On Valentine’s Day, greet that special someone at the door in one of these sexy numbers and you’ll very likely get more than flowers and a box of chocolates!
70’s sheer red nightgown with black lace trim from Dorotheas Closet
1970s Fredericks of Hollywood red hot nightgown/panty set
50’s style garter belt and bullet bra in pink w/black trim
from the Bettie Page Collection at Secrets in Lace.
Passionate pink Bettie Page retro lingerie
Here’s my second post featuring fashion highlights from Vogue Magazine in November 1963 and it’s focus is on loungewear. Clothing for entertaining at home was very much in style. The fashion conscious woman’s wardrobe included chic hostess gowns, dinner pajamas and peignoir sets. Lingerie blurred the line between sleepwear and cocktail wear. Take a look at the casually elegant designer lounging outfits below. What I like about them is they’re informal and comfortable, while still managing to look glamorous. A much classier look for hanging around the house than the sweat pants and T-shirts commonly worn today!
A bold floral print empire gown by Jane Derby with floating back panels.
Hostess gown by Jane Derby
Robe de soir by James Galanos in a hand screened blue abstract print.
Peignoir set by James Galanos.
Floral print coulotte jumpsuit by Jean Louis.
Jumpsuit by Jean Louis
Madame Adrienne was a popular bra designer in the 50’s, back when lingerie was way more glamorous than anything Victoria’s Secret can come up with today. This article “How to sell a bra” and photos, are from a 1953 issue of Pageant Magazine.
The author states that in order for Madame Adrienne to sell her well designed, perfectly good everyday bras, she must dramatize the bra by “inventing, designing and publicizing other bras, equally well designed but somewhat more elaborate.”
This halter bra in the photo below is made of baby somali leopard and sold for $1200.00 back in 1953. It was also available in ocelot for the thrifty shopper at a mere $600.00. Hmmm, must have been from her “Soon to be an endangered species collection.”
1950's Baby Somali Leopard Halter Bra by Madame Adrienne
These deep plunge, wire tops sold for $18.50 and $32.50. But if you had a rich sugar daddy, you could always have a sprinkling of real pearls added for $650.00, or even diamonds for $7000.00.
Deep plunging wire tops had the option to add pearls and diamonds
Below is a “bra, waist cincher and skirt in red nylon velvet with mink trim and cape stole. For cozy at-homes. $1200.00″ This is just a 50’s way of saying a hostess outfit for a casual get together at your home. After all , one wouldn’t want to be stuck without something to throw on if visiting royalty showed up at the door!
Red nylon velvet hostess outfit with mink trim and stole
This complicated little combo called the “Tulip”, was a “bra plus slip plus waist cincher plus petticoat”. A veritable steal at only $50.00! I don’t know why, but my weird mind is picturing some creepy guy on the the other end of the phone wanting to know what she’s wearing and when she tells him, he’s like “Never mind, lady. Sorry I asked.”
The "Tulip", a bra, slip, waist cincher and petticoat all rolled into one.
Model in top photo, below, is wearing the “Midas Touch” bustier, decorated in tiny golden crystal bugle beads, which sold for $250.00. Below is the “Snow Queen” in white satin, with mink lined fichu. Just a fancy name for a scarf, with the addition of fur, makes what is a plain bra worth $500.00.
The "Midas Touch" beaded bustier and "Snow Queen" white satin longline bra with mink trimmed fichu
These two lovely ladies modelled lingerie by day, but could be seen nightly performing at the famous Copacabana night club in New York City. Caption in photo states “Still just bras, but add a tulle stole and they become dresses.”
Chantilly lace and a pretty face
So for any of you young chickies out there who think the idea of underwear worn as outerwear was invented by Madonna in the 80’s, now you know.
It just goes to show how fashion history repeats itself, to be enjoyed another day with a whole new twist.
Madonna's "Like a Virgin" performance at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards
And if you wear a 36B, you can actually purchase an authentic 1950s Madame Adrienne bra for $35.00 over at Viva Vintage Clothing.
50s Madame Adrienne strapless black longline bra
No, you won't get it by working out in the gym a gazillion hours a week or by starving yourself or having liposuction. The secret is in foundation garments. I'm not talking Spanx type shapewear, either. That's pretty wimpy stuff compared to what women wore in the 1950's to wrestle their body into that curvy, wasp waisted shape.
Nowadays most women would never dream of cramming themselves into a real girdle in order to make their clothes fit better. But I assure you, if you want to wear a vintage pencil skirt, a girdle will tuck everything neatly into place, smooth out every bulge and minimize the waist nicely. And they're actually quite comfortable once you get used to them!
Here's a vintage girdle ad with a promise of looking younger and sizes smaller!
Another nifty item is the waist cincher, which does just what it's name implies. You can easily carve off a couple of inches or three with one of these handy dandy items. Great for getting into vintage dresses you thought wouldn't fit you.
Notice how the ad promises to "hide bulges" and "streamline the waist". That's exactly what a waist cincher will do. Not sure about the spelling of the name "Figure Mold" though. Makes me think of some kind of nasty fungus, as in, "Gee, honey, after wearing that waist cincher all day in the humid weather, sure looks like you got yourself a bad case of "figure mold!"
Another necessary evil needed to complete that 50's hourglass silhouette is a cone shaped, pointy bra. Of course, no self respecting sweater girl would be caught dead without her trusty bullet bra. Though they are guaranteed to lift and separate, there is always the risk of putting somebody's eye out!
Other lingerie items that play a supporting role in shaping the 50's figure are corsets, corsellettes, merry widows, garter belts, seamed stockings and bustiers. The websites listed below are some great places to help get yourself into some authentic vintage or vintage style foundation garments, if you're up for the challenge!
