Fringe Benefits

How fun are these Burlesque Nude Stockings for Garters with Black Fringe Backseam? (Or, if you prefer, there's a thigh-high version.) What a fun and inexpensive way to add some burlesque fun to your lingerie wardrobe!




PS Remember, Babygirl Boutique currently has a 20% off coupon code! Enter code: CC20

PPS How about paring your stockings with these Black Satin Opera Length Gloves with Fringe Trim? Yummy!

Just The Thought Makes Me Blush & Smile

I just love how the seller calls this vintage black Answer by Gossard open-bottom girdle a "traffic stopper" -- as if you'd wear it uncovered & visible lol

Sexy Vintage Leopard Print Girdle

Leopard print and an open bottom?! A vintage Vanity Fair 6-garter girdle. (The next sound you hear is me hitting the floor in a dead faint.)

Vintage Lingerie Photo So Delish, It Makes Me Squeal!

A vintage photo of a woman wearing a lacy bra and panty set, stockings, and high heels is pretty enough -- but look! There are (what looks like black satin) hand-prints on the bra cups!

Dance, Ballerina, Dance!

Vintage full slips with crinolines are indeed a difficult thing to find, so when you find a pretty pink nylon one, you'll want to get up and twirl on your toes -- even before you've put the slip on!

Vintage Wedding Night Lingerie

You really have to click and look at the larger images to appreciate the details on this vintage white honeymoon peignoir set! It's so frothy yet ornate, tt makes me wanna role play "the virginal bride" with hubby *wink*

One More Time, With Feeling

The subject of whether or not the garters really do go over the panties or not continues to come up here at the blog. While I'm no fashion dictator and will neither insist nor police the issue, I am opinionated about the subject *wink* and so when I spotted this vintage photo I had to smugly share it as further proof of the matter.


Now I ask you, doesn't that look ridiculous? It would be far more appealing if the floral garter or suspender belt went over the sheer panties. And that too would allow the wide belt to minimize the roll from the elastic panty waist band.

"Slips For Big Boobs"

That was the subject line of this kind plea for help I received in my email a few days ago (I've included the links as text so it's more legible):

Hi Slip Of A Girl,

I have for a long time been looking for help on how to figure out what size in full slips would possibly fit me. Seeing this post of yours, I had to ask if you've found a solution for yourself yet?

Normally with clothes I either buy cheap stuff with lots of stretch, or buy things that are too big and baggy everywhere else, I don't have experience with vintage full slips, I have been wondering though, if I should just buy one in some size and see how it worked. I am a 28G in UK sizes, the us sizes confuse me, but I think that's a 28i, and I guess if you had problems at 36dd back then, there is no hope for me.

But you seem to have had the interest in this field for a lot longer than me, and I'm wondering if there is some magic solution that I don't yet know. Where there ever a big boobs lingerie manufacturer back then? I tend to really fall in love with the vintage stuff, not so much the modern things, though I do hope that Secrets In Lace decides to expand their size range on this, or maybe Panache or Bravissimo will make something someday. Good thing there are half slips too.

Kind regards,
Lillefix

Now there are quite a number of issues to address here -- and I'm making the time to address them not only because Lillefix appears to be a long-time reader and a nice person, but because this could help a lot of other women with the same or similar problems &/or related questions. So, while I know a lot of you prefer short visual posts, please make yourself comfortable -- maybe grab a beverage -- and settle in for a spell.

First of all, be it a vintage or new full slip, you'll need to know your measurements. Slips are not generally sold by cup size, but by bust measurement, so you'll need to measure yourself properly. To save some time here, I'll refer you here. (Scroll past the bra conversion calculator; works with and converts American, British, European, Japanese, Australian, New Zealand and Belgian, Spanish, French and Portuguese bra sizes.)

However -- and this is really really important -- always check with the company's sizing guide for specific product information. And, if you're buying from an individual lingerie seller online, vintage, handmade or recycled/upcycled, ask questions!

