Undergarments for Vintage Fashion

My daughter and I recently attended a vintage fashion show which featured women's clothes from the 1930s to 1960s. While the dresses and suits were quite adorable, many of them looked "wrong." It wasn't until halfway through the show that we realized the models were wearing the wrong kind of lingerie (or none whatsoever) for the dresses they were wearing.

Until the late 1960s when fashions became much more casual, women's suits and dresses were designed to be worn with layers of undergarments. These undergarments made women looked toned and shapely while providing support and structure to the dress itself. Without the proper foundations, the garments look much like they did at the fashion show we attended -- limp, shapeless, transparent, and clinging to poochy tummies and dimpled butts.

While (thank goodness) we don't have to wear corsets and girdles anymore, proper undergarments should be worn with vintage fashions. Here's a rundown of what should be worn for the dress to look its very best.

Slips. Slips are lightweight undergarments made of a slippery fabric that is worn beneath a skirt or dress. Full slips have straps and hang from the shoulders, half slips look like a skirt. While slips may seem a bit of a nuisance, they give the dress shape and prevent the sunlight or spot light from turning a lightweight dress transparent. Slips also protect the legs from chafing caused by coarse fabrics.

Bras and corsets. Showing colorful bra straps now may be perfectly acceptable, but back in the 1960s and before it was Not Done. Vintage clothing should be worn with a basic bra if the dress has sleeves, a halter bra for halter style dresses, and a corset for strapless dresses or dresses with tinier waists. Going braless should never be an option since vintage dresses lack support resulting in a rather unflattering pendulum look for ladies larger than a 34A.

Shapers. Back in the 1920s through the 1960s, women wore girdles to smooth out bumps and ridges. These days, women can wear shapers which are easier and much more comfortable to wear. Shapers can help pinch in the waist to ease the strain on vintage zippers, flatten a poochy gut, and will prevent skirts from clinging to the legs. The best shapers for vintage clothing start six inches above the waist and stop at mid thigh.

Nylons. In the old days, women had to fuss with hose, garters, and seams. These days panty hose make a superior substitute and should be worn with all except casual summer dresses. Nude is the color of choice for vintage fashions, though black is acceptable for dark winter clothes.

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