Women of the Silk

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We'll start things off with a catchy tune courtesy of Ernst Lubitsch's 1931 film, The Smiling Lieutenant. Women in the 1920s and 30s were trading their long underwear and petticoats for scandalous tap pants and chemises. And I adore how saucy Claudette Colbert is in this pre-code Hollywood film. Towards the end, around the 2:00-minute mark, the old-style bloomers and nightgown are tossed aside for more modern intimate apparel. I have to admit, I've been humming the chorus for most of the day. A "silken symphony" indeed. Anne Shippen Willing looks boldly out at us from the past, dressed in a striking flowered gown that fills the frame of the painting at the heart of Zara Anishanslin’s Portrait of a Woman in Silk: Hidden Histories of the British Atlantic World. In Anishanslin’s hands, the portrait opens up an evocative object-centered tour of transatlantic eighteenth-century culture, politics, and economy, offering the “unexpected illuminations and countless possibilities” of a history written from artifacts (314). One of the few vintage lingerie fashion show clips I could find on YouTube, this blurry film is still worth a look. The full nightgown around the :20 mark is my favorite garment. Slips have more or less fallen out of fashion, but they used to be a vital part of every woman's wardrobe. A descendant of the petticoat, slips helped to protect dresses and skirts from sweat. Slips also helped to ensure that clothing 'lay' properly, and didn't accidentally reveal the wearer's body (particularly important in the case of sheer or see-through garments). This collection of wedding day slips shows that bridal lingerie has been a "thing" for a very long time.

It's the last vintage video (but don't go away because there's one more video you'll want to see below)! Originally, I was only going to have 11 videos in this list, but when I ran across this absurdly surreal Salvador Dali swimsuit fashion show, I had to include it. It's only 50 seconds long, but features stunners like eyeball bikinis and swimsuits with attached inflatable baseball players (at least, I think that's what that is). Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. See below.Christian Dior's famous 'New Look' required the sort of structured underpinnings that hadn't been seen since The Edwardian Era. This is my second favorite video from this article. I would totally wear that corset today, though perhaps the extra shoulder and hip padding is a bit much (though it did remind me of 80s fashion!).

For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more. Our range offers a selection of beautiful styles and elegant silhouettes. Soft, breathable, and sumptuous against your skin, there is no feeling like the luxurious softness of high-quality silk. A silk top with a contemporary print is an effortless way to feel feminine and smart. We’ve kept the silhouette classic for our silk shirt, available in both seasonal prints and wear-them-anywhere neutrals, giving it staying power for seasons to come. It has a smart collar, cuffs you can roll up for a more casual look, and darting for a flattering fit. On top of that, the buttons are matched so you can look stylish down to every detail. And it never goes out of style. Use your wardrobe favourites to refresh your styling options. Keep it casual with your favourite jeans, draw out a masculine edge by wearing it as an open layer, or dress it up with a tailored skirt. Elegant and always at its best, a silk shirt is a versatile allrounder.