• Pale Blue Satin Bullet Bra Corselet With Freehand Quilting, c. 1950s, Ukraine. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice.

    Pale Blue Satin Bullet Bra Corselet With Freehand Quilting

    Pale Blue Satin Bullet Bra Corselet With Freehand Quilting Date: c. 1950s Origin: Ukraine Fabric: Rayon satin and cotton Brand: Custom made   This home made corselet has a number of innovative decorative and functional construction details. The outer fabric is a pale blue rayon satin, lined with a plain woven cotton. It is cut…
    January 20, 2018
  • Green Silk Swiss Waist With Ruffled Trim, c. 1860s, USA. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    Green Silk Swiss Waist With Ruffled Trim

    Green Silk Swiss Waist With Ruffled Trim Date: c. 1860s Origin: United States Fabric: Silk Brand: Custom made   The term 'Swiss Waist' refers to a boned, typically pointed cincher or corselet, initially popularised in the 1860s and later returning as a trend in the 1880-1890s. This garment is not actually a piece of underwear,…
    January 20, 2018
  • Peach Nylon With Metallic Lace Overlay Corset & Thong by Fifi Chachnil, 1998, France. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice.

    Peach Nylon With Metallic Lace Overlay Corset & Thong by Fifi Chachnil

    Peach Nylon With Metallic Lace Overlay Corset & Thong by Fifi Chachnil Date: Autumn/Winter 1998 Origin: France Fabric: Nylon Brand: Fifi Chachnil   A corset and thong set by Parisian designer Fifi Chachnil. Both garments are constructed of a mix of peach nylon mesh and lurex thread lace. The corset is a 'fashion' corset rather…
    January 20, 2018
  • Black Cotton Sateen Corset With White Flossing & Woven Trim by P. N., C. late 1880s - early 1890s, USA. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Karolina Laskowska

    Black Cotton Sateen Corset With White Flossing & Woven Trim by P. N.

    Black Cotton Sateen Corset With White Flossing & Woven Trim by P. N. Date: c. late 1880s - early 1890s Origin: United States Fabric: Cotton sateen Brand: P. N.   This corset is construction from two layers of fabric, with an exterior of black cotton sateen and white cotton twill lining. It is structured with…
    January 4, 2018
  • 'Stella' Ivory Satin Corset With Flossing Embroidery & Cording by C. T., c. 1900, made in France for the USA market. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice.

    ‘Stella’ Ivory Satin Corset With Flossing Embroidery & Cording by C. T.

    'Stella' Ivory Satin Corset With Flossing Embroidery & Cording by C. T. Date: c. 1900s Origin: Made in France for the USA market Fabric: Silk satin outer, cotton lining Brand: C. T.   A luxurious Parisian corset by 'C.T.', created for an American department store at 13th & Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. At the time it…
    December 14, 2017
  • 'Jonah' Silk & Feather Overbust Corset By Sparklewren. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    ‘Jonah’ Silk & Feather Overbust Corset By Sparklewren

    'Jonah' Silk & Feather Overbust Corset By Sparklewren Date: 2013-2016 Origin: Birmingham, United Kingdom Fabric: Dark taupe iridescent silk duchess, black satin cotton-viscose blend coutil, bronze leavers lace, old gold lace trim, pyrite stones/beads, burgundy dyed freshwater pearls, copper and rose-gold beads, rose-gold chain, natural ostrich feathers, flat steel boning, front busk (sewn permanently closed), two-part eyelets,…
    December 13, 2017
  • Green Rayon Satin Corselet With Freehand Quilting, c. 1950s, Poland. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    Green Rayon Satin Corselet With Freehand Quilting

    Green Rayon Satin Corselet With Freehand Quilting Date: c. 1950s Origin: Poland Fabric: Rayon satin & cotton Brand: Custom made   The vibrant colour of this corselet was not considered standard fare for 1950s lingerie. This piece was custom made in Poland, at a time of clothing shortages and restriction due to Communist rule. Ready…
    November 12, 2017
  • Front Lacing Brocade Girdle With Elastic Gussets & Ribbonwork, c. 1920s, Spain. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    Front Lacing Brocade Girdle With Elastic Gussets & Ribbonwork

    Front Lacing Brocade Girdle With Elastic Gussets & Ribbonwork Date: c.1920s Origin: Spain Fabric: Brocade coutil, elastic, silk ribbon, lace Brand: Custom made   This girdle has a relatively uncurvy shape, so as to streamline the body for the straight 1920s fashions. It is constructed from a single layer of brocade coutil, with gussets of elastic for…
    November 6, 2017
  • Front lacing cotton corset by Warner, c. 1911, USA. The Underpinnings Museum. Photo by Tigz Rice

    Front Lacing Cotton Corset By Warner

    Front Lacing Cotton Corset By Warner Date: c. 1911 Origin: United States Fabric: Cotton canvas Brand: Warner   In the late nineteenth century, New York physician Dr Lucien Warner gave up his practice to begin a new career lecturing on women’s health issues, including the effects of the corset. In 1873, he designed a corset that provided…
    July 29, 2017
  • Overlocked Floral Jacquard Weave Ribbon Corset, c. 1900, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum. Photo by Tigz Rice

    Overlocked Floral Jacquard Weave Ribbon Corset

    Overlocked Floral Jacquard Weave Ribbon Corset Date:  c. 1900s Origin: Great Britain Fabric: Jacquard weave cotton Brand: Unknown Ribbon corsets began to appear at the turn of the century and offered women a much greater freedom of movement than traditional corset styles. The cut was much less restrictive, constricting only a small portion of the waist…
    July 29, 2017
  • Sweetheart Bustline Cane Boned Cotton Corset, c.1890s, origin unknown. From The Underpinnings Museum collection Photography by Tigz Rice

    Sweetheart Bustline Cane Boned Cotton Corset

    Sweetheart Bustline Cane Boned Cotton Corset Date:  c. 1890s Origin: Unknown Fabric: Cotton coutil Brand: Unknown This corset boasts a relatively unusual cut, with an uncommon sweetheart cut bustline and a pattern based around a horizontal waistband, not disimilar to this garment. The top half of the corset is split into three vertical panels and the bottom…
    July 29, 2017
  • 'Langdon & Batcheller's Genuine Thomson's Glove Fitting' Corset, 'Made of English Netting', c. 1902, USA. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    ‘Langdon Batcheller’s Genuine Thomson’s Glove Fitting’ Corset, ‘Made of English Netting’

    'Langdon Batcheller's Genuine Thomson's Glove Fitting' Corset, 'Made of English Netting' Date:  c. 1902 Origin: United States Fabric: Cotton bobbinet tulle, 'English netting' Brand: Langdon Batcheller's Genuine Thomson's Glove Fitting The incredibly lightweight construction of this corset suggests that it was intended for wear in hot or humid climates. The single layer of 'English net' (a…
    July 29, 2017