"Keep Your Pants on Honey Until I Come Home:" The Kitschy Allure of Embroidered WWII Lingerie
Remake of a WWII-era lingerie set, by Retrograde
Glamorizing times of war always rubs me the wrong way; there's nothing nostalgia-inducing about state-sanctioned murder and military occupation. But some remnants of these bygone eras are so charming, it's worth looking past the sordid history to admire them for a moment. One example: these WWII-era satin lingerie sets.
They've caught my eye for years, and I'm seeing them pop up more and more frequently online. Sold in the 1940s as a war-time souvenir, they were available in many colors with various cheeky phrases and symbols embroidered or printed over the bust and bottoms.
Soldiers would buy these Asian-manufactured satin rayon sets while stationed overseas, and send them home to their sweethearts as a reminder of their...affection, I guess?
1940s souvenir lingerie set, via Etsy
To be honest, I'm not sure how tounge-in-cheek these little gifts were supposed to be. Thankfully, the cultural idea of a man having a sort of "ownership" over his wife have dissipated a bit since World War II, but maybe the antiquated intentions behind these sets is what makes them even more appealing today.
With panties emblazoned with phrases like "Off Limits" and soft bras that proclaim one breast to be "Sweet" and one to be "Sour," how can you not laugh a little? They're my favorite combination of lingerie aesthetics: cheeky kitsch and vintage sex appeal.
1940s souvenir lingerie set, via Etsy
And aside from that, it's easy to see why these sets are so appealing to vintage collectors and lingerie lovers today. Bralettes and high-waisted panties are two very in-demand styles for the lingerie industry right now.
Combine those garments with the popularity of matching two-piece ensembles and kitschy graphic embellishments in the fashion industry as a whole, and you have a lounge set that's the perfect distillation of a myriad of trends.
This one has a "locked" zipper along the gusset! 1940s souvenir lingerie set, via Dressing Vintage
The original sets sell on Etsy and Ebay for upwards of $300, and are often framed or otherwise preserved by vintage collectors. Fortunately, vintage dealer Retrograde USA has started selling custom-made reproductions, for the lingerie enthusiast who would like to wear her dainties rather than simply gaze upon them.
Modern remakes of WWII-era lingerie sets, by Retrograde
Available in a range of colors from baby pink to deep merlot to apple green, the sets are embellished with embroidery that either mimics the original garments, or has been updated for the modern shopper. I'm dying to get a set for those hot summer afternoons where all you want to do is lounge in front of an oscillating fan, read fluffy magazines, and sip cold drinks in as little clothing as possible.
Modern remake of a WWII-era lingerie set, by Retrograde
Lingerie lovers aren't the only ones taking notice of these cute sets. Retrograde USA's reproductions were featured in a film by Petra Collins for the Tate Museum's Georgia O'Keeffe retrospective. An antiquated war-time souvenir for wives featured in a young female photographer's film inspired by an artist who is considered one of the pioneers of feminist art... it's all so perfect.
What do you think of these vintage lingerie sets? Would you wear this style?