Regarding vintage full slips: Yes, the lingerie makers of yesteryear did make larger sized slips, bras and other foundation garments. I know this not only because of the images of busty burlesque performers -- who probably had their pieces custom made, but because as a youngster growing up, my (step) grandmother was a house of a woman. She had giant everything. And she had giant foundation garments and lingerie pieces to cover every one of those things.

I know this because I'd get an occasional glimpse of stocking welt and garter when she sat down and because sometimes I'd find her all-in-one girdles, bras and stocking set along the shower curtain bar over the bathtub to dry.

Sure, I'll admit I was a young girl and the sizes of what normally would be called frilly "bits" of lingerie were a-maz-ing, but youthful amazement at size aside, in my more mature adult mind, I know grandma had to be a difficult fit in today's US plus sizes.

Where did she get her underthings? Primarily she got them from the local department store on special order. Some of these pieces weren't, even then, on the sales floor in any size, but they were available for customers to order. While the days of such services (both on the part of retail stores and intimate apparel manufacturers) has been -- much to our dismay -- greatly reduced, women with larger jiggly parts did have foundation garments to restrain them and maintain their feminine dignity.

This brings me to the following segue regarding the availability of larger sizes in vintage lingerie...

Generally speaking, and the population size and demographics laid aside for the moment, the lingerie we love so much was once just a pragmatic matter of fashion; it was underwear. As such, it was worn. And, when it came to women like my grandmother who'd survived The Great Depression, it was worn and repaired and worn again until it was simply of no use anymore and discarded. Which brings us to the matter of just what vintage fashions survive to be purchased today.

The vintage and retro pieces which survive today are much like those found today at any yard sale. When you go to a yard sale or thrift shop, you'll always find more little girl's holiday dresses than boys jeans, more prom dresses than blouses that go under suits. Why? Because the practical stuff gets worn out while the special occasion pieces have less wear, less washing, less wear-and-tear. The same is true with vintage pieces, including lingerie. What survives to be sold now is that which was rarely worn (like fancy honeymoon pieces) or those which never made it out of the stockroom (sold as New Old Store Stock, etc.).

Larger sizes, which required special order, probably were worn out & tossed out -- and, as time passed, less classic lingerie was sitting in maker and retailer stockrooms to begin with.

OK, so now the question is, if any vintage full slips in plus sizes do still exist, where would you find them?

Naturally, I suggest checking out the links to may favorite eBay sellers and searching at eBay for plus sizes and specific sizes too. Along with older (or what you might call "traditional") lingerie brands such as Vanity Fair, Maidenform & Warners, I'd look for Frederick's Of Hollywood. While I don't think Frederick's specifically called thems "slips," they did make several lovely "waltz length" gowns (shown above) that could/can be worn as full slips, and they maintained their larger cup sizes in stores, along with their special order services, longer than most lingerie companies.

While you search and wait for your dream sized vintage lingerie pieces to arrive, you'll want to consider contemporary lingerie makers.

Some places that do carry larger or "plus sized" full slips (and shown in this post) are: Ample Bosom, Woman Within (which makes a gorgeous double-skirted nylon full slip in plus sizes), Just My Size, Silhouettes, Gabrielle at Classic British Styles, and JCPenny.

Don't forget, Julianna Rae has custom sizing! And Charnos offers custom work too.

Also, and I cannot stress this enough, do not hesitate to let your favorite lingerie makers and sellers know that you'd buy full slips if they only had them in your size! Include photos &/or descriptions of what you'd like and would be willing to buy. The more women who do this, no matter what their size, the more likely we are to get full slips made and carried in stores.

I hope this helps you, Lillefix, and anyone else looking for full slips for fuller figures!

Hey, Babydoll

This flirty and comfortable vintage mint green nightie has a layer of sheer chiffon over nylon tricot and taupe embroidery -- and it's a large, ladies! By French Maid Lingerie Company, circa 1960s.

Saloon Overbust Corset Memorial Day Special

The new Saloon Overbust Corset is an impeccably crafted steel-boned red silk corset with pleated, black silk ruffles and this weekend only, in celebration of Memorial Day, get a great deal on this corset at Corset Connection: only $169!

