Dressing in a vintage style can be hard as it is! And that’s when you can see the clothing on the outside. That’s not even mentioning what goes on underneath the clothes. Which yes, is a whole other ballpark. Because just like clothes, underwear was completely different in the 1950’s! So whether you are interested in the undergarments to be completely period accurate, or you want to achieve the bombshell hourglass silhouette, I am here to help.This is a pretty brief rundown on what pieces are used for what, and of course recommendations on where you can get your own!

Today I will be dividing all of the individual garments into two different sections: foundations and shapewear. I do this because just like modern undies, vintage underwear all has different functions. We have strapless bras, backless bras, racerback, and so much more! Your outerwear will determine what you wear underneath so you can best complement your whole look. Get ready to be educated on all of the different undergarments you can choose from, and you will have an hourglass shape in no time!

Foundations

Foundations are the structural items of underwear that were worn underneath the clothing meant to give you a feminine shape and preserve modesty. They also help with your comfort! Depending on what outfit you are wearing you can decide on which of these you would like to wear. To be honest, I only wear them on special occasions or when I am feeling fancy. But it is always good to be aware of all the options out there.

Bullet Bra

Ah, the classic Bullet Bra. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention these bad boys. Basically, the bullet bra is the 1950’s version of what we wear today. But back before there was underwire, they had to stitch the bra in such a way that it created a very pointy look for your bosoms. Which hey, it’s unmistakably 40’s/50’s! But certainly not for the feint of heart. Luckily these days you can get a very mild pointy look (the kind I have) or you can go full on Madonna status, depending on where you go.

Mine is from Rago and I have to say I do really love it. If you want to be super daring, you can always go for What Katie Did. You will be hearing about these brands a lot through this blog post, but I make no apologies. They are truly amazing!

Stockings

I guess I was wrong on one thing about vintage undergarments… you can see some of the items! Mainly Stockings. And while I don’t wear them every day, you can see me don them for pageants and fun pinup nights out. Stockings are basically tights with a seam (a line) up the back. Back in the day, stockings were hand sewn in such a way that there actually was a seam up the back to hold the whole thing together. The seam was in a nude, or slightly darker than nude color and they were seen as a way to preserve modesy.

These days, they aren’t actually seamed, they just have a line up the back for the look of it. And they come in a plethora of colors to match your outfit! Which is so much fun for me to add just that little extra pop. You can purchase fully fashioned stockings, which mean that they were sewn the traditional way, but they are a but more expensive and I am not enough of a purist to fork out that money.

All of my stockings come from two companies. First, from What Katie Did. I adore all of the bright and fun colors, and they do have options for women of color, which is great to see. Another company that I love to support is Glamory Hosiery! I have modeled for them int he past and the owner is a great guy. They cater to women that fall outside of the usual size range for stockings, whether that be tall, super curvy, or even little people sizing. I have a whole blog post on stockings here that you can read to get all of the basics.

Garter Belt

If you have ever purchased a pair of stockings expecting to slip them on like a modern pair of tights and be done with it, you were probably disappointed! Because unlike tights, stockings only go up to your mid-thigh, and they absolutely do not stay up on their own. Please do not try to wear them by themselves because they WILL fall down and it’s just not ladylike. A Garter Belt is a thick piece of fabric with straps attached and clips meant to hold your stockings not only up, but in place.

You can find these from many different lingerie companies, and they will be super cute. But if you are planning on wearing stockings for more than just show, or a photoshoot, I implore you to get one from a specialty company such as Rago, What Katie Did, or Secrets in Lace. These belts aren’t made to be pretty, but rather industrial. Your stockings will not move throughout the day, and you will be infinitely more comfortable.

Tap Pants

Last but not least in this category is the lovely tap pants! These are pretty simple. Just a pair of shorts (usually silk or satin) that you wear over your stockings and garter belt. They have two purposes. One is to eliminate chafing on the small portion of your thighs that are not covered by your stockings. And two, to preserve your modesty in the case that your dress were to be blown up by wind or some other unfortunate circumstance.

Unlike a garter belt, I don’t feel like you need the highest of quality tap pants to have them be effective. You can really get them from any company, even on Amazon and they will work just fine. My favorite that I have found though is from Bettie Page lingerie. Theirs are super soft and wear well, which I cannot say of the other cheap ones I have tried.

Shapewear

Now these items are the garments that are meant to whip you in the shape! They squeeze you in, smooth out the bumps, and accentuate other areas. Different items are good for different types of clothing you are wearing on top. For example, when you wear a wiggle dress, you will want your whole body to be super defined and smooth, whereas with a swing dress, you might just want to nip the waist in and not care so much about the hips. You do whatever works for you, depending on your outfit and your comfort level!

Corset

If you don’t know what a corset is… girl why are you here?! Have you been living under a rock? Kidding. But corsets are used to get that iconic teeny tiny waist through use of laces and a whole lot of elbow grease. And I think we all know what they are, how they work, and different fact about them. I could have a whole section of my blog dedicated to corsetry because there is so much information out there.

But alas, I am not a corset expert! And I have never really worn one aside from the occasional photoshoot. I have done some intensive research, as I am ready to test the waters, and the two brands that have been recommended to me time and time again. Which are 1) What Katie Did, and 2) Orchard Corsets. My only recommendation when it comes to corsets is to study it out, do your research, and to make sure to get one that fits you properly.

Waspie

I like to think of the waspie as the more chill younger sister to the corset. While it covers the same area as a corset, it isn’t quite the same. A waspie usually uses hook and eye clasps, similar to a modern bra, and it clips in the front. You can get your waist to have that “waspy” effect without having the extreme hourglass that a corset gives. They are also known to be more comfortable and wearable for every day.

If you want to get a waspie for yourself, I have heard rave reviews about the ones from What Katie Did. Full disclosure, I have never worn a waspie either! So I am only going on what I have heard from other trusted pinup ladies.

Longline Bra

Oh, the longline bra. I could rave about them forever! The longline bra is exactly what it sounds like: a bra that is long! It continues down below to chest to your natural waist to create a very streamlined look, and avoid that weird bulge of skin that inevitably happens when you wear a modern bra and a swing skirt. It really nips your waist in and makes you look like a million bucks! They are wonderful, and I wear mine almost every day. Keep in mind, I value comfort highly, so they must be pretty great!

The one I adore so highly is from, surprise surprise, Rago. The only unfortunate part is that their sizing isn’t super inclusive, but if you are lucky enough to have your size in stock, go for it! Your bosoms can end up looking a little pointy, like if you were to wear a bullet bra. But if that bothers you it’s super easy to wear a modern bra over it and get an amazing shape. My longline bra also works splendidly with a strapless bra over the top of it. Just tuck the straps into the cups and you will have a seamless torso, which I know can be hard when you have a strapless dress.

Shaping Shorts

Shaper shorts have always been a must for me, as I need lots of help smoothing my hips and derriere! They are shorts that lift and smooth everything from your waist to your knees. What a win! Personally, they are the least comfortable for me, so I only wear them if I am wearing a wiggle dress or skirt or tight pants. But they certainly make you look amazing.

I have several pairs, from a classic spandex pair to the incredible Rago shaping shorts. I like the Rago ones because that have garter straps included, so you can pop on a pair of stockings without the extra layer of a garter belt. One thing that is absolutely essential though, is a slit in the crotch section. I am telling you, it is the most convenient thing when it comes time to use the restroom. Shaping shorts are so difficult to get on and off that it will save your bacon every time.

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