Lingerie Was A Revolutionary Idea. It Still Is.
By Erica and Karen
How do you feel about lingerie? We wear it but seldom think about it. We decided to educate ourselves.
First, what is lingerie and where did it come from? Lingerie encompasses underwear and nightclothes. It is a word of French origin that refers to linen, fabric used for scandalous women’s undergarments when they were invented, only a little more than one hundred years ago. How was it scandalous? Lingerie did not constrict like corsets did. Women’s bodies could move and breathe. Revolutionary indeed.
Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon, an English fashion designer working at the turn of the twentieth century, was a key player in creating and branding lingerie. She had a storied life, including surviving the sinking of the Titanic. She began dressmaking to support herself and her family. We lawyers know her name because every first year law student has to read a decision by then Judge Benjamin Cardozo in which she was the losing defendant.
Lady Duff-Gordon was a marketing genius. She established a global brand, Lucille, Ltd., which, remarkably, lives on. The brand became famous, introducing catwalk fashion shows as well as undergarments and sleepwear that were sheer and flowing. While she liberated women from corsets, she started a trend that has encompassed the wearing of corset-like garments today, but on the outside, as Madonna or Lady Gaga do.
Enough of history. What do we like?
We used to love Fernando Sanchez robes and nightgowns. Beautiful jewel tones, silky fabric that was machine washable, elegant shapes--apparently not meant to be limited to bedtime. Sadly, they are no longer made, and we have found no comparable brand. (If you have, do let us know.)
We still sleep mostly in nightgowns, but when we do we wear PJs we like Eberjay. Soft and comfortable. Or Natori, which is more flamboyant. (If you can’t be flamboyant in your sleepwear, when can you be?) We remember fondly Nick and Nora pjs, too. But we fear none of these would bring a smile to the face of Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon.
Then there are bras. The term brassiere, also French, was apparently first used in 1880, and meant a woman's undergarment to cover and support the breasts. Bras are complex creations, as an engineering matter. Remember those pointy bullet bras? Women wore them when we were in training bras. (As one of our fabulous contributors has pointed out, we are still not sure what we were training for.) Etsy still has them if you are feeling nostalgic!
Bras are also complex as a cultural matter. Remember when we burned them? And remember when Brandi Chastain controversially showed off her sports bra?
One of us still wears bras. She likes colorful ones, at least in summer. Lockdown gave the other a pass, but on occasion she might wear a bralette. (What a word.) Lively is comfortable. So is Eberjay.
Neither of us is into having the straps show, or indeed having the whole thing show. The only way we might let the whole thing show Is by wearing a bustier. Is a bustier lingerie? We think Madonna, and Lady Gaga, would say yes. So might Lucy.
Back in the good old days when people mingled at elegant events, we fantasized about wearing a bustier to show how bold we were. We remember seeing several, by some gifted designer, probably Gaultier, that looked like liquid poured over the body. We never did wear one, but if we ever get back to social life, maybe we will have a look at these. A bustier made from antique fabric depicting a woman donning a corset--that would be fun!
Then there are panties. What a dreadful word. Granny panty is even worse. (We just saw a nasty reference in Bridget Jones’ Diary, which came out in 2001. Even the Macmillan Dictionary noticed. The term is still in use today by people who should know better.) We wear briefs from Wacoal or Vanity Fair, or glam ones from Natori.
So that’s our lingerie story. We enjoyed the unexpected meeting with Lucy.
What are your favorites?