Clothing curvy character wearing damsel's first girdle (8)
I believe the answer is:
dressing
'clothing' is the definition.
('dress' can be a synonym of 'clothe')
'curvy character wearing damsel's first girdle' is the wordplay.
'curvy character' becomes 'ess' (I've seen this in another clue).
'wearing' is an insertion indicator.
'damsel's first' becomes 'd' (1st letter of 'damsel').
'girdle' becomes 'ring' (both can mean to surround).
'd'+'ring'='dring'
'ess' put within 'dring' is 'DRESSING'.
(Other definitions for dressing that I've seen before include "French or vinaigrette, say" , "clothing" , "bedroom procedure?" , "Salad sauce; a bandage" , "plaster, for example?" .)