1958 Lingerie – panty girdles, bras and Merry Widow corsets
The 1950s were all about glamour, and Hollywood’s Golden Age stars were setting trends that every woman in America was after. Think Jane Russell, Lana Turner, and Marilyn Monroe. Big breasts, big hips, and small waists were a must- and if you didn’t have them naturally on your own, not to worry- there’s some 1950s lingerie for that.
The hourglass silhouette of the 1950s happened much thanks to the lingerie of the time. To achieve the desired fit and look of clothes on the outside, it was important to have the correct garments underneath to push up or flatten down areas of the body that needed to be. The many styles of lingerie include bras, panties, slips, petticoats, girdles, stockings, and garters.
1950s Lingerie: Bra
1950s Bras Styles
There were many different styles of 1950s lingerie bras to choose from in the fifties. Strapless, longline and bullet bras were among some of the most popular just to name a few. The 1950s silhouette demanded bigger busts to balance out the required big hips. Instead of a natural 1940s bra that separate the breasts towards the sides, the 1950s bra pushed the breast in, up and out to new extremes. Bigger was better. Natural was not the ideal look as it was in the 1940s.
1950s bras were either made of cotton, nylon, or rayon and ranged from about $0.98- $2.50 depending on the fabric and the design. To add some glamour, bras could have taffeta trim, floral prints, lace, elaborate stitching, or accent bows. Elastic wasn’t always as durable and reliable as it is today, so caring for your lingerie was especially important. Hand washing was a must!
1952 Pink Longline Bra
Long line bras were especially popular because they were said to “slim the diaphragm, control and uplift.” They were usually strapless with uplifting cups and boned support down to the middle waist. With a low back cutout they also made it possible to wear strapless gowns or halter top dresses.
More longline bras in various lengths
Strapless Bra – One of the more expensive styles was the convertible bra, which is still popular today, that had straps that could be taken off. Many strapless bras had latex on the inside and “stay-up boning” that were supposed to prevent your bra from slipping down. For extra cleavage, bra cups were reduced to 3/4 or 1/2 cups (eh hem, the push up bra?)
Early 50’s strapless bras
Pointed bras, aka Bullet Bras
The pointed bra, whirlpool bra, bullet bra, or sweater girl bra remained popular throughout the late forties and fifties due to their ultra feminine look. The pointed pre formed conically stitched and padded bra is what gave the breast a false point and enhanced weight. Without the protruding bullet shape most 1950s dresses, blouses and snug knit sweaters would be ill fitting.
Falsie breast inserts with and without nipples
The foam rubber breast falsie complete with pointed nipple were more popular then women would admit to owning. They gave shape and volume to women who lacked it naturally. Falsies had their downsides though. Poor quality rubber absorbed orders and disintegrated quickly. Some came covered in satin and lace to make them prettier. The alternative was a paded cone that unfortunately when worn and bumped into, went flat. There was no dainty way to pulling the point back out again. The inflatable bra was another option but also prone to bursting under pressure. Oh the embarrassment!
Make your Own Bullet Bra, step by step tutorial and pattern from VavoomVintage. For any size bust!
More 50’s bras
1950s Lingerie: Panties
1950s Panties Underwear
1950s underwear, called panties, were high waist briefs with a elasticized waist and leg bands. Think granny panty and you are right for the fifties. They were not snug fitting, although a plain panty was needed for tight fitting pencil dresses whereas ruffled and decorated panties were fine under full skirts.
Briefs and panties with the smoothest fitting were meant to eliminate the need for a sanitary belt and give you comfortable protection. Panties were available in either white, nude or pastel colors like baby blue, pink, mint green and yellow. Some youthful panties also featured prints. Panties were made of cotton knit, rayon or satin. Trimmings were lace, embroidery and ruffles.
1950s Lingerie: Corsets
The corset was essential to achieving the perfect ‘50s figure, but it definitely wasn’t built for comfort! There was a wide variety of corsets worn during the decade in combination with a bra, girdle or panties. The steel boning used in the past was gradually replaced with plastic and celluloid, and zippers took over for hook and eyes in the back, making them at least easier to get in to.
