1950s Vintage Lingerie: Retro Bras & Pin Up Underwear
This post may contain affiliate links
1950s Lingerie Aesthetic, including the 1950s Bullet Bras, Panties styles, Girdles, Bodysuits and slips as modeled by Old Hollywood Glamour actresses and icons
This post is all about Vintage 1950s Lingerie
Glamourous. Seductive. Mysterious. Voluptuous.
These words perfectly capture the ultra feminine 1950s lingerie styles that celebrated the feminine hourglass shape!
Ready for the ultimate guide to vintage lingerie from Old Hollywood Glamour fashion icons, like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Turner, Jane Mansfield, and Diana Dors?
Get ready for some fabulous (and sizzling) vintage style inspo!
1950s Vintage Lingerie: A Bit of History (Kinda Sexy!)
>
“Lingerie is not about seducing men; it’s about embracing womanhood.”
Christian Dior’s fashion debut of the feminine ‘New Look’ in 1947 took the fashion world by storm and influenced the 1950s silhouette.
What was the 1950s silhouette “in” look?
It was the hourglass figure with big breasts and full hips offset with a small defined waist.
Old Hollywood stars and pin up models like Marilyn Monroe, Lana Turner, Bette Grable, and Jane Russell flaunted their bombshell curves, and influenced women around the world to want the look.
Not born with these assets?
No problem!
The fabulous and sexy 1950s lingerie was your secret best friend.
The ingenious 1950s lingeries helped women lift and sculpt their way to a fashionable silhouette.
For more on women’s 1950s fashion:
1950s Bras: Secret to the Hourglass Silhouette of the 1950s
>
“The right bra can make your clothes fit better and make you feel more confident.”
The bra was one of the most sexy and functional foundation garments for a 1950s woman’s outfit.
To achieve the “in” hourglass figure, a voluptuous figure was desired.
Remember when the Victoria Secret Bombshell Push Up bra was so hot a few years ago?
You know the one that adds a dramatic two cups sizes?
Voilà this was also the 1950s look!
What were some characteristics of the 1950s bras?
Bras came in a variety of sexy and practical styles, from the typical bra style with straps, to the strapless bra, to the longline bra. (This was literally a long bra with additional support and shapewear built in.)
The longline bra extended from the bottom of the bust towards the waist.
These sexy bras (also popular today) provide more support for the bustline, and not to mention shaping, contouring, and even posture benefits.
Talk about the perfect bra for enhancing and showing off your shapely 50s figure in your strapless gown.
The bullet bra, pointed bra, or whirlpool bra (also known as the sweater girl bra) was a hot 50s style due to its sensual feminine style.
This emphasized a ladies’ assets with the popular pointy conical shape.
Old Hollywood Glamour sex symbols and “sweater girls” like Marilyn Monroe and Lana Turner famously modeled them, which caused the the bullet bra to go viral.
Do some of the 1950s curves still seem a bit unbelievable, like how could ever woman have curves like that?
Well you’re onto something!
The foam rubber breast falsie was additional ‘asset’ ladies could buy to pad bras for extra oomph and shape!
For more on 1950s bullet bras:
1950s Underwear: Panty Time (Vintage Briefs and Boyshorts)
The 50s debuted a collection of feminine underwear, ranging full coverage bikini styles, to vintage brief, to boyshorts, and short bloomers.
In general the ultra-feminine 1950s underwear styles were full coverage and came in fun and girlie colors and styles, ranging from pastels to floral prints, to checkered plaids. These were often embellish with lace, embroidery, or frill detailing.
The brief panty or full coverage bikini style were cut in the classic brief shape and, as the name implies, were full coverage.
Unlike the ‘cheeky’ panty styles today that are cut smaller, the vintage full coverage underwear styles stayed in place.
Similar to today’s boy shorts (only the 1950s styles were cuter!), the retro boy shorts underwear covered more of the hips and butt.
And in a nod to early decades popular style, the 1950s bloomers were loose and frilly, fitted at the waist and gathered around the thighs.
The 50s bloomers though were adorably short.
