I'm sort of a fan of the slip, Fashionable Reader. I'll often wear them under my vintage items and they serve double duty on the road as night gowns. Here is a bit of a retrospective on the lowly slip...
![]() |
| Chemise 1876 The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
Early on, very early, a full coverage long shirt like this could be called a petticoat (yes, see the source of the word? petti _coat_ ?), underskirt (even if it had a top part over torso), undershirt, chemise or shift. Although as language progressed the chemise meant a finer fabric with lace or embroidery, usually worn under a corset, while shift mean simpler without decoration favored by young girls and peasants.
![]() |
| Slip 1900-1908 The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
![]() |
| Petticoat 1909-1911 The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
![]() |
| Underskirt 1910s The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
![]() |
| Chemise 1920s The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
![]() |
| Chemise 1925 The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
![]() |
| Half Slip 1930-1935 The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
![]() |
| Slip 1940-1959 The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
![]() |
| Gail's Favorite 1950s Slip |
Retro Rack is also on
facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.
