It's Not a Girdle

I started knitting another project from a vintage pattern, it is this bodybelt pattern. When a coworker asked what a bodybelt was I was too embarrassed to say, 'it's basically a girdle," so I described it as a sweater without sleeves. The pattern is part of a collection of "Essentials for the Forces" and does say something about Tommy wearing the vest; I'm not familiar with any shapewear for men, so a bodybelt's primary purpose it in keeping your lower torso warm with the added bonus of smoothing your figure. Here is my progress, I am nearly halfway done with the front piece: