Date: c. 1950s
Origin: USA
Fabric: Cotton, nylon mesh, velvet ribbon
Brand: Mme. Berthé
A pair of extravagantly ruffled knickers in cotton and nylon mesh, most likely intended to be worn for performance. They are sturdily constructed in a tightly woven cotton with a heavy duty metal zip closure at the centre back. Several tiers of nylon mesh ruffles with a navy velvet trim are applied to the cotton base. An interior garment label identifies the maker as Mme. Berthé of 110 West 47th St., New York. There is space for the wearer’s name that has been left blank which, coupled with the good condition of the garment, suggests that it was never used.
Mme. Berthe was a New York based costumier who worked between the 1930s to the 1970s, having immigrated from Russia in the 1910s. She is credited as designing the costumes for the 1944 Broadway Variety show, Take a Bow and for the 1932 musical revue, Hey Nonny Nonny! which played at the Shubert Theatre.
Kindly donated to The Underpinnings Museum by Ellis Stansfield
