Saffron Shearer, a costume designer at the recently reopened Citizens, told BBC Scotland that some versions of the story have the costume bought at the Barras market, while others suggested it was the old Paddy’s Market on Shipburn Lane.
Saffron became interested in costume design by being a huge fan of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and was thrilled when she started working at a theatre that had featured Tim Curry.
She told BBC Scotland: “The Maids was in the old studio theatre, not the main house, and it was pretty controversial at the time – quite filthy and weird.
“It was called the Close theatre and it had a little room to try more Avant Garde material. To overcome censorship laws they made it a private member’s club, and that’s where they were having poetry readings, film screenings and new theatre.
“Sue Blane was starting out at the time and doing costumes, and just found this corset at either the Barras or St Paddy’s – over the years I’ve heard both. It was a very unusual shape, laced right up to the neck and not cut for a woman.
“I suspect she dyed it or covered it in stuff, to make it more tacky looking.”