Are Slips Part of Your Grown-up Lingerie Wardrobe? (2024)

Are Slips Part of Your Grown-up Lingerie Wardrobe? (1)

It seems like no one is wearing a slip under their dresses or skirts anymore. In fact, if you’re a slip wearer like me, you may have even been “slip shamed” and mocked for wearing one. It’s a shame that wearing slips have fallen out of favor because there are lots of good reasons you should make them a closet staple if you want to take your poise and confidence to a whole new level…especially when you are in public places.

In this post, I will go over the types of slips, three benefits of wearing a slip, common slip fabrics, and, finally, some Amazon resources for where you can find the best slips for different budget levels.

Types of Slips

Half slips played an iconic role in several mid-century movies. Anne Bancroft wears a matching leopard print bra and half slip in The Graduate, Janet Leigh wears one on the poster for Psycho, and Patty Duke wears a half slip in Valley of the Dolls. Basically, a half slip is a piece of lingerie that resembles a skirt. In fact, it is designed to counteract the clingy materials of skirts or help full skirts hang better so that they can do the twirly and swishy thing that we love. Half skirts can be any length –from the shorter lengths for a micromini skirt to ankle-length for maxi skirts.

Full slips are what many of us consider a “traditional slip” that our grandmothers wore to provide extra coverage. As the name implies, full slips are designed to be an interior layer worn under a dress, although I think they offer a smooth layer when wearing a top and skirt, too (instead of a half slip and camisole combination when I need an additional layer under a blouse or sweater).

A camisole is basically akin to the top part of a full slip or a sleeveless undergarment and usually ends at the hipline. Although they are usually worn for the same reasons you would wear a slip, camisoles made with silky fabric (and lace) are often designed to be seen peeking out from underneath a blouse. Conversely, the camisoles like the ones I wear during winter are designed for warmth.

A princess slip is similar to a full slip but it has vertical seaming going down the length of it either starting in the armhole or above the bust. The princess cut allows the fabric to flow over curves a bit more smoothly and may have a side or back closure, such as snaps or a zipper, if it is form-fitting. Based on the handful of vintage slip patterns I own, the front and back panels of many princess slips made from woven fabrics are cut on the bias to allow the fabric to stretch just a little bit.

Tap pants are actually underpants that are shaped like loose shorts (or old-fashioned track shorts) and are similar to French knickers. They got their name because they resemble the shorts dancers in 1930s films wore during rehearsals. Although they aren’t as popular as close-fitting underpants, they are often worn as a substitute for half slips as a way of reducing a layer of fabric since they can do double duty when you wear them.

Pants liners or pettipants (not to be confused with panty liners…) are exactly what they sound like. They provide an extra layer of material to unlined pants to hide visible panty lines or add additional coverage for white or other light-colored pants. Many women wear them in the winter for warmth or as a barrier against rough material such as wool. They come in various lengths so women often wear them under white shorts during the summer.

What are the Benefits of Wearing a Slip (Or, Why Should You Wear a Slip Even Though No One Else Wears One Anymore)?

Wearing a Slip Helps Clothes Hang Better

Have you ever been walking behind a woman wearing a knit dress and noticed that her dress was caught in her backside (I’ve heard it called “the peach effect” but can’t seem to locate that description now)?That is because of the friction between her body and the dress.The fabric was unable to move freely and ended up in the path of least resistance with no way out. So to speak.

A more common occurrence is when the bottom of the skirt begins to ride up, especially if it is a lightweight skirt.Again, the fabric was unable to move freely and had trouble getting back where it belonged.This happens a lot when you’re wearing pantyhose–especially “every day” pantyhose that isn’t as smooth as the more expensive brands.

And, speaking of pantyhose, a slip prevents static cling by providing a barrier between the synthetic materials of a garment and the pantyhose.

Finally, wearing a slip helps prevent your clothes from becoming a wrinkled mess while you are wearing them.

A slip enables your garment to move over your curves and angles to create a more flattering line than you have without wearing one.Click to Tweet

Wearing a Slip Helps Your Clothes Last Longer

Did you know your clothes can get stressed out?In many ways, the phrase “wear and tear” can be a literal description of what happens every time you wear a garment.If you aren’t wearing a slip, the friction can put stress on the fabric causing abrasion (abrasion is the cause of the pilling on your favorite cashmere sweater).If your garment is fitted anywhere, your movement puts stress on the seams and they may pop because the thread holding it together breaks. As mentioned before, wearing a slip prevents most of that friction so that your clothes don’t start to hide in your closet out of fear of being chosen as the outfit of the day.

Your natural body oils, moisturizer, perfume, perspiration, and skin bits (yes, I know it is gross to think about!) get absorbed by the fabric causing it to smell a bit funky. And, you know that you can’t feel confident and poised when you know your clothes are past the cleaning due date.The good news is that a slip is your first line of defense against that funkiness because it “takes one for the team” which means you can get an extra wearing before laundering your garment.And the longer you can go between having to launder your garment, the longer it will last because the fabric and color lose just a bit more of themselves each time your garment is cleaned (all that lint in your dryer is fabric bits that couldn’t hold onto the garment any longer).

I have read a lot of comments in the interwebs that you don’t need to wear a slip if the garment is already lined.While that is technically true, I still prefer to wear slips under every dress or skirt.Otherwise, I’d need to launder the garment more frequently because when the lining is soiled, the whole garment must be cleaned.

