Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Do you wear a slip? Why you may want to start...

 I recently read in More magazine (magazine for women over 40) that slips were items of clothing that are apparently now unnecessary.  I couldn't DISAGREE more!  Call me old fashioned, but slips still serve our wardrobes and when you're talking vintage slips, well, the possibilities are plentiful!

Here's why I believe every woman (with the possible exception of women who only wear pants and jeans) need slips in their wardrobe.  

Coverage:  According to the magazine article, everyone knows we have legs, hence using slips for coverage is now obsolete.  In my opinion, sheer dresses and skirts look better with coverage underneath.  Even a light slip will provide enough opaqueness to give a clean look.

Proper Hang:  Especially in the cooler months when tights are worn under many skirts; I have found that having a thin slip between my tights and my skirt allows my skirt to hang more freely without getting caught on the texture of my tights.  Nothing looks worse than a straighter skirt clinging to colored legs!

Lengthen:  Do you have a dress or skirt that's just a tad too short?  Add a slip with an interesting hem and get an Anthropologie worthy new look!  That inch or so of slip peaking out from beneath the hem will give you the length you want and add a touch of the unexpected.  Be sure to color coordinate.  You wouldn't want a white slip dipping below a black skirt (ever heard the expression "It's snowing down south"?); but why not play with the possibilities of mixing colors?

Expose:  Truly, Desiree (Pull Your Socks Up) does this best.  Wearing vintage slips as clothes themselves.  The red slip below is the perfect example.  The color is deep enough and provides enough coverage, that I could wear this as a dress.  My sweet husband is all for this idea and when he first saw me in it, it was the first thing that came to his mind!

Lounge Wear:  Terri (Rags Against the Machine) commented months ago that she now uses thrifted vintage slips to wear around the house in the warmer months.  When you're lounging around the house anyway, why not look pretty?  Again, according to Terri, husband approved and appreciated!

Take a look at some of my favorites in my collection.  They're all thrifted and all vintage and all used quite often!


My all time favorite!  In the deepest, will never fade, red!!  And how about that bodice?  Fits like a glove and has the BEST details!


A black half slip.  Just necessary!  This has given length to some shorter black skirts.


I wear the fool out of this one!  Short enough to go under everything and those button front dresses are more comfortable with some coverage beneath. 


Full slips probably get even less wear than half slips, but I just love them!  Talk about a nice clean line under your clothes; these will give everything the perfect silhouette!


This one is a favorite!  That adorned bodice and again, a great fit just make me feel pretty, in an old school kind of way.  And what woman doesn't want to feel pretty?!

Seriously, I don't know how I could do without my slips. 

 Do you ever wear slips?  Or does it seem out dated?


Photobucket

31 comments:

  1. Magnificent post Serene. I don´t wear them, but I might reconsidere.
    Much love and happy San Valentine, my dear friend
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    ReplyDelete
  2. Serene, this is excellent and really believe to be true. I am always horrified when I look at one of my outfit posts and see that I needed a slip! The younger girls that I teach will not wear them and see no need for them. I think you need to be a traveling instructor for slips...in fact you might develop this into an article and try to sell it to some publications...the message needs to return to conversations on fashion scenes. Have a wonderful Valentine's Day, GF!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Pam! You're too sweet! This is a post I've been wanting to do fOr a whole now and finally took the time to do it. So glad it registered! It seems kind of old school, but what can I say? It's still holds true!

      Delete
  3. Serene, this is a marvelous tribute to slips and all their uses. I still wear one for the no-cling look you wrote about, and for sheer skirts (yes, people *know* I have legs, but they know I have a lot of things that I don't want showing in public : >) I also wear vintage slips for nightgowns in the warm months. Your red slip is gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patti! That's funny! That's why we don't mention our unmentionables, right? LOL I just think vintage slips are stunning! And sooooooo feminine!

      Delete
  4. Thanks for this post. I think the main reason for slip avoidance is that the cheap, functional ones look SO dowdy if they peek out (and it's hard to avoid this). I finally started wearing half slips with tights, for the reasons you mentioned, and all my slips are black because they don't look as bad if they show. (But I know I can't wear them with lighter colors). What a wonderful idea to seek out pretty vintage slips and not worry about it! I haven't seen a lot of them at the secondhand stores that I frequent, but now I have something new to look for!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anne, it's true! I think years ago, they were made to be so much more aesthetically pleasing because they were a staple of womens' wardrobes. I really haven't looked for them since I moved to Raleigh, but this post motivated me also to get to looking!