That's a savings of $60!

Offer valid until Tuesday June 1st 2010 @ 11:59 p.m. EST.

The Power Of Three In Lingerie

Three syllables: Jill Saint John. Three lingerie pieces -- I'll let you name them after you wipe the drool off your chin *wink*

Via S & M = Smoke & Mirrors.

Vintage Mini Slip-Covered Panties - Too Cute To Cover-Up

You start with simple basic white full-cut nylon panties and then you slide over it and stitch in place a mini slip with sheer accordion pleating, lots of lace, and dainty pink rose appliques. *whine* Now why would we hafta cover that up?!

Special Savings On Vintage Style Full-Cut Pinup Panties

In case you may have missed it, one of our sponsors, Babygirl Boutique, has a great discount code for A Slip of a Girl readers: Save 20% with coupon code CC20. Since one of the most fun & fundamental lingerie essentials for every pinup (and the pinup inside ever woman) are full-cut panties, why not save your 20% on these sexy panties?

The Retro Pinup Panties in Rose with Black Lace Panels on the Sides is too sexy -- and it's available in Plus Sizes too!



The High Waisted "Scanty Pinup Panties" by Bernie Dexter for Lucy B. Lingerie offers color options: sheer peach, sheer violet &/or sheer black. (You probably need all three colors... And at less than $25 a pair -- plus your additional 20% savings -- why not?)

Plum Luck

All the vintage nylon you could want and diagonal lace inserts too in this vintage nightgown.

Two Pieces Of Cotton Underwear Do Not A Teddy Make

I found this photo by Liz Ham at the new S & M = Smoke & Mirrors. At the original source, Mini Boss writes:

The styling was done by Jolyon Mason and really brings the whole Teddy-era back to life.

Now artistically this photo appeals to me; but I am not reminded of teddies at all. An infant's cotton onesie, perhaps. But not a teddy. And so I do not concur with the whole "Teddy-era back to life" bit.

And I cannot stress enough how much I dislike wearing men's underwear and do not "get" (or care to understand) the supposed appeal of women wearing cotton undies with men's front flaps. *shudder* I'll keep my girlie and glamorous garb, thankyourverymuch.

But as a photograph, I love it. What say you?

Skirting The Issue - Just Barely

Vintage Cheesecake Photo: Pinup Wearing Poodle Panties!

Turn-About Is Fair Play

It's only fair to turn the other cheeky and show you the work of Paul Richmond whose upcoming exhibit, Cheesecake, will be opening in June at the Center on Halsted in Chicago. You can buy pints in the artist's Etsy shop.

When It Says "Glydons" It Must Be Glam

Vintage Glydons leopard print nightgown with a gold chain at the bodice, right over the bare flesh between the breasts (you know, for modesty reasons lol).

The Devil Is In The... Vintage Lingerie Ads?!

I'm completely smitten with this 1959 print ad campaign for Kayser lingerie, which proclaims the lingerie is "almost wicked" by having the devil appear in the vintage ads. I don't know how many ads were in this series; I've only found two so far. In this one, the devil sits at her feet and she's stepping on his tail. In the other, the devil toots his own horn.

If you know of more, please let me know!

Platinum & Purple Silk Satin Vintage Dressing Gown

Straight out of the 1940s, this glamorous vintage dressing gown has a purple tulips and other flowers on a silver background with a dramatic solid purple satin trim.

Lingerie That Really Gives You A Bubble Butt

Unusual ingerie designs, like these with themes of "bubble" and "the woods," shown at the Triumph Inspiration Awards Japan lingerie design competition at the Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo May 21, 2010.

High-Five Friday, The Nearly-Saturday Edition

1. Fabulous! Kitschy! Retro! Fall in love with this pink poodle lingerie set!

2. Edible underwear is food?! So says San Antonio, Texas' health department.

3. UK lingerie retailer Bedtime Flirt cashes in on gamers; their website offers three outfits based on attire worn by female characters in No More Heroes 2.

