If all you've ever worn is modern lingerie you will be absolutely amazed
and thrilled when you put on your very first piece of vintage nylon lingerie.
The feel of vintage nylon cannot be compared to any other fabric, the
smooth body pleasing feel is unequaled.

In the world of vintage clothing lingerie is the most intimate category and it
is the subject of this article. Today vintage sellers consider clothing through
the 1980's to be vintage, not everyone agrees. We will be talking about lingerie
from the 1950's through the 1970's. If you are lucky you may find fabulous nylon
creations from the 1950's but most of your finds will be from the 1960's and 1970's.

It's possible to find nylon lingerie made today but if you compare the quality of
the fabric and workmanship of the garment to vintage, the superiority of vintage
is unmistakable. We are accustomed to polyester lingerie and some vintage lingerie
from the 1960's and 1970's will be polyester. Many of those items came from large
chain stores who specialized in inexpensive copies of quality lingerie. By now
you can tell I'm not fond of polyester although polyester with a silk finish
does a fairly good job. Silk is not my primary interest in vintage fabric but I
find the feel of vintage silk to be absolutely delicious. Rayon is another
wonderful vintage fabric but today we focus on vintage nylon lingerie. You will
develop favorite vintage fabrics as you familiarize yourself with vintage
lingerie using your sense of touch.

Of course there is more to learning about vintage lingerie than just the delight
of touch. Once you know you want to wear vintage nylon lingerie because of how
it feels you will find lots of other reasons to love these treasures from
another era. You may end up collecting and wearing only lingerie made by a
certain maker from the past. Vanity Fair is one of the most well known but as
you do some research you will find there are hundreds of brands, some were
small companies only in business for a short time. The major labels are most
likely the brands you will encounter. An entire article could be written about
vintage labels so I'll only mention a few you will likey come across. Van Raalte
is a quality label and almost as well known as Vanity Fair. Other labels you
may find are Movie Star, Artemis, Munsingwear, Luxite, Kayser, Gotham Gold Stripe,
Barbizon, Kickernick, Wonder Maid, Mojud, Rovel, Val Mode, Seamprufe and Aristocraft.
This list is by no means complete, it's just the ones I could think of quickly.
The older labels will be embroidered, you can see the threads on the back side
of the label, older Vanity Fair labels are a good example. Just like the brand
names are a subject too long for an article, so too is a description of labels.
The older full slips will have metal adjustor hardware on the straps, newer
full slips will have plastic adjustors. In this instance newer could mean
anywhere from the late 1960s depending on when a company switched to plastic.

A good garment to begin with is either a slip or a gown because these are
readily available. You might want to visit a vintage store so you can
learn to recognize vintage lingerie. The label is a good indicater, the older
the garment the more likely it will not be a printed label where the letters wash
away in time. Speaking of washing, do not ever put vintage lingerie in the
washing machine, never never in the washing machine or the dryer. How to care
for your lingerie deserves an entire article to properly cover the subject. For now
your lingerie will be safe with a quick dip in sudsy water and 2 rinses will
keep your vintage lingerie perfect for many years. Drip drying your lingeri
will make it smooth and ready to wear with no ironing. Hang your slip or gown on
a plastic hanger over the shower head and let it drip dry. Panties or half slips
can be dried on a skirt hanger that has plastic clips, if metal touches
lingerie you run the risk of rust.

Vintage sizes are not all uniform but then neither is the sizing of modern clothing.
For a full slip or nightgown the size usually corresponds to your bra size. If you
wear a size 34 bra you would wear a size 34 full slip or gown. Nylon tricot full
slips and gowns usually have a built in stretch of approximately 2" so fit is fairly
easy. Half slip fit is determined by waist and hip sizes and are sized Small, Medium
or Large, usually if the waist fits the hips will fit. Panties today are still sized
with the same numbers as vintage but you should know your measurements and carry a
cloth tape measure with you when you shop. Most collectibles are just to hang on the wall
or set on a table to be admired. Vintage lingerie can be enjoyed every day and will
last for years since you know how long it's already been around.

By now I hope you are excited enough to want to know where you can find these
marvelous treasures. I would make your first stop a vintage shop and if the
salesperson is knowledgeable and talkative you will be in luck. You should also
check any thrift stores in your area, some will have actual vintage and you may
come across a real find. Searching for vintage lingerie takes some effort but
the time is well spent when you find a great garment. I suggest the physical
shopping to acquaint you with actual garments but you will also want to do
research on the internet. Once you have an idea of quality and condition you
will want to try online stores and of course ebay. You need to be wary of any
garment you cannot physically see and touch. This is why it's vital you start by
going where you can examine actual vintage lingerie. When you buy from a vintage
lingerie website choose a site that has been in business online for several
years. Read the descriptions carefully, a garment that is described as excellent
should not have any flaws. A seller that supplies a lot of information about an
item should be presumed to be knowledgeable. Emailing a seller about a specific
item is a good way to find out more about the item. The sellers answer will give
you an idea of how much you may be valued as a customer.

Many lingerie garments have survived over the years and the information about
vintage lingerie is extensive. I hope this short article piques your interest
and you take the time to appreciate the beauty and quality of vintage lingerie.