As an aside, an old-fashioned strategy to counteract underarm embarrassment is making a comeback.In the days before fast/throwaway fashion, dress shields were commonly used to protect garments from perspiration.In fact, Claire Shaeffer describes how to make dress shields in her book Couture Sewing Techniques because they are considered so important for a poised look. Amazon.com offers a whole bunch of different disposable dress shield versions that you stick onto your garment.I’ve also heard that you can also use certain brands of panty liners in a pinch.

Wearing a Slip Helps Prevent Wardrobe Malfunction

In the iconic scene from The Seven Year Itch, Marilyn Monroe’s white dress billows up around her as she stands atop a subway grate.Legend has it that her then-husband, Joe DiMaggio, was so disgusted by how “exhibitionist” the scene was that he stormed off the set.She filed for divorce a short time later.I can’t help but wonder if they could have lived happily ever after if she was only wearing a slip so that the two pairs of white panties she wore for modesty wouldn’t show.Alas, we’ll never know.

And, you don’t have to be a movie star standing over a subway grate for the wind to cause problems. When I was a teenager many, many, many, many (you get the drift) years ago, I wore an almost circle skirt with a ruffle that I made to church on a breezy Sunday morning. As I was leaving after the service was over, a gust of wind blew my skirt up for all of my fellow congregants to see…my slip. Thank goodness I was wearing a slip! I was mortified as it was, can you imagine the teenage angst if everyone had been able to see that I was wearing my “Wednesday” days of the week panties instead of the ones with “Sunday” printed on them? It was a powerful lesson I learned that day–slips can prevent complete embarrassment in case of strong wind.

In an age when starlets are wearing sheer dresses both on the red carpet and while running errands, I sometimes feel like a lone voice in advocating for a bit of old-fashioned modesty.I’m not talking Amish level of modesty but simply wearing a slip so that your underthings don’t show through your clothes or that you have a Princess Diana moment where the silhouette of the legs is seen when you are in front of a bright light source and your dress become virtually transparent.

Bonus Reason: The Glamour Factor

Admit it.There is just something glamorous about women in slips–especially Elizabeth Taylor in Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof –in movies from Hollywood’s golden era.I certainly can’t be the only one who feels a bit more confident (if not a bit Grace Kelly sassier) when I know I’m wearing a beautiful slinky slip underneath my clothes.

Wearing a beautiful slip also reminds me to stand a bit straighter when I want to slouch and be more gracious when I want to punch someone in the nose (figuratively speaking).

Understanding Slip Fabrics

Labels on slips can be a bit confusing when shopping for slips. There seem to be endless possibilities! But, in actuality, most slips fall into just a few categories. Understanding these fabrics will help you make the best choices for your slip needs. This is especially helpful if you are considering a vintage slip because they often have lace decorations that modern slips don’t have.

Knit versus woven fabric: Most modern slips are made from knit fabrics, whether it is polyester or silk. The knits used in slips stretch around the body giving it the ability to move with you. Since knits often have what is called “negative ease,” a knit slip can be more form-fitting without the need for fasteners that enable you to get in and out of the garment. Woven fabrics are usually sewn on the bias because it gives a better drape and has a little bit of stretchiness to them. Woven fabrics may also have a bit of spandex added to give them even more stretch. I would avoid half-slips made of woven fabrics that are not cut on the bias because the side seams have a tendency to “pop” or rip around the hip area because they don’t have that extra give when sitting.

Nylon: Nylon tricot is a shiny knit synthetic fabric that became very popular due to rationing during World War II. It is very durable and run-resistant. I have a couple of half slips I made in the 1990s that are still holding up quite well (albeit I had to replace the lace around the bottom and the elastic). Most laces and mid-century lingerie are made from nylon.

Rayon (Viscose): This is neither a natural fiber nor a synthetic fiber, but it is man-made using wood pulp. Viscose is a type of rayon but the two words are often used interchangeably. Rayon was originally developed to be a substitute for silk and has a nice drape to it. Unlike synthetic fibers, rayon “breathes” so it doesn’t stick to your body when it is hot which makes it ideal for hot weather.

Polyester: Polyester is a synthetic fabric that is often used to make charmeuse or satin slips found at lower price points. It does not “breathe” and will make you feel like you are wearing a plastic bag in hot weather.

Microfiber: A synthetic fabric usually made from a blend of polyester and nylon. To ensure breathability, look for the inclusion of cotton or rayon in the blend.

Cotton: A natural fiber that breathes, cotton slips come in various weights from a lightweight batiste woven to wear during the summer to thicker knits to be worn in the winter for warmth.

Silk: Lingerie made from silk charmeuse or crepe de chine is the epitome of luxury. But beware! Sadly, there are a lot of disreputable vendors who use the word “silk” or “silky” in a product title in order to get you to click on their product. Read descriptions carefully to make sure you are really getting silk and that it is fine quality. If it’s less than $100, it probably isn’t fine quality silk. Look for descriptions that say “mulberry silk” or list the weight of the silk as between 16 to 25 mommes (usually abbreviated as mm or m/m) for best drape and coverage. That said, you should avoid habotai (also known as China) silk, even though it is in the same weight range, because it is usually used for linings and won’t hold up as well as charmeuse or crepe de chine.

Where to Find a Slip

There is an urban legend that you can’t find slips anymore. Although stores don’t carry a full selection like they used to, you can find them online. Vintage slips can be found on sites such as Etsy. And, I found some “old school department store” options for you on Amazon.

If you are looking for “old school department store” like what our grandmothers probably wore, Amazon.com offers a variety of slips, including some from classic manufacturers like Vanity Fair and Vassarette.