4. I'm all for saving Mother Earth, but a rice bra?! Really? Didn't their momma's teach them to bathe? On rare occasions (let's just say "extra curricular" activities outdoors) dirt may be on a womans' chest -- but things growing in a woman's cleavage?! Nevah. (The extra inches it adds... Would that make it a "rice paddy" bra?)

5. Vintage lingerie ads, etc. (52 posts and counting!) at Eve's Apples blog, which is where the image shown here is from.

Have high-fives to give? Find out how to give your High-Five Fridays here!

Lingerie Fetish Photography

I found these stunning photographs by MHK-annai (prints are available!) via Pinkie's BDSM/fetish blog.








While it's really difficult to pick a favorite, this last one I think captures my thoughts on lingerie best. Titled Body Image 2, it conveys how I always see myself, regardless of what I am wearing... That mirror is indeed my mind's eye.

Back To Basics, Summer Edition

A few pieces you simply must have at your fingertips for summer dressing -- if you find your lingerie drawer is missing these foundations of fashion, then get this horrible situation remedied asap!

* full slips in white and ivory, creme, eggshell -- or whatever other name "off white" comes by

* white and off white camisole and half slip sets (you can't go wrong with matching tap pants either)

* at least one white or off white all-in-one girdle or corselette (you can probably make-up the slight difference in color with your white and off white slips)

* t-shirt bras, at the bare minimum you'll need white, off white and black (because yes, you will wear black t-shirts in summer; I know it & you know it)

* simple white & off white panties -- and panties that work well with your shorts (which means, dears, that if you wear those Daisy Dukes, you'd better watch your cheeky underwear)

Images of vintage all-in-one girdle (with sheer back!) via Blubird Boutique.

Periwinkle Peignoir Please!

Periwinkle makes my heart go pitter-pat -- but a short playful peignoir nightie set by Shadowline? I'm clapping my little hands with glee!

Ribbon-Topped Stockings: It's The Invitation To Open A Gift

My sweet hubby says the best things found at the tops of stockings are my thighs -- for starters *giggle* And he certainly needs no other incentives to see me in them as invitation. But if you love the look of ribbons circling the welts of your stockings, clever girls can simply buy some satin ribbon, wind, and make a bow.


Another photo from that Tumblr site, so I don't have a clue as to how to properly credit this photo. (If you do, please let me know!)

Full Slips Are Sexy

You wanna know where I found this photo? Well, you'll have to go here and see. ...You just don't visit my other blog enough. *pout*

Like A Lovely Lingerie Version Of A Mermaid's Tail - The OMG Vintage Lingerie Find Of The Week!

Empress Jade continues to amaze me with her lingerie finds -- this is a heart-breaker, not just because it's so incredibly beautiful, fragile and not my size, but because, yet again, I am reminded of my need to learn how to really sew, so that I can design things like this for myself.

I'll let the Empress tell you about it, because I'm just stunned and dreamy and dizzy... Where it hugs, where is drapes, where it swishes, where it's sheer -- oh dear, I think I have the vapors!

A stunning, one of a kind, museum quality vintage late 20s or 30s skirt or underskirt (slip) with train.

I've had this piece in my collection for a very long time and have finally decided to part with it. It's so unusual, and I've never come across anything like it and I suspect it may have been made as part of a stage costume. The upper part of the skirt is made from lingerie weight blue satin (cut on the straight) with hidden waistband and side closure of metal snaps. Sheer lace insertion at hip level is outlined in silver metallic thread embroidery. Lower portion is very fine gauge sheer blue netlike fabric that extends to form a train. Edges have double ruffles of net machine embroidered with real metal.... slightly tarnished, so I suspect it's real silver. All interior seems are folded over or are selvage, so I cannot get a snippet for a burn test; the satin section looks and feels like an early rayon acetate. A stunning display piece, and wearable with care.

Tags: 105 Sansianko Street Agus's Dressmaking, Cebu City

I haven't been able to find out anything about this dressmaker

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