Date: c. 1920s
Origin: United States
Fabric: Silk
Brand: Saks Fifth Avenue
A pair of luxurious tap pants made of a fine silk georgette and machine made lace. The lace waistband is appliquéd onto cotton bobbinet tulle for re-enforcement. Carved shell buttons and buttonhole stitches form a fastening at the side seam. A silk ribbon forms the gusset. A mix of silk ribbons embellish the sides of the tap pants in a mix of rosettes and streamers. Although the garment is missing any label, an identical style was sold by Saks Fifth Avenue. The range also contained a matching bandeau bra and handkerchief, with an alternative blue colourway available.
The tap pants are an early version of the style and typical of the 1920s, constructed as a half slip with a single piece of ribbon stitched between the legs. This style of tap pant represented one of the first commonly worn style of underwear that incorporated a closed gusset for women, as previously only ‘open’ drawers had been viewed as acceptable.
From the collection of Karolina Laskowska
