Vintage Must Have: Slip
Now that we’ve discussed bullet bras, girdles, and stockings, there is one more element in creating the perfect vintage foundation to your garments: a slip. I know many ladies who do not wear slips, and I’ll openly admit, I did not start wearing a slip on a regular basis until a few years ago, but now I can hardly image going out without wearing one.
Slips serve several purposes, the most important being protection. Slips serve as a layer to protect garments from perspiration, and reduce the amount of times an garment must be cleaned, therefore furthering the longevity of the item. I also find getting dressed is easier when wearing a slip. Slips create less friction than your skin, thus garments slip or pull on easier, lessening the strain put on garments when dressing. Additionally, slips can create a level of comfortably. A slip can reduce, if not prevent, the itchy discomfort produced by some fabrics, such as wool. Slips also act as a smoothing factor. Bras and girdles can create some bulk, however, slips work to smooth them out. I also like slips when I go out shopping. I like being able to have a plain top or bottom when trying on separates.
For the most part, slips fall into one of two types – full slips and half slips. Full slips are built like a dress.
They are perfect to go under dresses, as well as top and skirt combinations. White slips are lovely and the most practical, but I particularly like colored slips for my vintage sheer blouses that I wear during summer.
Half slips are akin to a skirt, with elastic in the waistband to stay up. These are nice for when you are wearing a top or dress that is strapless or has a unique neckline that would show the slip’s straps.
I recommend purchasing vintage slips for several reasons. First is that vintage slips are of significantly better quality. Not to mention, they were made under better labor conditions. Additionally, vintage slips are simply designed better. All of the vintage slips I have come across are cut with shape in mind, and have curves, unlike contemporary slips, which are cut straight, creating more bulk, and tend to get stuck in zippers.
Vintage slips can be found nearly anywhere and everywhere. From thrift stores to high-end vintage shops, such as AlexSandra’s. She has a great selection of vintage slips in a range of sizes in both her regular shop and her bridal shop.
For more on vintage foundations…
Vintage Must Have: Bullet Bra
Vintage Must Have: Girdle
Vintage Must Have: Seamed Stockings
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Yes! Finally a must have that I already have! I don’t know how I lived before discovering slips. Everything wears better and it’s a must have for all those sheer 50s dresses
Such a must have! I adore my vintage slips and I even have a lovely silk modern one that I couldn’t live without.
It always pains me when I see someone wearing a semi-sheer vintage dress and no slip.
I always feel like I should be wearing slips, but I’m never sure how to go about it. A lot of slips have edging or embellishment of some sort… doesn’t it show through or leave bumps with clingy fabrics?
I have only had one case where a slip did not work in my favor, which was with a new, stretchy, sweater, and the bust area on the slip had some embroidered flowers which did create some small bumps, however, I swapped it out for a simpler slip. But otherwise, the embellishments have not caused any trouble.
I often wear a full slip even under a skirt and blouse. While I have had terrible luck in general thrifting in recent years, the one thing I can usually manage to find is good vintage slips that just keep going and going! Though it’s so hot here right now, I’m desperately in need of an all-cotton one. I know I used to have one.. I’m sure it was purged during a fit of dumb at some point in time. 😛
Such a lovely post (and pair of slips – I adore the pink one!). Though I’ve sometimes not had the best of luck in finding ones (vintage or modern) that fit (I almost never buy slips online for this reason any more – even when the listings stated my measurements, most of the ones I bought online ended up being too big, as I have narrow shoulders and am not overly full in the bust), those that do are in massively heavy rotation in my wardrobe to the point where I won’t wear any one too often, least I wear it out any sooner than it simply must.
♥ Jessica
I totally agree and am on the hunt for a full slip (in powder pink) this weekend! I’ve found a few, along the way, but they never have fit so I was forced to buy one at a store like JC Penny and it itched and was pretty yuck looking. Here’s to having luck this weekend!
Thank you for the post!
Nice article, written over 9 years ago but every word is sound advice and even more relevant as I write this in 2021 because slips are currently experiencing a bit of a revival in interest!
Definitely go for vintage slips and go for the highest quality you can find. The Americans are alone in the world as being the only place to ever set minimum manufacturing standards for slips, making US-made slips amongst the very best in the world. Better to blow your savings on one or two awesome slips than buy a heap of ill fitting cheaper ones!
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