~PIN-UPS~
Well, Well, Well, let’s step up those boobs a gear or two…
Do you remember them? Those Pin-up girls with all their perky glitzy glam, and curves?
That’s kinda what we envision when we think about the 40’s.
Of course, lots of soldier-men were overseas, fighting the war and we can only guess that they were quite lonely…
Hence the magazines depicting these Pin-ups were incredibly popular among soldiers.
A Pin-up posing in her luxury lingerie like a corset, nightgown, or swimsuit …OhLaLaaah!
~War and Luxury Lingerie~
…But, most women were going through an evolution of sorts as their men went soldiering overseas…
A lot of women would have a lifestyle change because of this and started to do “men”-jobs.
Of course, they needed to be a lot more comfortable executing this type of labor, but women were adamant to still have the option to have access to ‘foundation wear’.
This is basically shapewear to make sure to maintain that slender figure.
Outside work, these shaping undergarments, like girdles and corselettes, would then be worn under a beautiful dress when going on a night out.
Also, the materials of their undergarments had to have quite a few adjustments.
For example, the metal boning in girdles and corsets was a no-go anymore anyway, because all the metal had to be used in the war effort.
The same counted for the production of fully rubber girdles (with breathing holes in them), that came out at the end of the thirties, ’cause rubber was also needed for the war.
Unfortunately, also silk had the same demise though, which impacted the stockings industry…
Except for silk, not being able to have metal boning and rubber available to implement into the undergarments, was actually quite a relief for women!
It meant less constriction…
The working ladies would most likely be wearing simple cotton knit panties and tops, and next to these freeing lingerie items there would often be a one-piece brassiere worn with a girdle over panties.
The latter however would still be so much less constricting than the preceding luxury lingerie items offered.
So lingerie was developed to still give that slender figure, but with a lot more comfort and wriggle-room…
~Luxury Lingerie For Every Occasion~
Even though simplified and more comfortable there would still be a good variety in the lingerie department.
There would be something for every occasion.
For daywear, you had the option to go for a girdle and bra (brassiere was shortened to bra in the ’40s), or a longline bra and girdle, an all-in-one, or a strapless bra and garter belt.
If you were into your sports you would probably feel snug and comfortable in a cotton or rayon bandeau bra and a pantie girdle so you could have plenty of freedom for action.
For a glam evening out you might have gone for an all-in-one or corselette, which was strapless for youthful figures and with straps for the more curvaceous.
Next to this, there were also options to go for low-back cut luxury lingerie for if you were wearing a low-back gown.
~How to Sum-Up the Development of ’40s Luxury Lingerie so far?~
Well, it would go something like this:
Because ladies had (the freedom) to work now and do “men”-jobs, undergarments needed to be more comfortable.
Next to this, the materials used in lingerie before, that made sure that lingerie was restrictive, like iron and rubber, had to be used in the war effort, so in a strange way that was a relief!
Now the luxury lingerie world would come up with bras, girdles, all-in-one pieces, etc. that were made from fabulously comfortable materials and these would still give you the highly sought-after slender silhouette…
And there is a lot more to be told about the forties when it comes down to luxury lingerie…
There is also the quite i-CONIC (hint!) evolution hitting the lingerie realm with pointy force!
So, mes chéries, keep a peek out for the next pointifull chapter of Luxury Lingerie Roots…
~*~
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