Victorias Secret

Victorias Secret

The Secret Story Of Lingerie   by Callum Asterman

So if you’re dining with some French people and one of the men announces that he is wearing lingerie, just carry on as though nothing has happened. But try and escape at the first opportunity. The common English meaning of the word, now used to refer exclusively to women’s underwear, is actually gender independent. It can be anything from a simple slip or vest to a full basque with suspenders, or even items more commonly worn day to day such as a bra and knickers. However it cannot be denied that when the word lingerie is used rather than underwear, a more sexy interpretation is usually applied, something designed to make a woman look and feel wonderful. Just look at the names of the well-known lingerie outlets if you’re in any doubt: La Senza, Fig Leaves, Victoria’s Secret and so on. The air of sensuality, intrigue and glamour is unmistakeable.

Before the advent of what we now know as lingerie, women’s underwear was clumpy and difficult to wear, designed to shape the body, often in an exaggeratedly feminine form with a tiny waist and more curvaceous bust and hips. Just hearing the phrase whalebone corset is enough to bring a tear to the eye, but bone was the only material of the time strong enough to create rigid shapes with zero wiggle room. It would not have been uncommon outside assistance to be required when putting these garments on as it would have been impossible to put on without opening the corset out, and tighten the corset up was not rarely something a person could do on their own.

This style clearly had to stop. In addition to their impractical design, it could be damaging to women’s bone structure and internal organs, which is never a good selling point in an outfit. So in the period between the wars, styles inevitably started to change. The outer garments women were wearing did not demand such a rigid body shape or style to fit properly, as the fashions were a lot more loose and free-flowing. Comfort became important and materials like silk, soft cotton and satin became well liked, and structural stiffeners were reduced significantly.

Today, the corset is not completely gone, and the trend for burlesque acts shows that there is still a fascination in such items. But there’s a big difference between stage fashions and clothes that need to be worn day to day. The story of modern lingerie still retains some of the past’s classic designs, however. Support and body forming are still a requirement for some, most notably in bras and girdles, but nowadays the need for comfort and health are unquestioned. Advances in man-made fabrics that have gentle elastic properties have helped towards comfort, and the need for correct or professional fitting continues to improve the position lingerie holds in the fashion hierarchy.

About the Author

Callum Asterman writes for Rokit vintage clothing and explains how vintage lingerie developed and became popular.
Victoria’s Secret – 2010 Commercial (by Michael Bay) [HQ]