Sexy 1940s Lingerie – Bombshells & Vintage Bra Styles
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1940s lingerie, including bullet bras, shapewear, and examples of negligees from Old Hollywood
This post is all about 1940s lingerie
Romantic. Soft. Mysterious.
These words perfectly capture the ultra feminine and chic 1940s lingerie styles.
This sizzling styles continue to inspire lingerie designers to this day, from high end luxury brands to retro ones, like Katie Did.
What lingerie did women wear in the 1940s?
The lingerie that 1940s women typically wore was a bra, panties, a girdle (everyday shape wear), plus a slip, if she was wearing a dress that day.
In the 40s, the feminine silhouette reigned supreme. So, any help from lingerie to achieve this was super popular.
Also, remember that this was the decade of the war, and women who joined the workforce demanded comfortable lingerie that “moved.”
Thank goodness fabric and material inventions had come a long way since the early 20th century.
For more on 1940s fashion:
1940s Fashion Trends – Iconic Styles that are Style On Trend Today
Above, Hazel Brooks wears a sexy 1940s slip in the film noir Sleep My Love.
1940s Lingerie: Bras & Brassieres
Just like today, the brassiere (or bra) was a key lingerie staple in the 1940s.
What’s the difference between a brassiere and a bra?
It’s actually the same thing!
The name brassiere was shortened to simply bra in the 1930s.
What were some characteristics of the 1940s bras?
Bras came in a variety of styles, from the “standard” style today with straps, to a strapless bra, to a longline bra style, which was literally a long bra.
Notice how the bra straps on vintage bras are attached to the middle of the bra cup, rather than the side, like most bras today. This meant more support for “the ladies”.
The long line bras extended beyond the bottom of the bust towards the waist. Why? Because these bras provided “the best possible support with comfort to large and extra large bust figures.”
Interestingly this style of bra is regaining popularity today.
For full figured ladies, it provides more support for the bustline and fabulous shaping and contouring, and not to mention posture benefits.
The weight of the ‘ladies’ is taken off the shoulder straps and distributed more fully across the body.
A few factors helped a lady in the 1940s determine which bra to select.
It depended on her age, figure type (i.e. full figure or more willowy?) and the setting (evening wear for a fancy occasion or home wear?).
Although bra cup sizes were invented in 1932, yet it wasn’t until the 1940s that band sizes became popular, allowing women a far more accurate way to finally find the perfect fitting bra.
Above, Marilyn Monroe popularized the sensuous “1950s” bullet bra style that caught on fire during WW2.
For more on bullet bras, you might like:
1940s Lingerie: Undies (Briefs, Boyshorts, & Bloomers)
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“With the right lingerie, you don’t need clothes.”
The 40s ushered in a cute collection of panties.
These included adorable brief undies, boyshorts, and almost cheeky bloomers.
The 1940s brief panty had the classic brief shape and was full coverage.
The boy shorts style was another full coverage look that extended a little way down the thigh.
1940s bloomers were loose and frilly, fitted at the waist and gathered around the thighs. (Unlike the ridiculous 1920s bloomers that were full leg shorts, the 1940s bloomers were super short and cute.)
Unlike today’s panty styles the retro full-coverage styles didn’t bare everything, they also usually covered the belly button.
Above, Jean Wallace’s 1940s lingerie from the 1949 film Jigsaw. Notice how her adorable boy shorts cover her belly button.
1940s Lingerie: Girdles
Body shapers (also known as girdles!) were the secret for a flawless figure — that nipped-in waistline and no bumps, just lady lumps!
Toward the end of the 1940s, with the release of Christian Dior’s New Look in 1947, the highly feminine silhouette gained massive popularity. Think an hourglass silhouette… with gently rounded shoulders, voluptuous curves, and a cinched waist.
With new technology girdles could have both fabric and elastic components, with flexible boning for optimal silhouette shaping and posture alignment.
These were much comfier than shapewear in the old days.
The pantie girdles options were great for pants or dresses, and the mini skirt girdle was perfect for dresses. The elastic straps connected to metal garter clips which attached to a lady’s stockings.
Wow, not much has changed in a few decades, right?
Today’s reigning shapewear brand, SPANX is very popular and is the well known “secret” weapon on Red Carpet)
With the 1940s being a year of change, some women embraced their new freedom and said no to the girdle.
Instead they would simply clip garter belts on top of their panties to hold up their stockings.
1940s Lingerie: Slips
Above, Hazel Brooks spends most of her time in her 1940s lingerie in Sleep, My Love.
The full and half slip were also key lingerie pieces for 1940s ladies.
Why the slip?
Not only was it sexy, but it acted as the smooth layer between your dress and your legs, allowing the dress to flow freely.
The 1940s full slips were perfect for under dresses and the half slips ideal for skirts.
Like today, silk was one of the best slips, but a simple cotton knit would be the most affordable slip.
Slips came in a variety of pretty feminine colors, like pinks, whites, and peachy colors, as well as black.
Above, We love Jane Greer’s sizzling style in her full slip outfit that doubles as a negligee
Toward the end of the 1940s when the full skirts gained popularity with the release of Christian Dior’s New Look, fuller taffeta petticoats started to gain volume as the silhouette began to change towards the 1950s style.
For more on 1950s Lingerie:
This post was all about 1940s lingerie
Which 1940s lingerie do you like?
Have you been inspired to build your own collection of retro inspired lingerie?
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“Always wear sexy lingerie. Others may not see it, but trust me, they feel it.”
References:
Bra Size, Wikipedia
LIFE magazine, archives
Sears, 1949 Spring Summer Catalog
The Met
IMDB, Sleep My Love
IMDB, Jigsaw
