As we all know, petticoats were a big thing in the 1950s. Large, puffy skirts had to be supported by various methods of pooferry, pufftasmicness, and even occasional hoop-lah.
Here are some various kinds of 50s petticoats, from Vixen Vintage:
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| Vixen Vintage (click image to go forth) |
Vixen Vintage did a whole post on the appropriate use of various kinds of petticoats. Very informative – you can read it here.
Petticoats came in all different colors and fullnesses. You could make your own if you didn’t mind hundreds of yards of tulle and net, just follow this handy vintage TV Guide article:
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| Via |
Shapes varied from being narrow and snug at the waist, to the more bell-shape petticoats. Gay ballooning bouffants, anyone?:
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| Via |
Here’s an image showing several structures. Quite interesting! One looks more like an 18th c. pannier, and I believe those are hip pads in the back ….
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| Via |
Here’s another fun example of a hoop structure. I want one of these!:
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| Via Vixen Vintage |
Big floofers are available today for varying price points. You can get a basic, workable petticoat from your average Halloween shop ($20), and often eBay will provide a good selection ($30-$40). There are vintage petticoats to be found on Etsy ($30-$60), or you can have higher-end petticoats made by a shop like Doris Petticoats, UK ($100).
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| Vintage petticoat via RecollectionClothing on Etsy |
8 Comments
Solanah
December 29, 2011 at 7:57 PMOh thank you for featuring my petticoats! I just recently got a hoop skirt (not as cute as the polka dot one though). Have yet to wear it though, I'm afraid when I sit down it'll fly up!
Thanks again 🙂
xoxo
Solanah
Tom
February 6, 2022 at 9:11 AMLauren, very interesting
Tom,
Laurence
December 29, 2011 at 8:00 PMPetticoats are definitively what makes me want to wear vintage and look like a 50's girl!!!!
http://lostin1950.blogspot.com/
Olympe de la Tour D'Auvergne
December 29, 2011 at 9:43 PMSweetheart Slips also has some 1950s styles. I've never ordered from them personally, but they're one of the go-to suppliers for a lot of costume shops.
The Lady Ship
December 30, 2011 at 12:38 PMSo pretty!
My mother always told me how she hated her petticoat, she was the only girl in class who had one. And she walked embarrassed, always close to a wall or a building, pressing the skirt against it so it would not stand out. Oh well…:D
Anonymous
December 30, 2011 at 5:55 PMVery similar to the one in the photo: http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/80004415?rpp=20&pg=1&ft=1974.336a%2c+b&pos=1
Lauren
December 31, 2011 at 2:01 AMYay! Petticoats!
Anonymous
January 6, 2012 at 9:07 AMI bookmarked that TV guide article. It'll be on my "list". (I just got a sewing mannequin for Christmas, so I'll be bound to spend time sewing something soon!) Thanks for the link!