![Sparklewren Autumn 2020 Lookbook 'Bless The Weather'. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Jenni Hampshire.]()
Sparklewren Autumn 2020 Lookbook: ‘Bless The Weather’
Although the Sparklewren brand is still on indefinite hiatus, earlier this year designer Jenni Hampshire was inspired to create this capsule collection. The corset bases were stitched prior to the closure of…
![Maternity & Nursing Corset With Open Bust, Elasticated Panelling & Laced Side Seams By Corset Au Coeur, c. 1910s, France. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice]()
The End of Maternal Corsetry
The end of the nineteenth century was marked by several political, economic and social changes that permanently affected the fabric of Western communities. To understand how these changes were reflected in the lives of ordinary people, it can be useful to explore their effect on clothing and more specifically, women’s undergarments. The changes that occurred in breastfeeding garments from 1900-1945 illustrate how social, economic and medical practices shaped the objects being designed during that time.
![1930s Kestos style bra, The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice Studios]()
Rosamond Lilian Klin: The Inventor Of The Kestos Bra
The Kestos lingerie brand has long been one of my favourite in the grand scheme of lingerie history; the ‘Kestos’ bra is an iconic design that arguably revolutionized women’s underwear, with the…
![Black Silk & Lace Ribbonwork Step In, c. 1920s, USA. The Underpinnings Museum Photo by Tigz Rice]()
Favourite Things: Ayten Gasson
Another installment in our blog series ‘Favourite Things’, where we ask lingerie industry professionals to pick a favourite object from our collection. Today’s selection comes from Ayten Roberts of Ayten Gasson. Ayten…
![c. 1830s corset - The Underpinnings Museum]()
New Acquisition: c. 1830s Corset
Earlier this year, The Underpinnings Museum ran its first major fundraiser since 2016’s Kickstarter (the crowdfunding campaign that helped us to launch this website). We took to social media to ask our…
![Image shows a hand holding a box for a Wonderbra. The box is yellow and has a black and white photograph on the front of a model wearing the bra]()
‘Hello Boys’: How Wonderbra Survived the Bra Wars
Initially developed in Canada in the 1930s, lingerie manufacturer Canadelle first registered its Wonderbra name as a Trademark in the United States in 1955. In 1963 the Wonderbra brand introduced Canada’s first…
![Overlocked Floral Jacquard Weave Ribbon Corset, c. 1900, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum. Photo by Tigz Rice]()
Favourite Things: Stephanie Bodnar of Evgenia Lingerie
Another installment in our blog series ‘Favourite Things’, where we ask lingerie industry professionals to pick a favourite object from our collection. Today’s selection comes from Stephanie Bodnar of Evgenia. Evgenia specialises…
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The Underpinnings Museum is now a member of AIM
Running an online museum has its own special rewards and challenges. Although we have lots of visitors, we don’t get to meet you all in person and chat about what you liked…
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ART-CHERIE: Inspiration from online archives
Clothing and textile archives are fascinating places. Although, as a fashion historian, you might expect me to visit archives as part of my research, they’re also very useful places for designers to…
![Monowire heart padded lace bra by Belligne, c. 1950s The Underpinnings Museum shot by Tigz Rice Studios 2017]()
Favourite Things: Maude Nibelungen
Another installment in our blog series ‘Favourite Things’, where we ask lingerie industry professionals to pick a favourite object from our collection. Today’s selection comes from Maude Nibelungen, a knitwear designer whose…
