Vintage lingerie and retro lingerie buying guide to lingerie of the vintage retro era of the 1940s and 1950s. Our vintage lingerie guide provide information and resources to classic vintage lingerie ranges, vintage lingerie styles, knickers, suspenders, bras and stockings. Vintage lingerie is a term for women's fashion undergarments. It derives from the French word 'lin' for linen. While the term in the French language applies to all undergarments for either sex, in English it is applied only to those women's undergarments designed to be visually appealing or erotic, typically incorporating materials such as Lycra, nylon (nylon tricot), polyester, satin, lace and/or silk and not applied to functional cotton undergarments.

The concept of lingerie being visually appealing is relatively recent. Up through the first half of the 20th century women selected underwear for three major purposes: to alter their shape (first with corsets and later with girdles or bras), for reasons of hygiene, or for modesty.

Women's underwear was often very large and bulky. As the 20th century progressed underwear became smaller and more form fitting. In the 1960s 'controversial' lingerie manufacturers such as Frederick's of Hollywood begin to glamorize lingerie and the idea of lingerie having a sexual appeal slowly developed.

The lingerie industry has expanded in the 21st century with designs that double as outerwear. The French refer to this as 'dessous-dessus' which basically means innerwear as outerwear. The boutique Faire Frou Frou, which is an antiquated phrase meaning "show it off", heralds this philosophy by categorizing lingerie as an accessory with details such as straps and lace trim that should be layered and shown as part of one's outerwear.

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