History of Lingerie - Garments

Lingerie: noun [län-jə-ˈrā], originally from the Latin lineus made from linen, from Middle French linge linen. First Known Use: 1835. Dollhouse Bettie presents a work in progress, a survey of the history of lingerie - its most prominent innovators, designers, and muses, the classic styles of intimate apparel that have captured our imaginations, and the brands that won our hearts.

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• Bullet Bra
  
  The bullet bra is a vintage hallmark. It defined the silhouette of an era and represents a golden moment in American fashion when exaggerated femininity reigned supreme and breasts defied the laws of gravity.
• Girdle (I)
  
  While we have come a long way from bone crushing tight laced corsets, the modern woman continues to strive for an aesthetic of beauty which often requires foundation garments lifting and molding our bodies to a "more perfect" shape.
• Girdle (II)
  
  As technology improved foundation garments began to depend less on rigid panels and lacing to achieve the desired shaping effect.
• Girdle (III)
  
  Before modern "miracle" foundations encased and squeezed women toward perfection there was the all rubber girdle. If you find foundations like Spanx suffocating, be thankful you're not wearing a rubber girdle. That's right, we're talking full on, all rubber girdles.
• Girdle (IV)
  
  As we trace the evolution of girdles it is impossible to overstate the impact of Lycra. Invented in 1958 by chemist John Shivers of DuPont laboratories (also the birthplace of nylon) the synthetic fiber was created as an alternative to rubber for use in foundation garments.
• Kestos Brasierre
  
  It may seem like common design knowledge but bras weren't always constructed with two separated cups. The Kestos bra was the first commercially produced bra that had two distinct and defined cups and for that we salute them!
• Longline Bra
  
  The longline is a classic bra style which first gained popularity in the late 30s. As changes took place in fashion, bras evolved from the gossamer nothings worn by the flappers to more supportive and structurally complex designs.
• Corsets
  
  Corsets have been around in some form or another since ancient Egypt, coming in an out of style as politics, philosophy and technology have influenced fashion.