Cat's Meow Doll: Victorian and Edwardian Lingerie, Turn of the Century

Lingerie, circa late 1800's to 1909.

A lingerie trousseau of that era would include; stockings, garters, bloomers or pantalets, chemise and/or camisole, corset, petticoat(s), bodice, brassiere, corset cover, and/or camisole, underskirt(s), lingerie pins, dressing jacket and/or gown, and nightgown.

1906 - 1910

Above I have mentioned the garments in proper order of dressing, up to the lingerie pins. Here below, in no specific order, are some amazing late Victorian to Edwardian lingerie pieces I have found.

bust bodice, c. 1905

I love the pretty fabrics used for lingerie of the later Victorian and Edwardian eras, like satin, lace, linen, and silk. Even though 1900's Turn of the Century undergarments were not meant to be seen publicly, or talked about at all, there was still a great attention to detail in the production of the lingerie of that time.

Madame Lemay silk damask corset, circa 1901

linen and silk lingerie, c. 1890 - 1900

petticoat, c. 1900's

stockings, c. 1900's


garters, c. late 1800's

There were lots of layers! Garments were worn under and over the corset, and the camisole was sometimes referred to as a corset cover or vise versa. Stockings were held up by garters, garter belts were not yet introduced, but sometimes garter snaps were attached to the corset. There was also a small lived fad for sleeve supports in the 1890's, please see image below.

sleeve support, c. 1890's

lingerie pin, c. 1900

lingerie pin, c. 1900

"As woman's fashions changed in the nineteenth century, and a woman showed more and more of her shoulders to an adoring public, the need arose for a way to hide all the thin straps of lingerie and other underclothing. A quite inventive conceit of this period were lingerie pins...often with an embedded pearl or small gemstones...They were sometimes worn on top of the outer garment, or underneath the dress to keep the lingerie from "peeking out."

-Jewelrymaking Through History: An Encyclopedia