Asides from the standard ivory, cream, white, and off white, vintage undergarments came in a wide assortment of colors that could almost boggle the mind. Looking through period advertisements, various whites were featured along with various pinks (from subtle to hot to even slight purple shades), peaches, oranges, greens, blacks/greys, yellows, and blues. Slips predominated in a solid color but could be accented in lace of all sorts in cream, white or black. Tap pants could some in the standard solid or else even a stripe. More rare prints include a polka dot or stray floral. Bras were dominantly in solids that could match the slip and tap pant or else not. Tap pants and bras too could be accented with lace in black, white, or off white. Gold lace too was an option based on an examination of originals found on the MET’s online collections.
It is interesting to see the immense variety of color these fanciful and utilitarian undergarments came in. Their variety is even more interesting and important due to the years spent at war. In a time where morale was frequently at risk, a bright set of underpinnings could, like a colorful outer garment, buoy ones spirits. Even during the depression, brightly colored underthings could inspire positivity. With all of that said, I suggest that next time you make a slip, a tap pant, or even a bra, look past the whites, creams, and black and choose a peach, a green, or even a blue. For color is not only fun, but it is period too. Who knew.
