Classic Lingerie & Foundations
Instructions: From girdles to pantyhose, test your knowledge of the undergarments that shaped mid-century fashion!
- 1.
What restrictive undergarment, worn by nearly every woman in the 1950s, was designed to flatten the stomach and smooth the hips?
AWaist cincherBBody stockingCGirdleDCorset - 2.
What type of bra, designed to create a dramatic pointed shape, was the standard style in the 1950s?
APadded braBUnderwire braCSports braDBullet bra - 3.
What revolutionary hosiery product, introduced by Glen Raven Mills in 1959, combined panties and stockings into one garment?
AKnee-highsBThigh-highsCPantyhoseDTights - 4.
What accessory was used to hold up women's stockings before pantyhose became popular?
AGarter beltBSuspendersCStocking clipsDElastic bands - 5.
What full-length undergarment, essentially a dress worn under clothing, was standard in women's wardrobes through the 1960s?
AFull slipBPetticoatCChemiseDCamisole - 6.
What DuPont synthetic fabric revolutionized stockings when it was introduced in 1939?
ARayonBPolyesterCNylonDLycra - 7.
What happened to nylon stockings during World War II that created a massive shortage?
AFactories closedBThey were bannedCCotton replaced nylonDNylon was diverted for military use (parachutes) - 8.
What iconic lingerie brand, known for its catalog, was founded in 1977 and became a cultural phenomenon in the 1980s?
AVanity FairBMaidenformCVictoria's SecretDFrederick's of Hollywood - 9.
Which lingerie company ran the famous 'I dreamed I went _____ in my Maidenform bra' advertising campaign?
AMaidenformBPlaytexCBaliDWarner's - 10.
What Playtex product promised women comfort while still providing support, marketed as 'the living bra'?
APlaytex 18-Hour BraBPlaytex Free SpiritCPlaytex Cross Your HeartDPlaytex Living Bra - 11.
What Playtex bra was famous for its tagline 'lifts and separates'?
ACross Your Heart BraBLiving BraCFree Spirit BraD18-Hour Bra - 12.
What feminine protest action at the 1968 Miss America Pageant became a symbol of the women's liberation movement?
AWearing pants on stageBThrowing bras and girdles in a freedom trash canCBoycotting the pageantDMarching with signs - 13.
What was a 'merry widow,' popular in the 1950s?
AA strapless corset-bra combinationBA cocktail dressCA perfumeDA type of hat - 14.
What fabric innovation made 1960s undergarments more comfortable and less rigid than their 1950s counterparts?
ASilk alternativesBLycra/spandexCMicrofiberDCotton blends - 15.
What risque lingerie store, founded in 1947 in Hollywood, was known for its glamorous and provocative designs?
ALa PerlaBAgent ProvocateurCVictoria's SecretDFrederick's of Hollywood
Answer Key
The girdle was considered an essential undergarment in the 1950s. Nearly every woman wore one, and going without was considered improper.
The bullet bra (or torpedo bra) created the distinctive pointed bust silhouette of the 1950s, as seen on stars like Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell.
Pantyhose were introduced in 1959 and became widely popular in the 1960s, gradually replacing stockings and garter belts as the standard leg covering.
Garter belts, worn around the waist with attached clips to hold up stockings, were the standard method of keeping stockings up before pantyhose.
The full slip, a silky garment worn under dresses and skirts, was an essential part of every woman's wardrobe through the 1960s, preventing see-through clothing.
Nylon stockings, introduced by DuPont in 1939, were a sensation. When they first went on sale in 1940, four million pairs sold in just four days.
During WWII, nylon production was diverted to making parachutes and other military supplies, creating severe shortages and even 'nylon riots' when stockings became available.
Victoria's Secret, founded by Roy Raymond in 1977, transformed lingerie shopping from embarrassing to glamorous and became a 1980s cultural phenomenon.
Maidenform's 'I Dreamed' campaign, running from 1949 to 1969, featured women in bras doing adventurous things, becoming one of the longest-running ad campaigns.
The Playtex Living Bra, made of stretch fabric, was marketed as comfortable enough for active lifestyles while still providing shaping support.
Playtex Cross Your Heart bra used the famous 'lifts and separates' tagline in TV commercials that became a well-known pop culture reference.
Feminist protesters at the 1968 Miss America Pageant threw bras, girdles, and other 'instruments of female torture' into a freedom trash can on the Atlantic City boardwalk.
The merry widow was a strapless foundation garment combining a long-line bra with a waist-cinching corset, popular for wearing under formal gowns in the 1950s.
The introduction of Lycra (spandex) in the 1960s revolutionized foundation garments, replacing rigid boning and rubber with comfortable stretch fabrics.
Frederick's of Hollywood, founded by Frederick Mellinger in 1947, was known for its provocative lingerie and is credited with popularizing the push-up bra.