Enchanting Vintage Lingerie Photography: 1900-1918

by Shirley Freeman

After the turn of the twentieth century, lingerie photographers created ‘photographic art’ with their models and showcased details of the undergarments for images that were used primarily in publications. Unlike sketches, fashion designers valued the medium for reproducing the subject’s exact details and the artistic mood with lighting. Sometimes the photos were simply wonderful ‘boudoir photography’ for the subject’s pleasure.

1900 – 1918 vintage lingerie photography

Sensuous photo of a woman in decorative ‘armor-undergarment’ circa 1900 

Saucy photo of a model wearing a victorian corset and lace ~ MAT J.A. Paris 1900.

Flirty French lingerie fashion 1908 – Susan Ives

Bathing beauty – photographer unknown, circa 1915

Vintage photo of Vogue Lingerie 1918 – Charles Gate Sheldon

In Part II, the lingerie photographical artistry of the 1920s-1930s will be explored.