• 'Kestos And The Modern Gown' Advertisement By Kestos, c. 1930s, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum

    ‘Kestos And The Modern Gown’ Advertisement By Kestos

    'Kestos And The Modern Gown' Advertisement By Kestos Date: c. 1930s Origin: Great Britain Brand: Kestos   This circa 1930s Kestos advertisement depicts a smiling young woman with waved, bobbed hair, donning a two-cupped brassiere, a corset paired with stockings, and a fashionably high-heel. Behind her stretches an Art-Deco-style illustration showcasing men and women socializing…
  • 'Gain & Keep Those Youthful Lines' Advertisement By Kestos, 1928, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum.

    ‘Gain & Keep Those Youthful Lines’ Advertisement By Kestos

    'Gain & Keep Those Youthful Lines' Advertisement By Kestos Date: 1928 Origin: Great Britain Brand: Kestos   This circa 1920s British advertisement by lingerie brand Kestos, depicts a seated young woman with waved, coiffed hair, wearing a strappy two-cupped brassiere, and what appears to be a sheet or towel draped over her legs. Her image…
  • White Lace Strapless Cathedral Bra By Kestos, c. 1950s, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    White Lace Strapless Cathedral Bra By Kestos

    White Lace Strapless Cathedral Bra By Kestos Date: c. 1950s Origin: Great Britain Fabric: Nylon Brand: Kestos   A strapless bra with 'cathedral' structured supports offering uplift and allowing for strapless wear without the garment slipping down. The style was described in a 1955 advertisement as: '"Strapless" Gently moulds - and holds - the lithe…
  • 'Keeping The Youthful Fit' Corsetry Editorial Magazine Excerpt, c. 1940s, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum

    ‘Keeping The Youthful Fit’ Corsetry Editorial Magazine Excerpt

    'Keeping The Youthful Fit' Corsetry Editorial Magazine Excerpt Date: c. 1940s Origin: Great Britain Brands: Scandale, Warner, Gossard, Kestos, Roussel   A circa 1940s British magazine editorial inducing photographs of washable brassieres, girdles, and corsets by brands Scandale, Warner, Gossard, Kestos, and Roussel. You can view two of the garments that are showcased in this…
  • 'We Thought Of It First' Advertisement By Kestos, c. 1940s, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum

    ‘We Thought Of It First’ Advertisement By Kestos

    'We Thought Of It First' Advertisement By Kestos Date: c. 1940s Origin: Great Britain Brand: Kestos   The 'Kestos' bra had its first patent filed in 1926, and almost immediately exploded in popularity. Its influence was such that the brand name 'Kestos' was at one stage generically interchangeable with 'brassiere'. The bra was arguably one…
  • 'High Line' White Nylon Bra By Kestos, c. 1950s, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice.

    ‘High Line’ White Nylon Bra By Kestos

    'High Line' White Nylon Bra By Kestos Date: c. 1950s Origin: Great Britain Fabric: Woven nylon Brand: Kestos   This rendition of the Kestos bra was trademarked in 1941 by Rosamond Lilian Klin, commonly attributed as the inventor of the Kestos bra. Her name is sometimes also written as Rosaline and Rosalind. This bra is near identical…
  • Tea Rose Geometric Brocade & Elastic Girdle By Kestos, c. 1930s, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    Tea Rose Geometric Brocade & Elastic Girdle By Kestos

    Tea Rose Geometric Brocade & Elastic Girdle By Kestos Date: c. 1930s Origin: England Fabric: Cotton & rayon blend brocade, elastic Brand: Kestos   The Kestos lingerie brand was founded in 1925 in London by Rosamond Lilian Klin. The brand is best known for the ‘Kestos’ style bra (patented in 1926, and arguably one of…
  • 'Yankee' Nylon Lace Bra By Kestos, c. 1950s, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice.

    ‘Yankee’ Nylon Lace Bra By Kestos

    'Yankee' Nylon Lace Bra By Kestos Date: c. 1950-1955 Origin: Great Britain Fabric: Nylon Brand: Kestos   The 'Yankee' bra style was an updated cut on the classic 'Kestos' style that had been on sale since the late 1920s. Rather than the gently supportive darted cups of the original design, this style used an overbust…
  • White Nylon Bras By Kestos, c. 1950s, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    White Nylon Bras By Kestos

    White Nylon Bras By Kestos Date: c. 1950s Origin: Great Britain Fabric: Nylon Brand: Kestos   These Kestos brand signature bras are made of a lightweight nylon. They have been so heavily used that the original printed labels have worn away entirely, and only the woven brand label remains. The bras have both been heavily…
  • Nylon & Lace Trimmed Basque By 'Moonlight' By Kestos, c. 1950s, Great Britain.

    Nylon & Lace Trimmed Basque By ‘Moonlight’ By Kestos

    Nylon & Lace Trimmed Basque By 'Moonlight' By Kestos Date: c. 1955 Origin: Great Britain Fabric: Nylon Brand: Kestos   A white, boned corselette with underwired cups and four elastic suspender straps. The tops of the bra cups are trimmed with lace and the bottom edge has narrow, white ruffle trim. The back closes with…
  • Pink Satin 'Zoma' Suspender Belt By Kestos, c. 1930s, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    Pink Satin ‘Zoma’ Suspender Belt By Kestos

    Pink Satin 'Zoma' Suspender Belt By Kestos Date: c. 1930s Origin: Great Britain Fabric: Rayon satin Brand: Kestos   A suspender belt in heavy rayon satin, with keyhole cutouts at the hips. Satin ribbon forms crossover strapping at the centre front, with this detail reminiscent of the Kestos' brand signature bra shape. The original owner…
  • Silk Crepe With Lace Appliqué Girdle By Kestos, c. 1930s, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    Silk Crêpe With Lace Appliqué Girdle By Kestos

    Silk Crêpe With Lace Appliqué Girdle By Kestos Date: c. 1930s Origin: Great Britain Fabric: Silk and elastic Brand: Kestos   The Kestos lingerie brand was founded in 1925 in London by Rosamond Lilian Klin. The brand is best known for the 'Kestos' style bra (patented in 1926, and arguably one of the first commercially…