Changing Fashion of 1900s Undies

The Blue Pendant, my shortly to be released novel is progressing. It is a long process and I am sounding like a broken record for my regular readers, but it is coming, I promise. For those of you joining my author blog,  The Blue Pendant story begins in 1913 and the first (there is a sequel) story finishes in 1947. The story spans three decades, two continents and two world wars. Anna, the protagonist, a young woman of nineteen embarking on her life’s journey, is seeking independence and adventure, not an easy task for a woman in the early 1900s, although the world is changing, it is not always fast enough for petulant Anna.

Researching historical fiction is fascinating, not only the major events but how society evolved. Pertinent to The Blue Pendant was the period from the Victorian era into the Edwardian era, followed by the Great War.  Amongst other things women’s clothes changed in both style and modesty. It was important for me to understand those changes. In 1913 Anna would not be wearing a mini skirt but skirt hems were getting shorter and showing a little bit of ankle was fashionable. She would have worn a corset of some kind but not as constrictive as her mother’s generation. Brassieres were introduced in 1908 as corsets became smaller but they were not widely worn, Anna’s wardrobe may or may not have included a brassiere but she would definitely have worn a camisole, a chemise and a pair of knickers (also known as bloomers or draws each with their own origin). Knickers came from knickerbockers, originally a loose-fitting garment for the lower body, worn by men often for sports activities. Women adopted the style as an undergarment and shortened the name to knickers. The reason we say a pair of knickers

or panties is because, pre 1900s, the undergarment was a separate pair of legs, open in the middle and joined with some form of tie at the waist. By 1900 knickers were trimmed with lace and made into one garment. In the UK the term knickers is still used to this day and the term panties, a derivative of pants is more commonly used in North America. For more details check out Tim Lambert’s A History of Women’s Underwear 

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Constant Contact, Edwardian, history of ladies undergarments, Victorian