Slips descended from the chemise, originally a Victorian undergarment made of muslin and designed to protect a corset from sweat and body oils. When corsets and petticoats were abandoned in favor of streamlined flapper fashion in the 1920s, the chemise or full slip, often made of silk, remained as an undergarment that could be worn for modesty under sheer, tubular dresses.

Starting in the 1920s, the development of elasticized fabric and other new plastics led to easily laundered girdles taking the place of corsets, so full slips were then worn outside the girdle and beneath a dress. A slip served the function of hiding the boning of the girdle and the lines it created on the body. Since slips in the 1920s and ’30s were often made to go with sheer special-occasion dresses, they were frequently beaded, appliqued, or embroidered.

But the most stunning vintage slips didn’t arrive until the invention of nylon, which introduced as stockings at the 1939 World’s Fair. During World War II, nylon became an important material for ropes and parachutes, so slips were largely made of rayon until 1945. It wasn’t until after the war that nylon was employed as both a sheer chiffon and opaque material for slips. This gave manufacturers a new creative freedom to make durable, washable slips in a wide array of colors...

Then, in 1947, Christian Dior introduced the New Look in women’s fashion, designed to emphasize femininity through big skirts and the appearance of an hourglass figure with full breasts and wasp waist. Slips started to have separate cups and the frilliest, girliest adornment you can imagine—lace, crystal pleating, embroidery, applique, and rosettes. Slip hems, often used as a subtle way to hint at sexuality, were particularly elaborate.

Hence, the period between 1947 and 1963 is considered the Golden Age of Slips, with beautiful pieces being produced by Van Raalte, Vanity Fair, Warner’s, Maidenform, Kayser, Vassarette, Renée of Hollywood, and Lucie Ann. In the 1960s, the fast fashion of Mod revived the slender flapper silhouette, while hippie culture rejected binding undergarments like bras and girdles.

Around the same time, designers like Mary Quant and Liz Claiborne focused on women’s-wear separates—blouses, skirts, and pants—for the mainstream. This change made full slips largely impractical, and so lingerie companies began to produce half slips and camisoles, which could also be worn with a shirt and pants.

Lingerie production started to move overseas around the same time, so clothing companies began to look for ways to reduce costs. Slip sizing changed from the bust measurement (like 32 or 34) to S, M, and L—and lacy hems were designed to be trimmed to suit a woman’s height.

Now, most clothing manufacturers produce items with built-in linings, negating the need for slip. Nonetheless, slips have been continually produced through the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s, and up until now. They were particularly popular in the 1980s and 1990s, when rock stars like Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and Courtney Love popularized the trend for wearing lingerie as outerwear.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Interviews & Articles

Sexier Than Silk: The Irresistible Allure of the Nylon Slip

When I’m in a vintage shop or thrift store digging through racks and racks of clothing, a slip will always stop me. First, I feel … [more]

Dress Hound Cherie Federau Explains How She Makes Vintage Work for Her

I’ve pretty much always been a little bit fashion-nutty, ever since I was about 16 years old and I discovered Vogue. I started lik… [more]

Good Girls and Bad Boys: How to Achieve That Cool '50s Rockabilly Look

Jayne Mansfield is buried in my hometown. You could drive past the cemetery and see her heart-shaped headstone from the road. We h… [more]

Leading the Charge Against Casual Style, Armed With Antique Clothes and a Bike

Tziporah Salamon is used to being photographed—by everyone from New York City tourists to famous "New York Times" street-fashion p… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

MyVintageVogue

MyVintageVogue

The history of 20th-century women’s fashion largely played out in the pages of magazines such as “Harper’s Ba… [read review or visit site]

Fashion Columbia Study Collection

Fashion Columbia Study Collection

The Fashion Columbia Study Collection (FCSC) is the digital home of the Columbia College Chicago’s fashion archiv… [read review or visit site]

1960s Fashion and Textiles

1960s Fashion and Textiles

Put on your go-go boots and check out this wavy, groovy tribute to 1960s fashion and textiles, courtesy of the Vict… [read review or visit site]

Vintage Fashion Guild

Vintage Fashion Guild

While primarily designed to steer buyers to online vintage clothing shops, this blog is chock full of interesting, … [read review or visit site]

Fashion-Era

Fashion-Era

Bursting at the seams with content, this site contains hundreds of pages of fashion and costume history, including … [read review or visit site]

The Antique Corset Gallery

The Antique Corset Gallery

Take a deep breath, and check out this sparse, simple, and beautifully designed site showcasing 250 years of corset… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: Womens Clothing