Just check out the burgundy bullet bra style and full coverage bikini panties style that the sex symbol Jayne Mansfield is modeling! (top right)
We adore the matchy-matchy style and lace detailing. So sexy!
1950s Lingerie: Shapewear (Corsets & Girdles)
>
“If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?”
Another key foundation garment for the 1950s ladies was shapewear.
This secret weapon sculpted, smoothed and tucked everything into place, so that a ladies’ curvaceous figure and her outfit took center stage.
Depending on your outfit and what type of support and shaping you were looking for, there were lots adorable shapewear options.
Looking to sculpt and define the bust and waist area?
The 1950s corset would be a great option!
These came in full corset styles, covering the torso and including the bra cups and straps.
A modern version of these would be the one-piece bodysuit with built-in bra cups.
Another must-have 1950s shapewear was the girdle.
Looking to slim and smooth the hips, buttocks and thigh area?
The short girdle was a comfier option for that was oh so perfect to achieve that hourglass figure.
And of course most 1950s shapewear (corsets, girdles) included straps to hold up the 1950s stockings or nylons.
1950s Lingerie: Pin Up Girl Favorites – The Teddy (Bodysuit)
You can’t talk about 1950s lingerie without mentioning the sizzling favorite style of pin up girls: the teddy!
Just like today, the 1950s teddies could be worn as underwear or as a nightie.
This was a best-loved style of two of the most iconic 50s sex symbols.
Yes, none other than the blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe and the sultry Diana Dors, the British “Marilyn”. (top images)
Both beauties look absolutely gorgeous in their black lacy teddies.
Or perhaps you’re looking for a more simple and classic style teddy?
How about opting for the white strapless teddy style that the gorgeous Janet Leigh flaunts in the suspenseful 1958 drama Touch of Evil? (Below)
We love this timeless lingerie style that is oh so feminine with the delicate lace and intricate details.
1950s Slip Styles of Lingerie: Full Length Slip, Short Slip and Half Length Slip
The slip was another 1950s lingerie staple.
This versatile piece could also be worn as underwear or to bed.
This practical and gorgeous lingerie piece was a favorite of everyday housewives and Old Hollywood stars.
We love how Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, and Doris Day each styles this fabulous vintage lingerie piece!
Why was the slip so popular? It was the perfect “smoothing” layer between your dress (or skirt!) and your legs.
If you love Elizabeth’s Taylor’s Glam fashion, you might like:
1950s Lingerie: Petticoats
Looking to add drama and volume to your skirts to achieve that enviable 50s full skirts style?
Say hello to the 1950s petticoat.
Just add your favorite taffeta petticoat and say hello to lots… and LOTS… of volume!
These were oh so perfect for a date night or swirling across the dance floor, or playing with your poodle.
(Don’t you just adore the vintage lingerie ads?)
1950s Lingerie: Frilly Nightgown
Frilly nightgowns were another 1950s lingerie favorite.
The differences between lingerie and sleepwear?
Lingerie is a piece of clothing a woman puts on when trying to be seductive.
Plus these are designed with fancier materials and designed to be more alluring than everyday pajamas.
We adore the frilly retro 1950s nightgown styles that Jane Mansfield and Audrey Hepburn are modeling in the picture above.
Old Hollywood Fashion: Risqué Lingerie & Nighties
Frederick Mellinger, known as Mr. Frederick, was the businessman behind the lingerie brand with the same name.
His vision after visiting New York in the late 1940s?
Launch his sensuous European-style lingerie to US market.
And where better than Hollywood, where he could tap into the glamour and glitz of the the Golden Age?
Not afraid to take risks, in the 1950’s, Mr. Frederick became the first business to advertise his risque intimates in both men’s and women’s magazines.
Rumor has it that sex symbols ranging from Marilyn Monroe, to Bettie Page, to Jayne Mansfield helped popularize this suggestive lingerie line.
This post was all about 1950s lingerie
Which pieces are your favorites?
More 1950s fashion posts you might like:
1950s Womens Pants Outfits – 7 Chic Vintage Styles
