Vintage Underwear? Really?

No, not really. But as all vintage clothing enthusiasts eventually realize, the correct undergarments are essential to that vintage look.

Women's bodies have not changed that much, it's the undergarments that have. We all have waists and getting the correct fit is important. 

Which is where vintage guru stylist Naomi Thompson comes in. Based in the UK, she is a vintage stylist! What a great job that is!

You can read all about her and her book, "Style Me Vintage: Clothes: A Guide to Sourcing and Creating Retro Looks" over at Collector's Weekly. She is just as happy with modern Spanx as she is with vintage undergarments - good ones. Not everyone will embrace vintage underwear, and there are many modern options. Even my dry cleaner won't touch them!

1950s Vintage Girdle

Veronica

HUMP DAY FASHION RADAR-Please Wear a Bra!

 

Lindsay, Lindsay, Lindsay...what can we say? 

As a purveyor of vintage goodies, part of what I also offer is advice. (Hence our new 'Dear Vintage Goddess' weekly column.)

So today's fashion radar is about undergarments. All I can say to all is:

 PLEASE WEAR THEM! 

Originally, undergarments were developed to lessen the laundry loads. They are now part of our daily wardrobe and are just as important as everything else we put on. I strongly believe undergarments should not only do their proper job (ie: hold, cinch, lift, protect) but should be stylish, colorful, fun and comfortable. Which is why I can never understand why a woman would intentionally choose to not wear them.

Lindsay's outfit was fine except for the boob-age. With all the gorgeous bra's out there, I'm sure she could have found a spectacular one to accentuate her body and not look all pudgy and hangy-outy.

While we no longer need to wear the uncomfortable rubber corsets of yesteryear:

....we can enjoy modern and comfortable fabrics with a vintage twist! Like this one available from Secrets in Lace 

Now that is proper dressing - inside and out. Sorry Lindsay - bra-less is not sexy.

Vintage Gauchies

Gauchies
Definition: Underwear, usually male. Sometimes called gauch.

I can't find my gauchies!
My gauchies are too tight. 

My dry cleaner is a funny man. When I first started taking my vintage garments to him for cleaning, he was surprised to find out people buy used clothing. Here was our conversation:

Drycleaner: "People buy this stuff?"

Me: "Yes. They often wear them, or sometimes just for collections. It's called vintage."

Drycleaner: "But this stuff is old. Once a lady brought in vintage underwear but I said no. I can't touch other people's underwear."

Me: "Well, to each their own. Perhaps it was just for a collection and not to wear. "

Drycleaner: "Wierd. How's Tuesday for pickup?".

He could not  get past the ick factor of other people's underwear as even a collectible item. We see corsets, petticoats & nightgowns in museums all the time to document historical clothing, but the actual wearing of a vintage piece of underwear perhaps is too much for some.

If you can deal with it, Bobby Dene's Vintage Clothes has several interesting items. Including a gorgeous 1920s boudoir set and a couple of beautiful kimonos.