How to Buy Vintage Teddy Lingerie

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

Wondering how to buy vintage teddy lingerie? We have you covered! Learn the history and what to look for in this versatile garment.

Teddy lingerie is probably the cool girl of the metaphorical lingerie school cafeteria. We know it, you know it. One Etsy search yields countless flirty high-cut numbers from the 1980s or seductively floral pieces from the 1970s. 

And this is just a taste of the timeless slip. The teddy is one of the most versatile pieces of lingerie on the market, and the vintage market, in particular, is thriving. 

While the teddy’s on the vintage market might be plentiful, they are all unique. Vintage lingerie is almost supernatural in its ability to give us insight into the style, fashion, and economy through the eras. 

So, are you a true cool girl? We thought so. If you’re looking for a hot, one-of-a-kind piece to wear with a killer pair of dress pants on a night out or for a quiet night in with Netflix, your partner, and a tumbler of Stoli – keep reading. This article will discuss the teddy’s origin story as well as provide a mini buyer’s guide on how to buy vintage teddy lingerie.

Teddy Lingerie: An Outline

All About The Teddy:

A teddy garment is a unibody piece of lingerie. It functions as well as looks like a bodysuit and doesn’t really stray from this concept. 

A bodysuit, however, is usually opaque and used for outerwear, dancing, or other sports activities. Teddy lingerie is usually quite sheer, delicate, and sexy. It’s usually manufactured in fabrics such as lace (usually used as panelling or trim), silk, or satin. They may have a built-in bustier or corset and feature a revealing neckline, halter neckline, or open back.

They also feature nearly every style of panty cut, from thong to cheeky to a full back. 

A History: 

Far from being ancient yet still older than your great-grandmother, the teddy originated in the early 1900s as a marriage of the classic camisole and a pair of panties, or knickers. The resulting garment was nicknamed ‘camiknicker’ and ‘envelope chemise.’ 

Lingerie designer Theodore Baer brought the name ‘teddy’ as an homage to himself, no doubt. He ran with the idea of the camiknicker and combined a chemise with panties for those who wanted a functional and full coverage piece of underwear. 

Ideal for working women, it was meant to be a convenient, functional, and modest undergarment meant to be worn under a short dress rather as opposed to a nouveau sexy frock exclusively for the bedroom – although it was still used as a piece of lingerie in some cases. 

Teddys were a convenient answer to the need for functional undergarments during the Second World War. Women who served in the military required underwear that could be worn with trousers, and so voila. 

After the war, the teddy was lost in the pages of history until the 1960s when it was introduced in the beginning stages of the form recognized today. It was constructed as a bra/slip combination which was meant to be a more convenient alternative than the fussy half-slip of the time. 

Vintage Teddy – A Buying Guide

Where To Shop?

Marketplace platforms like Etsy, eBay, or other consignment sites are ideal for vintage teddies. 

Etsy would be our first choice for the purchase of specialized lingerie. The website has specific requirements of its sellers, namely that listed goods must be handmade, vintage, or craft supply. Vintage, in Etsy’s terms and conditions, means an item that is more than 20 years old. That’s 2001 in case you millennials needed another reason to shed a little tear!

Etsy also requires its sellers to follow their Seller Service Level Standards. These standards are in place to make sure that sellers meet certain criteria and that exemplary customer service is provided with each sale. The Seller Service Level Standards require prompt seller/buyer communication, strict shipping and processing times, and have implemented a case management system that handles disputes. 

What To Look For In Potential Sellers:

Note: Some sellers may use terminologies such as NOS (New Old Stock) or Deadstock. This just means the garment has not been worn and may still have tags attached. 

The layout of an ad on Etsy is important. The description of the garment you’re after should be detailed, inclusive of measurements, and easy to read. 

The ad should outline the condition the garment is in and indicate if it’s wearable. This includes whether it’s had repairs that might alter the integrity of the original fabric. 

Be sure to check out your potential seller’s profile and read any relevant information provided like FAQs, store policies, shipping location, and whether or not they offer returns. 

Most importantly: read the reviews and check out the seller’s star rating. If their rating is less than four and they have a few iffy reviews – move onto.

Garment Condition: 

Teddy’s are delicate, and many you find on Etsy will be at least 20 years old. It’s important to take this information with a grain of salt and recognize that your piece – even if Deadstock – will likely not be in the same condition that a brand new piece would be.

Take note of your own measurements and be sure to compare them to the teddy you’re eyeing. Older garments often will not have as much elasticity as modern teddys or pieces of lingerie, so it’s important to even be a little generous with sizing if you’re looking to wear the piece semi-regularly. 

And finally, a good seller will attempt to clean your garment by either hand-washing or steam cleaning. Hygiene is very important when purchasing vintage lingerie. 

Happy shopping!