Bloomers guide

Fashion bloomers 

The original bloomers were an article of women's clothing invented by Elizabeth Smith Miller but popularized by Amelia Bloomer in the early 1850s (hence the name, a shortening of "Bloomer suit"). They were long baggy pants narrowing to a cuff at the ankles (worn below a skirt), intended to preserve Victorian decency while being less of a hindrance to women's activities than the long full skirts of the period (see Victorian dress reform). They were worn by a few women in the 1850s, but were widely ridiculed in the press, and failed to become commonly accepted (see 1850s in fashion). These early bloomers were partly an attempt to adapt young girls' short skirts and pantalettes to adult women's attire, and were partly influenced by middle-eastern clothing styles (or what was thought to be middle-eastern styles) — hence the name "Syrian costume".

The word "bloomers" was sometimes used for the wearers of the garments, rather than the garments themselves.

In 1909, fashion designer Paul Poiret attempted to popularize harem pants worn below a long flaring tunic, but this attempted revival of fashion bloomers under another name, did not catch on.

Athletic bloomers (unskirted)

During the late 19th century, athletic bloomers (also known as "rationals" or "knickerbockers") were skirtless baggy knee-length trousers, fastened to the leg a little below the knees; at that time, they were worn by women in a few narrow contexts of athletic activity — such as bicycle-riding, gymnastics, and sports other than tennis — only (see 1890s in fashion). Bloomers were usually worn with stockings and after 1910 often with a sailor middy blouse. Bloomers became shorter by the late 1920s and when it started to become respectable for women to wear pants and shorts in a wider range of circumstances in the 1930s, styles imitating men's shorts were favored, and bloomers tended to become less common. However, baggy knee-length gym shorts fastened at or above the knees continued to be worn by girls in school physical education classes through to the 1950s in some areas. Some NYC and Sydney, Australia Schools still wore them as part of their uniforms into the 1980s .

Undergarments

Women's baggy underpants fastened to just below or above the knee are also known as "bloomers" (or as "knickers" or "directoire knickers"). They were most popular in the 1910s and 1920s but continued to be worn by older women for several decades thereafter. Often the term "bloomers" has been used interchangeably with the pantalettes worn by women and girls in the mid 19th century and the open leg knee length drawers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The modern Japanese version of bloomers consist of the entire legs exposed and are pronounced burūmā (or burūmāsu) in Japanese. Many Westerners confuse Japanese bloomers with panties since their designs are almost the same in Japan, but bloomers are worn over underwear, are a bit thicker, and come in bold colors.

Types and styles of vintage and retro lingerie

• Babydoll, vintage retro short nightgown or negligee intended as nightwear for women.
• Basque,  vintage retro tight, form-fitting bodice or coat
• Bloomers, vintage retro lingerie underpants with short legs.
• Bodice, vintage retro lingerie covers the body from the neck to the waist.
• Boy shorts, a style of panties, so named for their resemblance to male shorts.
• Brassiere vintage retro lingerie bra
• Bustier vintage retro lingerie bra for pulling overbust
• Camisole,vintage retro lingerie sleeveless and tight fitting, covering the top part of the body
• Camiknickers, vintage retro lingerie camisole and knickers joined as one garment
• Cami Shorts vintage retro lingerie knickers usually see through
• Chemise vintage retro lingerie top ususlly silk to cover bust
• Corset by bone, vintage retro corset bodice worn to mold and shape the torso.
• Corselet = vintage retro lingerie brassiere + Girdle  
• Drawers a pant-like garment worn during the 19th century for modesty and warmth. Some drawers were split-leg, in that the crotch seam was left open.
• Frilly knickers
• G-String/Thong, vintage retro lingerie narrow piece of cloth passes between the buttocks, and is attached to a band around the hips, worn as a bikini bottom or as underwear by both men and women.
• Garter
• Garter belt, vintage retro lingerie suspender belt usually 6 or 8 strap with metal clasps used to keep stockings up
• Girdle, resembles a tight pair of athletic shorts
• Girdlette vintage retro lingerie tummy shaper
• Hosiery vintage retro seamed stockings and fully fashioned nylon stockings
• Knickers vintage retro lingerie womens sheer underwear
• Negligee
• Nightgown or Nightie, a loosely hanging item of nightwear, may vary from hip-length (babydoll) to floor-length (peignoir).
• Panties vintage retro lingerie ladies underwear
• Petticoat vintage retro lingerie womens undergarment 
• Slip (Full vintage retro lingerie slip and Half slip / Underskirt)
• Stockings vintage style with a stocking back seam and heel
• Suspender belt retro style (British), aka Garter belt (US)
• Undergarment for ladies and women,vintage retro lingerie and underwear