1957 Corsets
The full corset covered the entire torso, and included bra cups and straps. A full corset would either stop at the waist or extend down several inches below. Later in the decade the 2-way stretch corset was introduced, which had to be rolled on. It was combined with a girdle for full-body shaping.
1955 Corselets
The corselet was a more modern version of the corset with an attached bra. They nipped in the waist and hips, smoothed the tummy and raised the bust up with padded half or 3/4 cups. The strapless corselet was called the Merry Widow, after a movie of the same name.The name Merry Window is used instead of corselet today.
1957 Merry Widow Corselets
1958 Waist Corset / Girdle
The ‘waspie’ was a popular corset during the ‘50s. It was about 8 inches wide and pulled in just the waist. It was very rigid and gave a lot of shaping. This type of corset was the most fashionable and often used underneath designer clothing. It had to be combined with a long-line bra, girdle and hip padding to get the perfect hourglass look.
1950s Lingerie: Girdles
Skirt shape girdles
1950s girdles were still a required undergarment for most dress and even pant shapes of the 1950s. They were preferred over corsets by most women. The slim fitting sheath dress, aka wiggle dress, would expose a woman’s bumps and rolls if it were not for the slimming effect of the mini skirt shape girdle. The skirt only came down to the mid thigh so that women could still walk and sit freely. Even more comfortable was the legged girdle called a panty girdle. Short or long legs both slimmed the hips and thigh. Most modern shapewear is based on the panty girdle style.
The fluffy swing dress of the 1950s didn’t need a full girdle but a short low waist girdle kept the hour glass shape intact. Even slim cigarette pants and capris benefited from long leg “panty girdles.” Girdles almost always had garter snaps, two in the front and two in the back. They often had zippers for an easy on and off and were made of light knit nylon and cotton covered “Lastex.” Girdles for fuller figures often had boning, wires, and stiff fabric reinforcements. Even with all the support the consumer demanded lighter and more breathable corsets.
“Young or mature, women made their complaints about girdles known, because companies repeatedly trumpeted improvements in comfort. Several firms began to cut the lower front edge in a high upward curve to reduce discomfort in walking. Sarong famously brought out a crisscrossed lower front to move with the wearer’s stride. Legs of panties were redesigned for ease in wearing, and both top and bottom of the rear of the girdle were engineered to prevent riding up—a major lament. Removable, even disposable, crotches remedied the panties’ laundry problems.” – A to Z Fashion, Jane Farrel- Beck
1952 Breathable Roll On Foam Corselets
New fishnet mesh fabrics helped with circulation and improved Nylon fabrics reduced weight. By 1959 DuPont made a 2 ounce girdle which is about the same weight as a Spandex body shaper today. In extreme summer weather women simply went without a girdle and wore less confining dresses such as the blouson, empire waist shift, or the chemise.
1950s girdles explored new colors for lingerie. No longer just white, basic girdles came in off white, almond and light gray or bold red, purple, and salmon pink. Floral embroidery, lace, and appliques added beauty to the girdle. Prices ranged from $2 to $25 for a top of the line girdle.
How to Put on a Girdle (1950s Advice)
To easily get into your girdle, it is recommended that you dust your body with talcum powder to allow the girdle to slip on more easily- especially in the hotter months.
For a step-in girdle, fold it over 2 to 3 inches at the waistline and ease into it finishing off with rolling up the fold to meet your waistline.
1950s Colorful Lingerie- plaid? Why not.
1950s Lingerie: Garter Belts
1958 Garter Belts
Most corsets, corselets and girdles came with attached straps to hold up 1950s stockings. For some women who chose not to wear any of these shaping devices a garter belt was used. It was simple a short girdle with straps for the stockings. Some were thin and light while other were wide and elastic so as to provide some shaping support. It was mostly naturally thin women and teens that chose to wear a garter belt by itself.
Gasp! These ladies are showing off their garters
1950s Lingerie: Slips and Petticoats
1950s Basic Slips. Love the colors!
