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A classic essential to the modern wardrobe
Vintage silk slips are timeless. Elegant cuts suitable for all body types and decorated with dainty lace features are just some of the reasons vintage silk slips have stood the test of time.
1920s- 1930s
In an era where rayon and texture were all the rage, silk slips were the call to comfort every lady craved. Practical for sleeping and an integral part of underwear beneath a dress, silk slits have been around for a long time. But the 20s and 30s set the tone for how slips would be designed for decades to come.
Barely there but boldly vintage, this 1920’s silk slip is ultra-light and features signature details of its era. The two straps and bust are crocheted mesh with embroidered flower-like patterns. A nude, silk ribbon is woven throughout the trim and the ribbon meets in the center of the chest and is tied in a loose bow. The barely-there soft pink of the slip has slightly faded and appears more like light ivory. The slip falls a few inches below the knees and is finished with a cotton mesh trim.
This 1930’s handmade silk and mesh slip dress is suitable for a classy night in. Sheer from chest to waist, there is an A-line division from the waist to hem creating a contrast between ultra-fine and thicker fabric. The cut of the vintage silk slip elongates the torso making you look leaner and taller. Thin spaghetti straps lay gently on the shoulders and meet at a feminine v-cut neckline with delicate mesh trim. Featured in an opaque pink color like many slips in the 30s.
Straight from a 1930s fantasy comes this Vintage Silk Lace Slip Dress. Featuring a lace collar and open button bodice, this off-white nightgown reflects European nightwear that made its way west. And we’re so glad it did.
1940s
1940s lingerie became a little more chic than its predecessors. When women were done cinching, tightening, and squeezing into their lingerie, they’d top everything off with a flowing silk slip to eliminate lines and shimmy effortlessly into an evening gown. But even without all the to-do, a 1940s silk slip was stylish enough to stand alone.
This glamorous Ivory Vintage Silk Slip is telling of the times. From top to bottom, this slip drips in everything we love about vintage slips. A bold, lace design sweeps along a square neckline into a ruched bust and short-sleeves that are finished with lace detail. A bias-cut sweeps down to the floor and finishes with lengthy lace trim.
But if it’s drama you seek in from a vintage silk slip, this exquisite number is serving it all. Romantic and whimsical, this 1940’s Helen Stuart vintage silk slip dress is a magical time capsule. The gown is a soft peachy pink with an A-line, nude lace embroidery on the chest and sleeves. The shoulders flare out, slightly adding length and drama to an otherwise flowy fit. This vintage art deco piece hugs the waist and opens up toward the bottom creating an hourglass shape. The silk slip falls in wide pleats for a fairytale finish.
For something simpler and shorter, this buttercream 1940’s silk slip is a practical and posh throwback. Decorated with a nudish pink lace trimming, the cut and detail highlight the bosom and show off your neck and shoulders. The straps are thin but substantial and the body features a long slit down the right thigh.
1950s-1960s
Teeny boppers had their poodle skirts and athletes had their lettermen jackets but housewives played a definitive role in the 50s and 60s lingerie trends that we still love and adore.
We’re sneaking a little nylon in this list because it was the material of choice for vintage slips in the ’50s. Here is a yellow 1950’s slip with a lace bust and trim. Not as slippery and shiny as silk but came in a variety of colors. Yellow, pinks, blues, and teals were popular lingerie colors in this definitive era.
As the colors got brighter, the sixties fully embraced the psychedelic scene with this Mint Green Mini Silk Slip Dress. A stylish Mod vintage lingerie piece, the jaw-dropping hemline was considered an innovative style in its time.
Shapeless and buttery soft, this 1950s-1960s silk slip is a trending piece that’s being repurposed as a nightdress and layered with modern accessories. Pair with a fat belt, leather jacket, and boots for a punk-grunge take on vintage lingerie.
1970s-1990s
The next few decades toned down and replayed the classics by keeping the design, pattern, and shape of slips to a clean minimum.
This 1970s Sheer Silk Slip was common nightwear and underwear. Completely see-through this vintage slip celebrates the body. All the slip is light, sheer, and nude except for a surprising little token. In the center of the chest is a black and beige flower. The minimalist within just shed a happy tear.
This 1980’s half slip is very true to 20s lingerie. We love when vintage goes vintage. This sweet cream little number has an elastic waist and features a white lace trim with a small slit in the front. When the ’80s go 20s continue with this Black Vintage Crushed Silk Slip. A stark contrast from the often pale and sheer slips of its time. Just ahead of its time, black easily was the color of the 90s.
But if it wasn’t black, it was blue. Here we have a baby blue 90s mini silk slip with white lace. This little number is lightweight and with a rare pale blue shade of silk. There is a flirty bow in the center of the chest just above a small peak-a-book detail.
When they didn’t have your color, you made it work in the 90s. This long, dyed Teal 1990s Vintage Silk Slip is a colorful take on a classic. Open back and falling mid-calk, this vintage silk slip looks like it came straight from Clueless or She’s All That.
Whether your dreamy vintage silk slip was featured on the cover of a romance novel or 90s rom-com, this classic piece of lingerie continues to grace women’s wardrobes inside and out of the boudoir.
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