Exposed: A History of Lingerie

by Colleen Hill, Valerie Steele (Introduction)

A beautifully illustrated overview of women’s undergarments from the 18th century to the present, with a focus on history, fashion, and craftsmanship

Lingerie is a subject of enduring fascination. As the final barrier to the fully nude body, it is simultaneously modest and erotic. This compelling and eye-catching publication surveys lingerie from the mid-18th century to the present, covering a broad range of foundation garments, intimate apparel, and lounging clothes—from bras and corsets to slips, peignoirs, and tea gowns. All pieces are gorgeously illustrated in color.
 
Stunning historical garments from well-known fashion houses such as Christian Dior are included, as is risqué contemporary lingerie by labels such as Agent Provocateur. When viewed as a whole, these pieces illustrate important developments in fashion over time, such as changes in silhouette, shifting ideals of propriety, and advancements in technology.
 
While a number of the pieces featured in the book were worn hundreds of years ago, the majority date from the 20th century. It was at that time that lingerie started to become as beautiful and alluring as it was functional. Authors Colleen Hill and Valerie Steele show that the decorative, highly feminine styles from the early 1900s set a new precedent for the importance of lingerie in women’s private lives—a concept that remains important to many women today. 

Published in association with The Fashion Institute of Technology

Exhibition The Museum at The Fashion Institute of Technology
(06/03/14–11/15/14)

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Art, Fashion History

180 pages, Hardcover

First published September 9, 2014

Reviews

[Teo Mechea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really nice collection of big, beautiful photographs of selected items. I would have liked a more consistent selection (it only shoes 1 item per decade, rarely two), especially when the range of garments is wide, therefore you can see -for example- a corset from 1900 and a robe from 1940 but because of that, you can't get an overview of how the corset, nor robe evolved. The wide spectrum of different items makes it difficult to get a sense of the progression of a specific garment throughout the periods they cover.
The author selects good pieces, but I feel like it's too little context for them, maximum a few sentences on each.

Was expecting a bit more info on influences - for example, they show a 1960s piece that is obviously inspired by the Empire Style of 1810s, but they don't mention that at all. I think influences are very important in understanding fashion progression.

Overall a nice quality coffee table book, but if you want actual fashion history this is too shallow for deeper understanding. For me, the photos themselves were worth the read.

[Jennifer Kubenka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty pictures, but I feel like some of the scant information isn't up to date.

[Lore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, lots of artistic photography to peruse. Recommended read for lingerie fans!

[Denise Link · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and photos and just enough commentary provide lingerie inspiration. I read this book--literally read it, not just looked at the photos--in a couple of hours.