      Delete
  5. I love slips and agree with all your points and will add one more. Slips can help smooth out your form without being binding like Spanx. I have several full and half slips that I wear nearly every time I'm in a dress or skirt.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for taking pictures of all your great slips. It's a real walk down memeory lane to see them. In so many old movies, the star wandered around in a slip. So much sexier than movies today.
    And I agree that slips are a very useful wardrobe addition. Just about any dress or skirt is more comfortable with a slip.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I bought some pettipants to wear as a slip. I would love to find some old full slips that would fit me. I would not wear a sheer skirt without a slip. I just don't think it is a good look.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I agree 100%! I've been wearing slips (when necessary) since I was a little girl, thanks to my mom. I could never pour myself into Spanx or shapewear...I can't even wear control top pantyhose or tights...but a slip usually does the trick anyway. There are some slightly transparent dresses I have that I could never ever wear without a slip. I actually have a couple of my mom's half-slips from the 60s that I still wear. Though we are no where near the same size (she's petite), her old slips make perfect mini-slips for me. For me, they are nostalgic and practical.

    I don't know what women have against slips. They are so feminine and comfy. I wish they'd keep making the beautiful ones they used to in the 50s and 60s. Now they are all just functional it seems. There is just something so grown up, proper, and womanly about putting on a lovely slip. 

    Anyway, great post and Happy Valentine's Day, love!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Vahni! I know slips are old school, but I just love them! BTW, my mom was MUCH smaller than I as well!

      Delete
  9. The vintage slips do have so many beautiful details--no wonder slips as outerwear came into fashion! I have a few vintage slips and love them. Great post, GF!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Paula! You'll have to take pics of yours and post too! It's like a peek into our underwear drawers, no?! :)

      Delete
  10. You have so many slips! I love the detail on the sexy red one. I think my current collection is up to two. The most recent one was actually a very thin cotton slip...which I bought thinking I might wear it as a nightgown. I don't often wear one with my dresses or skirts. Most of the skirts are fully lined. Thanks for the mention.

    ReplyDelete
  11. gorgeous slips!! i always wear a half slip/pettipants under skirts and dresses, often with a camisole top.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh my goodness! Camisoles are a whole other topic! Aren't they great?!

      Delete
  12. I love slips, especially the vintage kind. I would defintely wear one if the need arose.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi beautiful Serene! I loooove slips, I have aa lot of them, mostly vintage, if I don't wear them I feel naked. They help your clothes fall better on your body and if a rush of wind catches your skirt (which happens to me every Spring) you know you will always be safe and no undies will be exposed. =D

    ReplyDelete
  14. Petti-pants are an excellent substitute for a slip when wearing a slim skirt. A slip will often inch up but the petti-pants stay put.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Diane: I like to wear a short chemise slip under a sheer blouse and a short pleated tartan skirt with skin-tone nylons. It makes me feel very feminine and well-dressed. I don't care if my slip shows when I sit down. It's just another sign that I'm well turned out.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I have about 30 slips and wear them all the time.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I get how Many women go for Hollywood fashion vs. Traditional runway these days. Not to mention the Semi-nude movement & full Spectrum Gender expression!.... But,.... Seriously I still can't grasp how some try to go full on with dresses and forget or choose not to learn Proper dress for each style! Come on let's be honest it's not Modern it's tacky or A complete Faux Paux.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm going to comment on a guy's perspective and I have loved a pretty silky slip on the shape of a woman since I was young! They are beautiful and for sure timeless femininity! Women... please don't stop wearing them! 😉

    ReplyDelete
  20. I just want to let you know that I just check out your site and I find it very interesting and informative.. best peptides

    ReplyDelete
  21. Nice article and information provided ..Indian youngsters are now so fashion and technology conscious so they are always looking for something new and want changes..that leads to create a wide market for fashion https://www.jignov.com/women/ethnic-wears/dress-materials.html.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! ~Serene