The Golden Age Of Lingerie
By ALISON CONNOLLY
Cyd Charisse in Silk Stockings
It’s difficult to pinpoint that one thing that makes vintage lingerie so captivating. So many of us are drawn to it, so many of us (that appreciate lingerie) have Pinterest boards exclusively dedicated to it. Furthermore, there are dozens of contemporary designers who draw inspiration from it, whether blatantly or with subtle retro hints. The scope of “vintage lingerie” reaches as far back as our history, but one of my personal favorite times is what I consider the Golden Age of Lingerie. This is simply my personal assessment of a great era taking place between the late 1940s and the early 1960s. To cover the nuances of each of these decades would make this post quite lengthy, and that’s never my intention; I always want the photos to do the talking. That being said, here is a small selection of personal favorite lingerie images from this Golden Age. Though varying in levels of sweetness, glamour and seduction, each period is delightfully feminine. It’s no wonder so many designers continue to look to this time for inspiration!
Lingerie Shopping 1949 via Life Magazine
Gordon Parks 1958 at the Latin Quarter Club
Louise Boulanger and Elizabeth Montgomery
Bettie Page
Linda Christian in LIFE magazine
Jayne Mansfield & Jane Fonda
Sophia Loren
Brigitte Bardot and a 1956 Jacques Fath Design (via L’Officiel)
Marilyn Monroe
Lauren Bacall in 1943 Bazaar Magazine
Vanity Fair 1953 Mark Shaw Photography
Natalie Wood in 1960 and Vikkie Dougan by Ralph Crane for LIFE magazine
Absolutely gorgeous !!!