (regularly I might add)… yep: I really want it!

  108. Massive fan of Rago too – nothing gives you quite the same shape or wiggle…

  109. Rago do a great job keeping a classic style alive and I always appreciate it when my wife wears something special.

  110. I LOVE both Rago shapewear and Pin Up Parade! If I win I’ll be getting some fab Rago item to wear on our Anniversary.

  111. I wear my Rago six-strap lightweight pull-on suspender belt (wow, say that six times fast!) all the time, it’s so much comfier than tights! It has held up to washing and wearing really well, but alas now I think I’m getting to that very special spot where my waist circumference is a tad too small for the size I have to wear to fit my bum.

    I’m less in love with my Rago waist cincher, as I usually wear thick-ish stockings and the four straps are really not enough. It is very pretty though, in fact I wore it under my wedding dress!

  112. I don’t wear it but open to trying it out!

  113. I always worry that shapewear will show through tight clothing. Willing to give it a try, though!

  114. Naomi Buchan avatar
    Naomi Buchan

    I wear a lot of vintage clothes so it’s importent to get the right shape underneath, up till now i’ve just had to look at the “old Ladies” selections for that 50’s boob look!

  115. JenniferAvril avatar
    JenniferAvril

    If I want to wear anything remotely figure-hugging I always wear some form of shapewear. For my wedding I wore such a classic and structured corset that I was unable to eat or drink anything! Worth it for the 50s shape I achieved – I wore a knee-length dress with a huge underskirt and the corset completed the look after I got the dress tailored to it.

  116. Amy Ripley avatar
    Amy Ripley

    I wear shapewear for occasions – to make me feel special!

  117. These are gorgeous pieces, really cannot get enough of vintage style underwear. Love it.

  118. I really love the Corselette, it not only smooths those bumps but looks sexy too

  119. stacey kirkbride avatar
    stacey kirkbride

    i like to wear shapewear for special occassions so i can look my best 🙂

  120. Isabelle Smith avatar
    Isabelle Smith

    i wear on occasions such as when im wearing a tight dress

  121. My girlfriend would love this!

  122. I love the look of these posh undies and would love a voucher – the word undercrackers makes me snigger too 😉 xx

  123. Laura Vitty avatar
    Laura Vitty

    I only wear shapewear for special occasions. My favourite is the waist cincher. Much more versatile than the larger pieces, but still sexy.

  124. I love Rago, I hope I win so I can add to my collection!

  125. I have yet to adopt the rather uplifting (literally and figuratively speaking :D) habit of wearing shapewear every or most days. I wear my favourite girdle & seamed stockings whenever I put on dresses or skirts in winter. The first time I wore said girdle was at my twin’s wedding so no matter how I’m feeling on any given day, one look at it and I’m smiling through the slight tuck/cinch/pinch along my torso.

  126. ok, my comment got gobbled up by the system I think :/
    here it goes, once again, with feeling. I have yet to fall into the rather uplifting (literally and figuratively speaking) habit of wearing shapewear daily but I do wear my favourite plum longline girdle in winter under dresses and skirts. I bought if for my twin’s wedding so it always puts a smile on my face to wear it, no matter the amount of cinch/tuck/pull/heave going on.

  127. love stockings although the seams do drive me nuts sometimes. but it’s all worth it 🙂

  128. Christina Jarrett avatar
    Christina Jarrett

    I love Rago, their shapewear’s so elegant! I usually only wear shapewear for special occasions, especially when I’m wearing pencil dresses 🙂 x

  129. lisa ann tebbutt avatar
    lisa ann tebbutt

    fab prize

  130. scarlett brannan avatar
    scarlett brannan

    I have never tried Shapewear but really want to!

  131. Janine Atkin avatar
    Janine Atkin

    i use shapewear if im wearing a tight dress on a night out

  132. donna large avatar
    donna large

    I like the extra firm corselette

  133. Jane Middleton avatar
    Jane Middleton

    I have a Trinny and Susannah shapewear, but only wear it on special occasions

  134. Dawn Taverner avatar
    Dawn Taverner

    having 3 kids in the short space of 4.5 years has changed my body, not necassarily in a bad way, but in a way im not used to! these look wonderful and they’d be perfect at keep all those extra bits tucked away! 🙂

  135. I like Rago Extra Firm Corselette and it would be for a special day only 🙁

  136. ayesha warsi avatar
    ayesha warsi

    nice gift

  137. ayesha warsi avatar
    ayesha warsi

    nice

  138. lauraD avatar
    lauraD

    Beautiful shapewear, dying for a corselette to wear under my pencil dresses (or just on it’s own!) : )

  139. I love the waist clincher – takes me back to the shape of my youth

  140. Solange avatar
    Solange

    I love the Rago 21 Waist Cincher

  141. Lisa Armstrong avatar
    Lisa Armstrong

    Would love to try these great products – I certainly need them at the moment !

