It’s probably obvious by now that I really like all that girly-girl stuff, so it should come as no surprise that I’m a fan of lace. Love it, from the lace doily under the flower vase in the hallway to the lace tablecloth in the dining room. My mother has a beautiful tablecloth that was crocheted especially for her by her aunt. My lace has been found here and there, things I happened upon and purchased for the little antiques booth I once had and then couldn’t bear to part with.

Lacemaking has been around for a long time, but got a big boost during Elizabethan times, when large lace ruffs at the neck were popular among those who could afford them. They didn’t come cheap! This website gives some fantastic information about uses of lace and methods of making lace during this era.

Belgium became a center of lacemaking and to this day visitors can easily find stunning examples of Belgian lace in the shops.

To learn more about the early history of lace, read this article that was featured in Lace magazine.

Related Links:

Anyone in or visiting the Sunnyvale, California area can visit The Lace Museum, devoted to exhibiting superior examples of lace and keeping alive the art of lacemaking.

Lace collectors and those who enjoy creating lace, or want to learn how, might be interested in Lace Magazine. Here you’ll find courses in lacemaking as well as patterns and lacemaking supplies. There are also beautiful examples of handmade antique lace for sale. Furthermore, there are many informative articles about lace and lacemaking.

Based in the United Kingdom, The Lace Guild boasts over 5000 members worldwide. Take a look at their website to see interesting articles about bobbin and needle lace, learn about their publications, see infor about upcoming lace events and more.

When someone says “1950’s slips” do images of vintage crinolines spring to mind?

While those stiff netted petticoats were popular in the 50s’s (and often desired due to the fragile state of netting), for many vintage lingerie collectors, the 50’s slip is far more a tactile, sensual treat…

In the 50’s to 60’s era, Dupont nylon was introduced and became widely used in most lingerie and undergarments. Designers started blending nylon with fine rayon and satin and this is an era when so many incredible silky slips were produced. You also see a lot of fancy lacework, flouncey hemlines, chiffon, imported laceworks, etc.

In the 1950-60s era, there is a ‘wedding lace’ slip which consisted of the incredibly beautiful micro-pleated chiffon and imported lacework.

Slips give an nod to an era of beauty & glamour icons (Who can forget Elizabeth Taylor or Marilyn Monroe in their slips?), yet they continue to beckon today. Physically, slips are intimate items; seen by few, yet they are demur by today’s lingerie standards. Like the glamorous and romantic details of the garments themselves, slips speak of elements which often seem missing from our in-your-face culture.

You might say slips are some of the most flirtatious collectibles around.

All images © Glamour Gurlz

Slips are some of the most popular and sought after garments in vintage lingerie collecting because they combine the details that delight the senses as well as the emotions. Vintage slips offer visual and textural treats: the indulgence of abundant lace and flouncing hemlines, the luxury of real silk, the charm of chiffon, the drama in the drape of bias cut heavy satin, the slip and sheen of high quality nylon…

But by the late 1970s, when women stopped wearing slips & bras and other foundation undergarments as a part of their daily dressing, many manufacturers stopped making these items alltogether. Those that continued to make them opted to play it cost effective and stopped importing French lace and ended investing in expensive fabrics such as high quality blended nylon satin and silks. Of course, now that these delightful unmentionables are no longer made, slips are hot on the collectible market.

Recently, I sat down to talk with Kimberly, a fellow vintage lingerie collector and owner of Glamour Gurlz Vintage Slips, to discuss the allure of vintage slips.

Kimberly, when did you first fall in love with vintage lingerie?

I personally began collecting vintage lingerie and other glamorous vintage ‘dress up’ items when my dear sweet grandmother passed away about 15 years ago. My mother & I had to sort through all of her beautiful & glamorous lingerie, foundations, costume jewelry & clothing, so that we could donate it to charity. As we sorted through her things, we reminisced about watching her sitting at her vanity, clad in girdle, slip, stockings, heels and bullet bra — This was the era when it was an ‘art’ to make yourself as desirable as possible. I remembered how I used to think “I wanna be just like that when I grow up!” And then I thought to myself, “There is no way I can part with such grand memories!”

But still why ‘old’ & not ‘new?’
Lingerie and glamour accessories in today’s market are not the quality product you find in a vintage item. For example: A modern full slip in today’s market usually consists of a basic nylon in black, white or beige or the standard ‘polyester’ satins. Finding one with more than an inch of lacework is almost non-existent.
Slipping into vintage lingerie takes you to a whole new level of sexiness… I honestly believe once anyone owns a piece of vintage lingerie, they will never go back to the modern, flimsy mass produced styles. When you buy vintage, your buying a piece of history, a collectable, one of a kind item.

But, in a nutshell, those who have owned vintage lingerie become addicted…

Do you have a favorite style or time period?

A favorite of mine was introduced to me by a close friend a few years ago… the designer is Saramae Lingerie and was sold by high end department stores from the 40’s through the early 70s.

These are extremely rare pieces of lingerie and very hard to come by, so when I find one I jump on them.

They normally consist of soft silky nylon with a extraordinary 5-10″ imported cut out lacework, backed in a sheer soft pink or contrasting chiffon.

I currently have over 100 in my personal collection by Saramae Lingerie and do not intend to sell them. I collect these as a true collectable piece of history, a rare and unique gem.

(To Be Continued)