Vintage nightwear: a history
After World War II ended, production and consumerism began to resurface and nightwear was not only given a new life, but a new perspective. Until the war, night gowns, negligees and chemises were not thought of as ‘seductive’ or ‘sexy’ but as classy, hygienic and feminine. One man who changed this concept was French fashion designer Christian Dior. His mission was to make women ‘feel like a duchess’, whether she was rich or poor. He made beautiful long satin gowns with lace trim, exquisite embroidery and tailored to rest lightly on the curves. Dior spoke of his mission to make all women look and feel glamorous, whether out on the town or attiring to her bed.
The Sixties was where real experimentation began. While the Fifties shad seen classic and elegant designs, many of the nightgowns from the Sixties and beyond seem more ‘diva’ than ‘duchess’. Gowns were designed with fur, feathers and matching lingerie in order to offer sexy feminist forms and to seduce men. Pyjamas also began becoming fashionable during this period, embroidered or printed with lovely vintage floral patterns.
Coming by good quality vintage night wear can be tricky. Vintage shops are more in favour of more wearable items, but there are some key places to hunt down quality pieces. Firstly, try The Noir Boudoir where you can find some beautiful pieces ranging in period, style and size. Candy Says stocks some nice Sixties gowns and girdles, or check the back rails of your local vintage store or scour eBay for a possible bargain.
Even if splashing out on nightwear is not your thing, any vintage lover with an imagination can find a way to wear these gowns as dresses, by adding a cardigan and a pretty belt to synch in at the waist. Many designs can easily be adapted from nightwear into pretty daywear. So throw out those t-shirts and invest in your nightwear like a true vintage queen!
Picture credits: myvintagevogue.com
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Category: 1920s and earlier, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, Fashion, Vintage news
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Very interesting article! I think a woman has to have a peignoir. It’s so sexy!
I love vintage style nightwear. It is so true what you say as nowadays we just throw on a comfy pair of stretchy trousers and an old t shirt. Now that doesn’t exactly make you feel sexy, does it??!!
I HAVE A RAYON VINTAGE NITEGOWN. IT HAS A TAG THAT SAYS SHIRLEY RAE BURMIL RAYON FABRIC QUALITY. IT IS CUT ON TH BIAS AND HAS LACE IN TH BODICE. DOES ANYONE KNOW THE VALUE OF THIS NITEGOWN. IT IS IN EXCELLANT CONDITION. THANKS