Monday, October 14, 2013

Vintage Necessities: Primary Undergarments, Bras and Panties

Yesterday I discussed the necessary vintage items: secondary undergarments, the girdle and garter. Today we go down a level and discuss the first thing you need to put on before getting dressed as a full fledged vintage vixen.

Underpants:

There are many different types of underwear, but I always felt the most vintage style is a silk high-waisted brief.
This is a slightly shorts shape, but you get the idea.

I think the real purpose of the high waist is to prevent lines. Skirts and pants came up to the natural waist, and dresses were cinched at the waist. When the panties came up higher, there was no line. Even girdles and slips fit at the waist. It makes life easier for everything to fit there.

The underwear that I normally buy is Haynes silk briefs. They have a lace band, and come in a variety of colors. I think it is best to have neutral colors (white, black, nude) along with some fun ones (pink, blue). Though, for a real 50's feel, I would stick with pastels.

Bras:

There are so many different types of vintage style bras: bullet, longline, strapless. Each bra was meant for a specific style of dress.

Bullet bra:

The bullet bra. That is the standard vintage bra shape. The bullet bra is pictured above in that ad. Underneath a pullover, or a cardigan, the shape is very distinctive:
I love old Maidenform ads! The bullet bra is what gives that pointy shape underneath clothing. I would wear this under late 50's shirt dresses, pullover sweaters, and other form fitting tops.


Longline bra:

The longline bra can come down to the waist, or can come down just a couple inches below the wire. This is my preferred bra, especially the one by Rago (as you can tell I am just obsessed with their brand!). Their bra provides the bullet shape:
This is the full-length one, but I typically get the 3/4 length because I am so short waisted:
These bras are best for pairing with a pencil skirt that comes up to the waist. I say this, because sometimes there is a little bulge just above the waistline, and this shape bra will help smooth it out. Really, under any form-fitting, super-tight shirt/skirt combo this bra is best.

Strapless:

Strapless bras, if they are the right shape, can provide an ideal vintage lingerie feel. There are longline strapless bras, which I prefer, because they offer more support. I am rather large busted so I need all the support I can get!
The over and underwire of this bra helps maintain the slightly bullet shape. Also, it will help with support. I will not lie though, this is not the most comfortable for me.

One more perk about the longline, is that it works as a waist cincher. It will pull in your waist a little bit to help maintain that vintage shape.

Some of these bras have very low backs, and they are perfect underneath low-backed evening dresses. They are also great under strapless evening dresses. The vintage style (especially in the early-mid 60's. Elila has some pretty good ones.

Of course the strapless bra is perfect under dresses that do not have thick straps, or straps at all.

I hope that this was helpful. Tomorrow we will go two layers up, and discuss slips, crinolines and stockings.




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