When dressing a period show, it is important to remember that it’s not just the clothing the audience sees that makes the look authentic. To really capture a realistic period style, the proper undergarments need to be used to help achieve the accurate shape or silhouette.
For those doing a show set in the first half of the 20th century, the following crash-course may be of some assistance.
The 1900s
The ideal silhouette of 1900
A woman with an “hourglass” silhouette
A Slip, gartered stockings, and corset
1900s underwear ad
Petticoats of the early 1900s
Circa 1900 – A knit chemise
Circa 1900 – a woman in drawers, chemise and corset
A combination of chemise and drawers, early 1900s
As you can see in the photos above, the early 1900s embraced a truly “feminine” shape; big hips, large breasts, and a very cinched in “wasp waist”. The look was not quite as extreme as it had been in previous decades (where, in some cases, women may have had ribs removed to try and make their waists smaller, though this idea is debated), but it still required tightly bound whale bone corsets and layers of heavy petticoats. Little attention was paid to the breasts; push-up and padded bras did not exist, instead the curved upper torso was created by cinching in the waist, so that while the upper body appeared fuller, it did not yet have the definition that would be seen in later decades.
The 1910s
Beginnings of a slimmer, straighter silhouette
A slip circa 1910
1910 underwear ad
1918 underwear ad
As the century progressed, silhouettes began to transform into a leaner, straighter shape, and the corsets and bustles of the previous decades mostly disappeared. What corsets were still in use now were longer, coming down past the hips and up to just under the bust, helping to achieve a streamlined look. The waist line rose to an “empire waist”, just below the bust, and as the ankles were now often visible, the length of slips shortened. As the petticoats slimmed, bloomers were replaced with a closer fitting underwear, more similar to what we see today. It is also during this time that we see a change in the overall aesthetic of undergarments; they were truly becoming lingerie. Machine-made lace was more readily available, and so decorative underwear could be purchased for a more reasonable price. The ads of the time no longer looked like a textbook page on what was available, but began to embrace the beauty and sensuality of the products.
1920s
1920s underwear ad
1920s brassiere: no push-ups yet
Fashionable, colourful garters from the 1920s
Corset ad from 1923: creates that slim, “girlish” figure!
Multi-coloured stockings from the 1920s
Patterned 1920s stockings
The 1920s saw the change from a “womanish” figure to a “girlish” one; the bust, hips and waist were slimmed to a straight, narrow, almost boyish look, and hemlines shortened dramatically. We begin to see some two-piece undergarments, but the bras still are not lifting or defining the breasts. As hemlines were shorter, decorative garters and stockings became popular. Tube-like corsets were used to help curvier women attain a straighter silhouette.
1930s
1930s underwear pattern
This sensual 1930s ad introduces a bare mid-riff that was uncommon even in under garments until this decade
A “posture” corset from the 1930s
Girdle with garters
Smoothing, slimming girdles perfect for a 1930s “wiggle dress”
1930s boudoir shot
Two-piece undergarments were the norm come the 1930s and slips were less common. Curves again were being embraced, and women with round, curved hips were adored. Tight-fitting girdles were sometimes used to shape the hips, and early versions of the bras we wear today are seen. Hollywood began to have a major part in the popularity of women’s styles, and ads of the decade catered to those looking for a glamourous silhouette.
1940s
Many women sewed their own clothing and undergarments during the war
War-time rations meant less material, and so shorter dresses and slips.
When possible, the curvy femine silhouette was still ideal; it was emphasized by the tailored styles of the decade.
Light-weight undergarments for women who were now actively working to support the war effort.
A slimming garment that could be worn under pants.
The war had a major effect on women’s fashions as many materials were rationed. “Make do and mend” was the motto, and women were encouraged to sew their own clothes and update their old ones to match the current styles. The limits on fabrics meant that a more angular, fitted look defined the decade, and hemlines were once again shorter, hitting just below the knee. Military styles were popular, and women’s suits came in fashion. Nylon was one of the casualties of the war, as it was needed to make parachutes, and so nylon stockings disappeared from the stores. In an effort to maintain the look, some women drew black “seams” up the back of their legs, giving the illusion of wearing stockings. As many women went out to work in factories, they traded in their dresses and skirts for trousers and overalls, a style that required more form-fitting underwear. Silk was also unavailable because of the war effort, and so slips were less common. To make up for the simplicity in clothing, women’s hairstyles became more elaborate, and accessories were used to decorate an outfit rather than wearing a whole new garment. While there were new styles in 1940s undergarments, keep in mind that many would not have been purchasing them, and would have likely used what they already had instead.
1950s
This photo suggests that, with the proper undergarments, a women can eat what she wants and still maintain a perfect hourglass figure.
Bras of the decade were full and, because of the method of manufacturing, rather pointed.
A typical 1950s bra.
While many still wore stockings with seams, new “seamless” stockings were starting to appear on shelves.
Decorative slips and feminine lingerie.
Bouffants: petticoats that were full at the bottom to push out full, a-line or semi-circle skirts.
Examples of women’s petticoats for evening gowns.
When the war and its rations ended, fashions embraced the new availability of fabrics, and the female silhouette returned to a fullness it had not seen since the turn of the century. Fitted tops showcased a full bust, and pointed bras lifted and accentuated the breasts. The waist was cinched with a girdle, and full skirts were ballooned with petticoats and bouffants. Stockings were again available, and new “seamless” ones were on the market. Underwear ads became increasingly sexual, and there is a noticeable turn in the marketing which now aimed itself more at men (purchasing for their wives) than women. Most women were back in the home, and so fashion could again take place over practicality. The ideal women was one who, as Audrey sings in “Little Shop of Horrors”, “cooked like Betty Crocker and looked like Donna Reed”; feminine, fashionable and a devoted wife and mother.
1960s
Lower-cut underwear and more comfortable, stretchy fabrics.
Low-cut tops meant the demi-cut bra was now a wardrobe staple.
This ad projects an image of powerful sexuality more than it advertises the garment itself.
New colours in women’s underwear
Short silky slips.
While many in the 1960s still embraced full skirts, girdles and push-up bras, as feminism blossomed many in the fashion world began to lean towards more natural silhouettes and more comfortable clothing. Skirts got very short, cut high on the thigh, and so slips and underwear shortened as well. Late in the decade and into the 1970s, some women stopped wearing bras and by that point most had long abandoned the corset or girdle. When dressing the 1960s, there are several ways you can go, so before looking for undergarments, ask yourself; is your character a Glamour Puss? a Hippie? a preppy teen? There are many ways to go.
Earlier Decades:
While we here at Bygone tend to focus on the first half of the 20th Century, when it comes to underwear, earlier periods have some of the most interesting articles. Want to learn more about women’s unmentionables? Check out some of these articles:
Mental Floss – A Funny Approach
Hosiery History – Stockings Through The Years
Vintage Lingerie Ads
Elizabethan Costuming
-E.
Bygone Theatre 