Sleeping Beauty

Lingerie

Lingerie– the word suggests lovely, provocative outfits. But lingerie came from lowly origins. The word “lingerie” is from the French linge, or linen referring to the material from which underwear was normally made. By the late 1800’s, lingerie had become a familiar term to depict underwear that had moved beyond sensible function to be used as an erotic accessory. At first lingerie was created for all sizes- including plus sizes.

Lingerie was supposed to only be used by women within the confines of a blissfully married life in the early years; with strict controls. One female journalist penned in 1902, “Lovely lingerie does not belong only to the fast. . . . dainty undergarments are not necessarily a sign of depravity.

” As time passed, lingerie’s attractiveness to the  general population increased along with decreasing adherence to Victorian morality, and the increasing social status of women. Lingerie was freedom from the practical and flagrantly straitlaced undergarments advocated by the Victorian era. For example, a doctor of that time period recommended wool as the perfect underwear for sanitation and wellbeing.

At first, lingerie was a sign of social status , handmade and afforded  only by the very few. Of note were those fashioned by the English couturiere known as Lucile (Lady Duff-Gordon), who created camisoles, peignoirs, and petticoats using lace, chiffon, and crepe de chine, deliberately appealing to the sense of touch, and evoking a new eroticism for the twentieth-century woman. Although synthetic fibers such as rayon and nylon were developed and sold in the 1920s and 1930s as luxury fabrics through the use of the name “artificial silk” their development led to a democratization of lingerie.

WIKIPEDIA SAYS-Some major rayon fiber uses include apparel (e.g. blouses, dresses, jackets, lingerie, linings, scarves, suits, ties), furnishings (e.g. bedspreads, blankets, window treatments, upholstery, slipcovers),  industrial uses (e.g. medical surgery products, non-woven products, tire cord), and other uses (e.g. yarn, feminine hygiene products).

The more body-conscious fashions of that decade also led to a new item of lingerie, the teddy, named after its inventor Theodore Baer, who combined a chemise with a short slip or attached knickers.

The camisole, which originated from an ornamental waist-length article  of clothing with a pleated front and shoulder straps that were worn over the corset for warmth and modesty, became a staple garment of lingerie, eventually becoming an item of outerwear by the 1970s.

Similarly the slip, a standard piece of lingerie from the 1950s, was transformed to outerwear by a number of designers in the 1990s, most especially John Galliano, Dolce & Gabbana.

Pajamas, based on the loose pants worn in parts of Asia, entered women’s wardrobes in the late nineteenth century, but long nightdresses remained popular, even after women’s skirts shortened in the early twentieth century. By the1920s, straight-cut silk and rayon nightclothes in subtle colors such as orchid, teal and plum were popular, while the mid-century favored gowns with bosom-hugging bodices above sinuous skirts.

Mixtures and superimpositions make lingerie an item of clothing in itself, so that hybrid costumes like chemise jackets and pants-skirts make up an unexpected wardrobe. During the twentieth century, alluring and luxurious lingerie grew ever more accessible and affordable.

Today there is a continuation of the lingerie revival started in the  1990s, attracting both male and female consumers. Lingerie’s cachet as an erotic, ardently visible component of a woman’s outfit has contributed to rising sales. It seems that showing off your lingerie has become very much become a fashion trend. Today redefined lingerie is an affordable luxury item with a strong appeal for the fashion-oriented plus size consumer.

For more plus size fashion with flair visit http://www.fabulous-plus-sizes.com/Site_Map.html, a trendy plus size clothing website.

Marie Wakefield

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 10:13 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.