Beautiful and luxurious, the slip was firmly woven from quality cotton or rayon crepe or rayon satin with rich lace, fancy eyelet, ruffles, pleats, embroidery or applique. Slips came in full lengths, down to the knee, or half lengths, from waist to knee. Half slips were worn with one piece dresses while two peice suits or separates were worn with a full slip. A full slip should cover the bra completely and should not show under clothing. 1950s slips usually had thin adjustable straps. Common colors were pink, peach, light blue, navy, yellow, Nile green, black and white. Their beauty rivaled that of 1950s nightgowns.
Petticoats were usually rayon, cotton, or taffeta and had a detailed hem with maybe lace, ribbons, bows, or eyelet cutouts. Usually white, petticoats were tea-length or shorter depending on what style dress was going to be worn over it. The hem is one of the most important parts of the petticoat- mostly because there was a chance it might be seen, so of course it had to be cute. Ruffles, floral designs, and bows were often the accents on hems. Many slips added the petticoat bottom ruffles into one garment.
1952 Satin Slips for Party Dresses
How to wear a slip: In the 1950s it was recommended that you put on a slip or petticoat over your head as to ensure that any straps do not break. A slip should fit over the bust and be long enough to meet the hem of the dress. If a slip or petticoat can be seen underneath your garment, they should be shortened at the hem. White or light slips work best for most clothing while a dark slip is needed for dark blue or black clothes.
Embroidered and lace slips- my favorite!
Shop 1950s Style Lingerie:
- What Katie Did- Vintage inspired bras, corselets, girdles, stockings
- Secrets in Lace- Retro vintage style lingerie. Slips, corsets, underwear, stockings.
- Modcloth- Vintage but modern lingerie.
- VintageDancer- Handpicked vintage style 50s favorites from around the web:
One thought on “1950s Lingerie History – Bra, Girdle, Slips, Panties, Garters”
Loved this post! I remember my full figured mother wearing many of these items when I was a little girl. I was born at the height of the Baby Boom in 1957, so my earliest memories of her come from very early 1960, and her daily struggles to don all the gear required of the well dressed woman of the times. I remember her slips with all the lace trims, and the swishy sound she made walking when fully dressed including the nylon stockings that didn’t stretch. The character of the sound the material made is something I’ll never forget.
Summer months in the hot, steamy South were hard on her, especially when she had to get dressed up in everything required under the beautiful dresses she had for special occasions. There was always a plastic bottle or round powder box of scented talc she would use to help get “this damn girdle” on, and her perfume always matched the scent of the powder. Once she was all done though, she would come in my bedroom or the living room, wherever I happened to be before she and my step dad left for the evening, to model her outfit for me, and to get my “approval” and one final check that all was OK. Rarely was anything ever wrong, but once or twice I may have caught a slip showing under the hem of her dress, which would have been a major faux pas. She would run back to the bedroom to fix it before leaving.
Once I got old enough, in 6th and 7th grade, in the late 60’s, we were still wearing stockings at my house ~ no pantyhose yet ~ so, when we found colored fishnet stockings that would go with my school outfits, I had to wear them with a garter belt. The thing infuriated me, and I got around the obvious inconvenience in the girl’s restroom by wearing the garter belt under my underwear. It was the only way to make all that nonsense work to my mind. And it did work. Nobody saw it, so nobody was the wiser!
I decided one weekend to bypass the garter belt entirely, and mimicking my winter tights and leotards, I took a pair of the fishnets and sewed them by hand to a pair of my undies! I don’t even know if I had any familiarity yet with pantyhose per se, but the tights was enough of an example for me! They worked fairly well, as long as I didn’t get too acrobatic while wearing them! I had to safety pin one part of a leg on one time, and then at home revised the way I had them sewed on, which seemed to work better.
I was in a 5 year high school, in 8th grade, before I managed to convince my mother that pantyhose were absolutely required to wear under the much shorter hem lengths in 1970, especially when going to school in a three story building with open stairs to climb all day long! Having stocking tops and garter buttons showing was a huge no-no then! She had been convinced that stockings were “cheaper” because a run in one leg didn’t ruin both legs, but I showed her how I would conquer that issue as well, and the old garter belts finally went bye-bye!