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 229 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Vtg Satin Bra Area Nylon Lace Lingerie Slip Long Caftan Robe Nightgown 1x 3x 6xVtg Lingerie Nylon Lace Satin Nightgown Negligee Long Sweep Peignoir Robe 3x 4xVtg Lingerie Nylon Lace Bra Area Satin Slip Negligee Long Sweep Nightgown 2x 3xBeautiful Antique Vtg French Edwardian Valenciennes Lace Batiste Slip PetticoatVtg Miss Elaine Nightgown Lingerie Negligee Baby Blue Chiffon 300" Sweep M-1xVtg Lingerie Nylon Lace Slip Nightgown Negligee Long Sweep Peignoir Robe 5x 6xVtg Lingerie Nylon Lace Bra Area Slip Negligee Long Sweep Nightgown Sz Xxxxxl 5xVintage 1970s Pauline Trigere Dress Flowing Batik Floral Print Gauze + Nude SlipVtg Lingerie Nylon Lace Satin Bra Area Negligee Slip Long Sweep Nightgown Sz 3xVtg Lingerie Nylon Lace Bra Area Satin Slip Negligee Long Sweep Nightgown L 1xVtg Lot 5 Fancy Nylon Empire Design Nightgown Negligee Gowns Lingerie Chiffon Ml2 Xl Tall Sheer Lacy White Vtg Sweeping Lingerie Chiffon Slip Negligee NightgownVtg Lingerie Nylon Lace Bra Area Satin Slip Negligee Long Sweep Nightgown 1x 2xVtg Lingerie Nylon Lace Bra Area Negligee Slip Long Sweep Nightgown Sz Xxl 2x 3xVtg Spandex Olga Black Peignoir Nightgown Gown Robe Negligee Set Sz LVtg 1930s Art Deco Sher N Black Chiffon Slip Dress With Pink Floral AppliquVintage Free People Cream Tiered Slip Dress Flew Out Of Stores! Fun To Layer! LgVintage 1930s Handmade Long Christening/baptismal Gown/dress With Slip For BabyVtg Spandex Olga Ivory Peignoir Nightgown Gown Robe Negligee Set Sz LVtg Lingerie Soft Nylon Lace Bra Area Negligee Slip Long Sweep Nightgown Sz 5xVtg Spandex Olga Red Peignoir Nightgown Gown Robe Negligee Set Sz LVtg Lingerie Nylon Lace Bra Area Satin Slip Negligee Long Sweep Nightgown 2x 3xL Long Lacy Sweeping Vintage Slip Chiffon Negligee Lingerie Night GownVintage 1920s Art Deco Navy Blue Silk Smocked Pleated Lace Drop Waist Slip Dress4 Xl White Sweeping Vtg Slip Chiffon Negligee Babydoll Lingerie Night GownVtg Half Slip Van Raalte Opaquelon Nylon Size M - Pleated Black Lace TrimVtg Green Wine Dip Dyed Floral Lace Cosmic Empire Goddess Slip Maxi Dress S/mXxxxl Black Sweeping Vintage Slip Chiffon Negligee Babydoll Lingerie Night Gown3 Xl Sweeping Lacy Golden Vintage Slip Chiffon Negligee Lingerie Night GownL Long Lime Green Sweeping Vintage Slip Chiffon Negligee Lingerie Night GownVtg Lot 8 Pc Nylon Slips Slip Lingerie Red Black Ivory 36 Inc Nancy King Nwt +Silky Vtg Liquid Satin NGlamorous 2 Xl Sweeping Lacy Vintage Slip Chiffon Negligee Lingerie Night GownVtg Lingerie Nylon Lace Bra Area Slip Negligee Long Sweep Nightgown Sz 3x XxxlXl 42 44 Lacy Vintage Black Full Bra Slip Lingerie Petticoat LorraineL Long Silk Satin Blue Vtg Lingerie Nightgown Slip Negligee Victoria SecretVintage 80s Nib Mens 6.5 W 8.5 Vans Logo Box White Slip On Sneakers Nos Skate Vtg Lingerie Nylon Lace Bra Area Accordion Long Slip Negligee Nightgown Sz Xl 1xVintage Val Mode White Nylon Lace Long Half Slip Side Slit Large 39" LongBeyond Vintage Gold Feather Embellished Slip Dress Coral Size Xs Orig $310Vintage Disco Era Gucci Black Silk Straight Slip Skirt With Logo Waistband Sz 8Vintage Style 110"sweep Lacy Petticoat/slip---waist 32-38"Vtg Lingerie Soft Nylon Lace Bra Area Slip Negligee Long Sweep Nightgown 5x 6xVtg Lingerie Soft Nylon Lace Bra Area Accordion Long Slip Negligee Nightgown M LSz 40 Bust Vintage Wondermaid White Full Slip Nylon Lace Union Label Made In UsaVtg Van Raalte Long Nylon Nightgown Slip 38 Pink Usa Overlay Bra Embroidery MidiVtg Spandex Olga Green Nightgown Gown Negligee Sz LVintage 40's 50's Peach & Ecru Deep French Chantilly Lace Full Slip Size 44 46Vtg Lingerie Nylon Lace Bra Area Negligee Slip Long Sweep Nightgown Sz Xxxxl 4xVintage Edwardian Wwi Cotton Nightgown Slip Dress Embroidered Cut Out Xl Bust 46Vtg 50s Double Nylon Chiffon & Lace Sissy Maid Baby Doll Negligee & Panties SetVtg Lingerie Silky Satin Bra Area Slip Nightgown Negligee Robe Size M L Xl 1xVintage Shadowline Ivory & Lace Robe & Nightgown Set Peignoir Negligee Sz L1940s Old Stock Vintage Mint Green Rayon & Lace Dress Slip1930s 40s Vintage Peach Color Lace Detailed Dress SlipVtg Silky Satin Bra Area Lingerie Slip Babydoll Negligee Nightgown Size Medium MVintage Warners Nude Brown Ivory Lace Underwire Bra 36c Hem Adj Strap Full SlipVintage Olga Beautiful Black Silky Nightgown/negligee/gown Sz S #91140L Xl Long Shiny Blue Liquid Satin Vintage Lingerie Slip Robe / PeignoirVtg 70s Mauve Sleeveless Lace Illusion Wedding Cocktail Party Dress W/ Slip 42"