  142. Karen Sanders avatar
    Karen Sanders

    I love Rago, but my cinchers and girdles are getting a little worn so this could be a good time to restock!

  143. I like the Rago Extra Firm Corselette

  144. Great giveaway! I’ve alwasy wanted to try Rago shapewear. It’s hard to find vintage garments that are wearable.
    Emily

  145. The Rago Waist Cincher is EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for and couldn’t find ~ this is perfect! Thank you for an informative article and the chance to win. 🙂

  146. sarah parker avatar
    sarah parker

    I love the stockings 🙂

  147. asme belghazi avatar
    asme belghazi

    lovely to make u feel sexy on special occassions especially when you want to wow your partner!!!!

  148. I like the look of the Extra firm control corselette – as you say it would be perfect for wearing under dresses.

  149. I love Rago, I have the extra firm girdle and have nearly worn it out! It makes me feel very feminine and confident on days when I need a good boost. I’d love to try the waist cincher. Thanks for the fab giveaway, I’m a fan on both Facebook pages 🙂

  150. I only wear it when I have a really close fitting dress and didn’t diet the week before!!

  151. petra.bah@gmail.com avatar
    petra.bah@gmail.com

    Very interesting blog, I love this sort of underwear.

  152. Ros IRWIN avatar
    Ros IRWIN

    The Waist cincher – I only wear shapewear on special occasions

  153. I must try one of these! :))

  154. I LOVE that waist cincher! I could definitely do with one of those 🙂

  155. love this! i searched everywhere for a waist cincher to wear under my vintage wedding dress…& then i didn’t even end up wearing it! hahaha my vintage dress collection has grown since then though, so i definitely need to find lingerie with a more vintage shape to it!
    Cheray x

  156. i love the fact i can dress like a slob ( i wear trackie and slobby jumpers because i garden a lot and i need to kee warm ) but yet underneath i can wear some fine looing undies..and no one knows!

  157. lindsay chadburn avatar
    lindsay chadburn

    everyday girdle i love, i wouldlove to wear shapewear everyday.

  158. Hannah Whitling avatar
    Hannah Whitling

    I dont wear any shapewear at the mo as ill health means I dont go out at the min, but I’d definately get some when it comes to be better and going out much more, I like the idea of having a smoother figure and curves being in the right place.

  159. Faye Huntington avatar
    Faye Huntington

    I have never worn shapewear before, however i think it could really boost confidence when wearing tight dresses!! My favourite from the website is definitely the Light shaping panty brief by Rago! With love, Faye xx

  160. Helen T avatar
    Helen T

    this reminds me of the time I went out and bought a pair of ‘hold up’ stockings for when I ‘glam up’ to go out on a Sunday evening. Well, who would have thought that there was such a choice: matt, sheer, run-resist, (I hadn’t worn stockings for a good few years) so after a bewildering few minutes I made my choice. However I found that I didn’t get on with them as well as I had hoped – they just didn’t want to stay up at all – to the point that I admitted defeat, took them off in the ladies and went bare-legged. It wasn’t til a shopping trip later when I bought another pair that I realised what the problem had been – in my confusion over the choice I had inadvertantly picked up a normal pair of stockings (which require a suspender belt), my friend still teases me over this to this day.

  161. Danielle avatar
    Danielle

    I LOVE the waist clincher. I love vintage lingerie, it’s so feminine and it’s just beautiful! x

  162. you look fabulous dahling 🙂 Great prize, I didn’t know you could buy undies like this, look lovely

  163. trevor linvell avatar
    trevor linvell

    very sexy classic lingerie

  164. I’ve always needed shapewear – for my tummy! since having my children – love what Rago has to offer

  165. I only wear shapewear on special occasions, but that’s only because I’ve not found any that are comfy enough for everyday wear x

  166. Becky Downey avatar
    Becky Downey

    I don’t wear shapewear, but gee I think I need to!

  167. I wear it for special occasions, I really need it!

  168. I am a curvy size 12 and proud of my shape, I mean who wants to be a skinny minnie?! But I do wear shapewear if I wear a clingy dress. I wear the big knickers that have a higher waist and suck your hips in giving you the smooth effect

  169. Jane Gorton avatar
    Jane Gorton

    Looks good

  170. Rosie avatar
    Rosie

    These are marvelous! Rago really are so authentic looking, I’ve been wanting my own for quite a while!