What's on Top - Bras, panties, garter belts, slips, & stockings

Miss sofia · Sep 30, 2010

ooh i'm glad you told me that, actually that is the only thing with it, although i don't really wear anything too low cut alot of the time, so i'm ok. x

Miss sofia · Sep 30, 2010

Histoire said:
I've been reading through this thread a bit today and am finding myself a bit confused.

Recently on of my best fitting bras started to break. The strap is detaching in the back. I've never had this happen and since it's less than a year old I'm pretty unimpressed with the quality.

So I'm wondering, now that I need to replace a bra does anyone wear bullet or more bullet shaped bras even under modern clothing? I'm new to vintage and I'm looking for a more 40s-50s look.

The What Katie Did Harlow looks beautiful but maybe too pointy? I'm also concerned about buying online. It looks like lots of others are having this reservation. I'm finding many places are vanity sizing bras now and I have no clue what I really am, last time I was fitted at La Senza we came up with 34DD. Thanks for any advice.

I just had a look and the Doreen goes up to a 48 J, i would just go to a reputable lingerie store if you have one near you or a department store that offers a bra fitting service and get them to measure you properly. There may well be some sites online which will show you how to measure yourself as well perhaps.

They also do a luxury style, Jasmine Jolene, which has a lower cut front and satin and lacy cups with a diamante bow detail in the front as well as a longline style. Cute.

ScarlettOhara · Sep 30, 2010

Can comfort and stockings/tights co-exist?

What do you ladies do to remain comfortable in tights and stockings? And how do you keep from spending a fortune?!

I have two little dogs, so I'm constantly on guard when wearing stockings....I suppose tights would be a bit tougher. But stockings especially are itchy a lot of times and generally uncomfortable imo. Are there some brands you can recommend for durability and comfort? Thanks!

LizzieMaine · Sep 30, 2010

ScarlettOhara said:
What do you ladies do to remain comfortable in tights and stockings? And how do you keep from spending a fortune?! I have two little dogs, so I'm constantly on guard when wearing stockings....I suppose tights would be a bit tougher. But stockings especially are itchy a lot of times and generally uncomfortable imo. Are there some brands you can recommend for durability and comfort? Thanks!

The key to comfortable stockings is correct sizing -- one size does not fit all, and you need to figure out what size and length work best for you. Lots of hints about that further back in the "What's On Top" thread, into which I've merged this.

You'll go broke in a hurry wearing 15-denier sheer stockings every day. I stick to heavier hosiery -- 30 or 60 denier -- for every day, and save the sheers for special occasions. And when I'm doing housework or other heavy-duty chores, I only wear cotton stockings.

Knowing how to darn hosiery will save you money too -- keep ahead of wear and tear before it gets out of control.

Histoire · Oct 1, 2010

Miss sofia said:
I just had a look and the Doreen goes up to a 48 J, i would just go to a reputable lingerie store if you have one near you or a department store that offers a bra fitting service and get them to measure you properly. There may well be some sites online which will show you how to measure yourself as well perhaps.

They also do a luxury style, Jasmine Jolene, which has a lower cut front and satin and lacy cups with a diamante bow detail in the front as well as a longline style. Cute.

Perfect! Thanks so much, I'm going to go look at Figleaves now. The Doreen looks pretty good but the Jasmine Jolene sounds like it might be even better.

KittyAnneMalloo · Oct 1, 2010

I've just bought the Kiss of Cotton by Triumph

I'm going to take someones eye out lol

I love the shape Doreen gives m but the Kiss of Cotton seems to take my girls to a whole new level!

Goldfish · Oct 1, 2010

What brands make 60 denier?

TheSweaterGirl said:
I just bought two Naturana longline bras from Ebay. I hope they give as good shape as the Doreen longline. They were much cheeper and I found a black one too

I would love to hear what you think about the Naturana bras once you have received them!

I think I am in love with this bra, guess it's the color lol
http://www.joannaswardrobe.co.uk/JWimages/SRF013/VeryLarge.jpg

TheSweaterGirl · Oct 1, 2010

Goldfish said:
What brands make 60 denier?

I would love to hear what you think about the Naturana bras once you have received them!

I think I am in love with this bra, guess it's the color lol
http://www.joannaswardrobe.co.uk/JWimages/SRF013/VeryLarge.jpg

I will let you know. If they are good I think i will buy a couple of white ones and dye in other colours. I sure would love to have a pink one

MissHannah · Oct 1, 2010

Goldfish said:
Thank you for the advice. That would be 36A for me then? - I guess I have the most average 36B cleavage there is, I can order bras from VS and pretty much every other lingerie retailer and most of them fit very well. I have browsed a few sites and can't find anything in 36A. Any idea what size I should look for?

Set up a search alert on Ebay. I just did a quick search on Ebay and found 7 vintage bras in 36A and numerous in a 36B! It shouldn't take long to find you one you love

ScarlettOhara · Oct 1, 2010

Thanks for the info Lizzie! I honestly didn't know there were thicker stockings out there. I've just always grabbed up whatever I could find at the moment and recently discovered "thigh highs." Those are a lot more comfortable for me but now that I've looked at some of the sites that this thread posted it looks like thigh highs were all the rage with garters and such in the golden days.

Do you by chance know where to purchase 30 and 60 denier stockings? Is this something Target or a department store would carry? I know I can easily get my hands on a garter belt....do you recommend 4 or 6 straps?

Thanks for the help!

