Early 20th Century Pink Petticoat

From the seller:

This is a darling pink cotton Edwardian petticoat. Insert lace is set in criss-crossing, diagonal designs, framing graceful, hand embroidered panels. The edges are shaped, also trimmed with lace edging.
There is a ruffle underneath the flounce, with fabric covered buttons all the way around at the top, right underneath what I always thought was a horizontal slot for a ribbon to be threaded through. You can see these in the 3rd pic.
Not sure what would have been attached here, perhaps something that was supposed to be threaded through the slots and held on with the button.
Anyway, it's 26 1/2" at the waist, 32" long.
In good condition. The button is missing in back, there are a couple of brownish spots, a 1/4" L-shaped tear, you should be able to see this in the pic. There is also a tear to the placket that holds the hook and eye, not visible, of course, when the petticoat is buttoned.
There is a 3 1/2" seam separation to the plain section, near the top of the waist. There are a couple of 1" seam separations where the lace is pulling away from the fabric. There is one 3" tear to the fabric, two other, 1/2" holes next to it, along the bottom edge right above the lace ruffle. There are two other half inch stressed areas to the fabric near the hem, a 2" area where there is some lace missing, also along the edge. There is a line of fading to the pink where it looks as if a tuck was taken down.
International bidders please be aware that any VAT, delivery, or customs charges are not part of the item price of my own shipping charges. Please contact your local post or customs office if you have about these charges.

From Me:

This could be either Edwardian or Teen's era. The neat thing about this is it appears that the buttons might have been used to hold a dress in place. Layers were all the rage in the late Edwardian/early teens with the ruffles of the petticoat peaking out beneath the dresses.

1913 Fashion Plate

Although the above are evening gowns, the day dresses weren't that dissimilar in the idea of shorter overdresses with an underskirt peaking out. The buttons could keep the shorter overdress in place without it riding it up.

Early 1920's Pink Lace Brassiere!

From the seller:

Rare flapper era silk and valencienne lace brassiere. Little ribbon rose bud trim. In excellent vintage condition with hook closure. Measures approx. 34" long and 6" wide at the middle front .

From Me:

1920-1921 Catalogue

It's almost exactly like the one in the upper left corner of the catalogue page. I don't think it gets better at matching the item to the date than that!

Late Victorian and Late Edwardian Undergarments!

From the seller:

Slip #1 (left in photo)-Victorian, waist-24", bust-40", skirt-39" long, double lace flounce measures 17" wide, 3-button back with 3 hook and eye, 7 gore skirt adds fullness to skirt without added bulk, the front and sides of skirt are not gathered, back of skirt is softly gathered, bodice is very full at bust with a scoop neckline and shoulder bands would sit lower on the shoulder or upper arm
Slip #2 (right in photo)-Edwardian, empire waist-26", bust-40", hips-44", skirt from empire waist to hem-40" long, flounce measures 14" wide, 3 hook and eye back closure, broderie anglaise lace bodice and flounce, square neckline

From Me:

The one thing I have trouble with is making pretty undergarments for my gowns. This is why I love the second petticoat slip so much! Look, she used the petticoat hemming to make the bodice! And then left over lace for the straps! So easy and yet so lovely.

The Victorian one is very much 1890's (all that lace!). The Edwardian one is late Edwardian going into early Teens era.

Teen's Era Brassiere

From Sarah:

My mother just gave me an old "bra". It may be meant more as a negligee item. Wedding most likely. The lace appears to be all hand work and it's very delicate. If you'd like to include it in your blog, please do. And I can send measures or more photos if you like.

FYI, the band of vertical lace (or whatever it would be called) looks to be a faded light blue but that's just a guess.

From Me:

Hi Sarah! Sarah is one of the poor people that puts up with my constant chatter and ridiculousness at work. As she can attest, I am very good at earworms and will happily publish out to everyone exactly what song I'm either thinking about or listening to to share in the horribleness. :-D

This brassiere is fabulous for a lot of reasons. If it is light blue, that would make a lot of sense for a wedding (the whole something blue). The tatting lace at the top of the brassiere is lovely. The styling is more in line with the Teen's Era - or even late Edwardian because of how the gathers are around the cotton base.

