See how women wore a belt (and in a Swedish ad and in Dutch ads for Stafree pads, 1972, 1973.] See a modern belt for a washable pad and a page from the 1946-47 Sears catalog showing a great variety - ad for Hickory belts, 1920s? - Modess belts in Personal Digest (1966) - drawing for a proposed German belt and pad, 1894 - ads for early 20th-century Japanese belts - belts and washable pads from the 1902 and 1908 Sears, Roebuck catalogs - belt from Jordan, Marsh & Co. catalog, Boston, 1891 - German belt (from Bilz), about 1890 - Suspenders to hold pads (U.S.A., 19th century)DIRECTORY of all topics (See also the SEARCH ENGINE, bottom of page.)CONTRIBUTE to Humor, Words and expressions about menstruation
and Would you stop menstruating if you could?
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Montogomery Ward catalog, U.S.A., 1923 (spring - summer)
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In 1923 menstrual supplies were in the middle of a revolution. Kotex, the first widely successful disposable pad in the U.S.A., started in the early 1920s and soon faced many competitors, since women were eager to forget washing cloth pads (as seen in a Kotex ad). Within 10 years women could also buy commercial tampons and possibly menstrual cups. Sanitary aprons were on their way out as pads improved.The ads below tidily freeze the menstrual state of affairs. Belts (on top) held the pads (middle part of the second row and both ends of the last row) and to protect the clothing a woman might wear a sanitary apron under her clothing (second row).Look at the fancy belt a woman might buy for her bridal trousseau, top row, right!The last ad shows one reason why women bought from mail-order catalogs: to spare themselves embarrassment, a huge factor in menstruation merchandising (see instructions to stores about how to display Kotex).Run your mouse over the image to see other examples of the products. |
See a page from the 1946-47 Sears catalog showing a great variety - ad for Hickory belts, 1920s?