The way we wear clothes has changed a lot in the last few decades, in particular with regards to underwear and accessories – the overall casualisation of clothing isn’t always a good thing, I think.
Vintage clothes were designed to look their best with vintage foundation garments – these days, you don’t have to strap yourself into corsetry, suspender belts or girdles unless you want to, but we can all benefit from the goodness that is a decent petticoat.
Our grandmothers understood it well: a nice petticoat will make your clothing fit and look better as well as add to your comfort. It also makes dressing more of an occasion – walking around whilst you get ready of a morning (or any time you change outfits) is easier and more glamourous whilst wearing the equivalent of a sexy, sultry slip of slightly sheer fabric that covers and enhances your assets. After all, has Liz Taylor ever looked better than she did in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof or Butterfield 8?
Circa is currently closed so I can’t show you any of our beauties, instead here are some lovely examples from other vintage shops: far too nice to be limited to your boudoir, many will happily double as evening frocks, especially for the hot summer nights ahead.
Clicking on each image will take you to the full size version (and believe me, they look much better in full size) and there is a link below each that will take you to each shop for more information. All photos remain the property of their respective websites.
Pretty! I love how you selected from various decades to show the great vatiety of slips.
I COMPLETELY agree. The beauty of getting dressed and leaving the house feeling confident has gone by the wayside. It’s that thing of knowing you’ve got something sexy underneath it all that flatters your figure that gives the little pip in your step. I love vintage clothing because I see and feel the effort that goes into making it. I don’t feel like I’m one of 15,000 women wearing something that was machine made. Awesome blog. BEAUTIFUL sips and petticoats btw.
Dear Nicole,
It is nice to think that some women still prize their femininity and wear lovely underwear such as vintage slips, and it just makes the day of us men out there who live in nostalgia of an occasional flash of a womans slip, which used to happen regularly back in the fifties or even some of the sixties. Keep wearing them girls.
Bernie
I COMPLETELY agree. The beauty of getting dressed and leaving the house feeling confident has gone by the wayside. It’s that thing of knowing you’ve got something sexy underneath it all that flatters your figure that gives the little pip in your step.