Some other examples from roughly the same time period:
1915-1925 Brassiere at MFA
1915-1925 Brassiere with a print at MFA
1915-1919 At the MET
1915-1920 At the MET
1917 Brassiere

1918 Undies Advertisement

1918 Undies Advertisement

Edwardian Slip

From the seller:

EDWARDIAN PRINCESS SLIP
Label: none

Description:
One piece soft cotton corset cover and petticoat, also known as a princess slip, from the early 1910s
Three rows of ruffles trimmed with lace on the bodice in the front
Large ruffle sewn on to the slip around the bottom with a satin ribbon, pintucks and eyelet flowers
There is a small ruffle on the bottom of the slip
Buttonholes and 2 small buttons in the center back
The ad for princess slips is from a 1911 Macy's catalog
Condition:

Five buttons are missing...only 2 buttons are left at the top
The center back seam has ripped from the end of the opening to the ruffle
Otherwise, in good condition
Measurements:

These measurements are taken flat with a flexible measuring tape...You have to be smaller than the measurements to allow room for ease:

There is no size tag, fits an XXS
Bust: 30 inches
Waist: 24 inches
Hip: 38 inches
Length from shoulder: 48 inches

From Me:

The slip is from the early 1900's, not 1910's as the seller suggests. The biggest glaring reason for that is those bust ruffles - they were meant to help the blouse to puff out in the very popular pigeon breast look of the late 1890's into the Edwardian era. By the 1910's, the pigeon front had long been out of favor and there would be no need for the ruffles.

Fabulous Condition Health Corset

From the seller:

Sehr seltenes Leinen-Mieder um 1900/20 mit Glasknöpfen
Zustand mit Altersspuren. Ungereinigter Fund!
Passend bei Gr. 38/40
Länge: 47 cm (Träger verstellbar)
Breite unter den Armen: 39 cm

Gern beantworten wir Ihre Fragen oder senden weitere Detailfotos.

Google translation:

Very rare linen bodice to 1900/20 with glass knobs
Condition with signs of age. Uncleaned Find!
Modern Size 38/40
Length: 47 cm (adjustable straps)
Width under the arms: 39 cm

We are happy to answer your questions or send more detailed photos.

From Me:

I remember a lady emailing me about this one but I can't find the email. Sorry! It is a lovely example of a health corset and very similar to this one at the V&A museum.

1830's Corset!

From the seller:

I am selling with NO RESERVE an early American corset from the 1830s (this is according to Karen Augusta, owner of Augusta Auction Co., Bellows Falls, Vt, who saw the same photo I have posted here). Augusta is the premier auction house in North America for historic costume, couture and vintage fashion
What makes this corset really special is that it has fancy details on the front and even the signature of the owner -- Eliza Southard
The fancy details consist of two beautiful designs. Each is repeated twice -- side by side, one pattern on top of the other. Each is 5 inches in length. Together, they cover more than half of the corset's length
At its shortest point, the corset is 14-1/2" long. When completely unfolded, the corset is 23" wide
My mother purchased this corset from an antique dealer in New Hampshire approximately 50 years ago. She donated a similar corset to the Brooklyn Museum
I know nothing about clothing or vintage clothing, but am happy to try to answer any and all questions (please see 2 questions from viewers below). And please excuse my very poor photography skills
The corset seems to be in very condition for its ago, with no defects that are visible to an untrained eye (that would be me).

Q: Hi! Can you send the picture with the back of corset und can you please tell me the measurements. Many Thanks, Larissa May-13-16
A: Hi Larissa, Many thanks for your interest and for taking the time to send a question. At its shortest point, the corset is 14-1/2" long When it is completely unfolded, the corset is 23" wide I just added a couple of photos Please let me know if there is anything else you would like My apologies to everyone for doing such a poor job listing this item. I have sold over 10,000 items on ebay in 15+ years, but never an article of clothing. The only reason I am selling this item is that it belonged to my mom Thank you Ken
Q: the 2 breast gores seems to be made of a stiff material. can you add some pictures, like from the back and hanging from a coat hanger? these picture do the corset no justice. thanks, dirk-jan May-13-16
A: Many thanks for your interest and for taking the time to write. I have taken 2 additional photos that I hope will help a bit. Please let me know if there is anything else you would like, and I apologize for my very poor photo skills Ken

From Me:

Thank you to everyone that complained to the seller about the photos. :-)

1830'S

As you can see in the above fashion plate, these are very much 1830's. :-)