In 1924, Ina Gittings warned a group of women about the four dangers that lurked in modern women’s fashion. A too tight bra was one of them. In her talk entitled “The Hygenic Rather Than the Artistic in Dress,” she discussed these clothing perils.

_{UA Women’s Physical Education Dept. photo
Ina Gittings}

Speaking to a gathering of women during Farm and Home Week, Gittings, the director of physical education at the UA from 1920-51, stated the four foundation garments in a woman’s dress are shoes, garters, corsets and brassiers. Shoes were the morst troublesome, as an ill-fitting shoe had the power to disrupt the entire circulation.

The functioning of the toe muscles was the most important consideration in wearing shoes. As long as the shoe fits the foot, she said, the choice of heel height was totally up to the wearer. She demonstrated the correct walk and pointed out her toe action.

On the subject of garters, Gittings declared “The perfect garter has not yet been invented.” These, too, had the power to impede circulation. That, in turn, could lead to heart and stomach disorders.

A round garter was dangerous because it restricted or cut off circulation. If the garter was worn from the waist, it should be low upon the hips, rather than higher where it can cut into the vital organs.

As for corsets, she was pleased they had been discarded by the young. But, she warned, older people who have always worn one, should not stop. They have not developed the muscles needed for support.

_{Star file photo
A vintage 1905 corset with garters.}

Regarding the bra, though, it was all about the breath. She believed in the importance of proper breathing. If too tight, an ill-fitting bra, “stops the action in the lower lobe of the lung where the greater part of our breathing should be done.”

But, it was not all negative. Gittings declared much of the current flapper style had sense and science behind it. She especially approved of the rolled down stockings worn for sport. Paired with short bloomers, the outfit was designed for action and circulation, not looks.

“When you see our girls on their athletic field with bare knees do not get the idea that they dress that way because they like to expose their knee, but because they are dressed hygenically. We want action and circulation and don’t care about looks,” she concluded.