KittyAnneMalloo · Oct 1, 2010

I like 6 straps, 4 just isn't enough. Actually I prefer 8, I can keep my seam straighter that way but I guess if you aren't wearing seams then 6 is good and I think if you have a smaller leg maybe 4 wou7ld be ok? I don't have legs so much as tree trunks so I'm not surelol

LizzieMaine · Oct 1, 2010

ScarlettOhara said:
Do you by chance know where to purchase 30 and 60 denier stockings? Is this something Target or a department store would carry? I know I can easily get my hands on a garter belt....do you recommend 4 or 6 straps?

Thanks for the help!

"What Katie Did" in the UK makes both 30 and 60 denier stockings -- be warned that they are *not* inexpensive, but they'll last much much longer than 15 denier sheers.

You can also find them as vintage if you search long enough -- "walking sheer" and "service weight" are the terms to look for.

As for garter belts, I got a Rago 72522 this year, and it's become my new best friend. Serious stocking support, with a bit of compression for the belly, with half the bulk of a girdle, and it's extremely sturdy. If you're active, this is an excellent choice. Six straps is just about always better than four. Eight might get you in trouble going thru metal detectors.

ScarlettOhara · Oct 1, 2010

Ok 6 strap garter it is!

I wouldn't want to have to disrobe at security at the airport....that would be very unladylike lol

Those What Katie Did stockings look nice...and with the 60 denier I'm sure they are durable and worth the price. I had a few more questions if you gals don't mind, though. This is all pretty new but exciting!

1.) What do you ladies with size 8.5 feet do? It looks like the most they go up to is size 7 or 8. It says it's an American site, so they aren't measuring in european right?

2.) Is there an availability of those stockings in any other colors? It looks like WKD only sells the flesh color in that style. I know I will need a pair of black ones for sure.

Thanks again!

Miss 1929 · Oct 1, 2010

I am confused. This thread is called What's On Top, but seems to include panties, garter belts, stockings... and then there is the one called Down Under? or something like that, all about underthings... merge in order?

Goldfish · Oct 1, 2010

MissHannah said:
Set up a search alert on Ebay. I just did a quick search on Ebay and found 7 vintage bras in 36A and numerous in a 36B! It shouldn't take long to find you one you love

oh thanks, yes there are more results when you search for "vintage bra" instead of "bullet bra" :eusa_doh: hehe...

ScarlettOhara said:
2.) Is there an availability of those stockings in any other colors? It looks like WKD only sells the flesh color in that style. I know I will need a pair of black ones for sure.

*joins the search*
Cervin Everest are RHT stockings with 80 den, seamless, they come in nude & black!

LizzieMaine said:
As for garter belts, I got a Rago 72522 this year, and it's become my new best friend. Serious stocking support, with a bit of compression for the belly, with half the bulk of a girdle, and it's extremely sturdy. If you're active, this is an excellent choice.

That's good to hear! I have read one shouldn't bother to wear it if you're not slim because roll on suspenders don't work for curvy body shapes. Discouraged me a bit to try this suspender and other roll on girdles in the future ...

TheSweaterGirl · Oct 7, 2010

Goldfish said:
What brands make 60 denier?

I would love to hear what you think about the Naturana bras once you have received them!

I think I am in love with this bra, guess it's the color lol
http://www.joannaswardrobe.co.uk/JWimages/SRF013/VeryLarge.jpg

My bras have arrived and I am so dissapointed (they were not Naturana bras- I just assumed that from the picture). They don't give any of the support tht the long line Doreen does and none of the vintage shape either

I will try to sell them and spend the money on a Doreen instead!

Sunny · Oct 7, 2010

Has anyone tried the CC09 bra from What Katie Did?

It's supposed to be a specifically 1940s bra, so not a true bullet bra, but still pointier than modern ones. The sizing also appears to be slightly different from that of their bullet bras.

I've been searching this thread and the whole PR for a while and haven't found much info on the CC09. But it looks like more WWII events are in my future, so I'm willing to plunk down the money for this one if it's all it's supposed to be.

Deleted member 12480 · Oct 7, 2010

Hello Vintage Ladies, I was wondering if anyone could tell me a little more about cotton stockings. I've heard people talk about them before, but I just can't imagine what they look like or what the fabric is like!

xxx

MissElainey · Oct 7, 2010

deleteduser said:
Hello Vintage Ladies, I was wondering if anyone could tell me a little more about cotton stockings. I've heard people talk about them before, but I just can't imagine what they look like or what the fabric is like!

xxx

Hi Annie!
I don't know if this is what other people mean by cotton stockings, but it's what I think of when I use the term for the over-the-knee thin socks I wear with my other historical outfits. (I love sock dreams) http://www.sockdreams.com/products/plain-cotton-stockings
In my experience, they're warm like tights, but can be held up with garters on most people. It's much harder to find them where the tops are stretchy enough for plus-sized gals like myself. Other sources might be some American civil/revolutionary war reenactor suppliers, like Jas Townsend & Sons I like them, and hand-washing really does make them last much longer. never ever put them in the dryer, they'll shrink.

Black Dahlia · Oct 7, 2010

deleteduser said:
Hello Vintage Ladies, I was wondering if anyone could tell me a little more about cotton stockings. I've heard people talk about them before, but I just can't imagine what they look like or what the fabric is like!

xxx

Hi Annie,
Here's a photo of a pair of vintage ones. I only have two pair in my collection, which are black; I don't come across them often - but I LOVE them. Great in the Fall/Winter.

X
BD

PS I see there are a few pairs on Etsy also.

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