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Conversational Threads

Slips and sheers

jyang949 | Posted in General Discussion on

I used to wear a slip because many of my skirts were wool. The slip prevented itching and kept skin oils off the fabric, so the skirt didn’t need to be sent to the dry cleaners as often. Today I wear a slip to keep the skirt or dress from clinging to pantyhose.

It seems that girls today do not wear slips. My daughter does not wear pantyhose and almost all school clothes are made of cotton or other soft fibers and are thrown into the washing machine after one wearing. She would rather not wear a slip because it is just one more thing to bother with, and an extra layer of cloth is the last thing we need with this hot weather.

The slip topic came up when she bought a very full skirt of gauzy cotton. Flesh-toned underwear will be less conspicuous than white, but would a slip help here? What are the advantages of wearing a slip under a dress or skirt?

One of the things she loves about her “Aye Caramba!” skirt is how it flares when she twirls. A long, straight slip would be visible when she twirls, and frankly it would look silly. Besides, I’m not sure that showing lingerie is any more modest than bare legs. (Did I just say “modest”? I am showing my age.)

Janet

Replies

  1. mem | | #1

    In an era where showing a G string at the top of low rider jeans isnt seen as a problem ,slips are probably obsolete.

  2. mygaley | | #2

    If you will type bias slips into the search messages block, you will see a recent thread about slips with tips for these full skirts. Galey

  3. Teaf5 | | #3

    This year, all the magazines are showing black leggings under full skirts. 

    My daughter used to like to wear bike shorts under her loose skirts so that she was ready for anything!  In contrasting or coordinating colors, they're comfortable and appropriate if visible.

    1. MaryinColorado | | #4

      Does anyone remember petti pants?  They looked kind of like silky bloomers for under skirts! I wore tights often with matching turtle necks with skirts and jumpers and coulottes.  I still like tights with long skirts in the winter.

      My grand daughter wears shorts underneath skirts often for modesty.  I wondered about the leggings after seeing them at Target,etc....my daughter wore those alot.

      1. Ralphetta | | #5

        Yes, I remember petti pants.   I tried to describe them to some teens recently and just got blank stares. 

        During the fifties when crinolines were "in," hoops also became popular for about 15 minutes.

        Since I've never been one for moderation, I made my own using piano wire.  One summer day when I went shopping, looking absolutely stunning in my blue and white voluminous skirt, I made the mistake of trying to use the revolving door at Macy's.

        It was a real Carol Burnett moment.  My hoop wouldn't fit inside the space, so it not only flipped up in back but got mashed together by the door.  I was STUCK  and couldn't get the revolving door to move until other people shoved on it.  I slunk off with a badly wounded hoop that instead of being a nice circle, now had sharp corners and hugged the back of my knees.

        Whenever you think you are really "hot stuff," God has a way of getting your attention. 

        1. jyang949 | | #6

          Great story! Thanks for all the suggestions. I didn't know about wearing leggings under skirts.This morning I dyed some underwear using black tea. Appears to have worked; they are now a soft beige. Just hope it doesn't come out in the wash (laundry detergent is probably designed to get out tea stains). Janet

          1. MaGe | | #7

            About dying with tea:
            I think you need something to make the color durable. I think it was acid (like vinegar) with pant-colors. Or it was something basic? I'm not quite shure.

          2. lbbray | | #8

            Guess it is my age showing too, but I love slips.  Especially beautiful colors and lots of lace.  I wear "city" shorts to work a lot with stockings (oops, panty hose but I like to say stockings better) and in the winter, with tights.  I always wear pettipants with them or the material would stick to my legs.  I also have some beautiful "full" slips for fuller skirts and some in cotton for summer wear.  I've noticed in a lot of ready-to-wear, woolen/woolen type skirts are not always lined and then one has to wear a slip or die of itching. 

          3. mem | | #9

            Its salt .

          4. User avater
            Becky-book | | #11

            I tea-dyed some silk and made a full-slip; the color fades a very little in the wash, but I wash it very carefully because it is silk (just a simple detergent, no special additives). When it gets too pale, I'll just soak it in tea again!!

            I had found some help with technique on-line but when I went back to that site I could not find it today.  Try a Google search for 'tea dye' and see what you get!  I think salt was the fixative agent, but I think there was vinegar in the mix also.

            Becky

        2. MaryinColorado | | #10

          Love that story!  You described it so well I could actually visualize the whole scene!  Thanks for the chuckle!  It is so true about getting knocked down a peg just when we think we are all it.  I believe God has a great sense of humor, I am reminded of it often.  Mary

          1. fabricholic | | #12

            I know God has put me in my place and I knew exactly why he did it at the time. What would we do without Him to keep us straight?

          2. MaryinColorado | | #13

            I remember my sister had a soft green spaghetti strap prom dress with chiffon overlay and hoop skirt.  She practiced walking and sitting with it on until she had it just right. Her green eyes really sparkled.  She looked like a fairy tale princess to me as I was ten.  Great memory, thank you!  Mary

          3. fabricholic | | #14

            Wouldn't it be great if you had a picture of your sister in that green dress and could post it? We could have everyone with pictures of beautiful old style dresses, post them. The only trouble is that the pictures would probably not be in color. Oh well, just a thought.

        3. Teaf5 | | #15

          Tears from laughter are the best of all! Your story could have happened to me, especially if I had had access to piano wire. It's a good thing that hoops weren't in style during my teenage years!

          1. solosmocker | | #16

            One afternoon my teenage daughter was leaving with friends for an afternoon of fun dressed in a rather diaphonous skirt. I told her,"
            "Jen, you need a slip you can see right thru that skirt." She replied, "Oh, Ma. Nobody wears slips anymore." Nuff said!

  4. joanfitzu | | #17

    I just read everyones bit about slips, I grew up wearing slips under skirts and dresses. Half slips were even a big deal, I never had the petti-pants but my sister did. I wish women would understand that to see through someones skirt is not a becoming sight. It bothers me to see women nicely dressed and then see through their clothes or their skirts are sticking to body parts. I remember getting to my cousin's wedding and the flower girl had on a white dress that you could see through, it takes the attention away from the dress. I used to tell my daughter she needed to wear a slip and she would complain, then I made a deal with her, I line all of her skirts and dresses so noone can see through them.
    Under-garments are supposed to be "under-garments", they are found in the "intimate apparrel" department.
    I was taught about dyeing with tea back in the seventies before they made nude color underwear. It would fade slightly but never wash out. I also remember when I worked for a woman that restores bridal gowns, I was working on something and kept smelling coffee and sugar, well she had to dye the elastic so she stuck it in her coffee cup that morning and as I was working with it I could smell the coffee.

    1. mawsev | | #18

      I think a shift is coming soon for young ladies' fashions. I work at a university and many of the young 'thong-sters' are amazed when they are not selected for a job or for admission to graduate school and discover that what they are wearing DOES matter. We do workshops for them so they can learn how to dress properly for the professional world since they weren't taught at home.The lining of a skirt/dress or a slip makes the outfit not only look better, but also makes the fabric hang better. As previously stated, having the right skirt style for your body shape and having it hang correctly makes all the difference. The young women will start dressing differently soon for several reasons. One, employers will demand it. Two, young men are not attracted to young women whose bellies are hanging over the waistband. Nor do they like knowing what brand of undies you are wearing.

      1. thehat | | #19

        I was at a restruntand my waitress had a very short top on or they call it a baby T well I thought I should let her know that my I would be happy to make her a shirt that was longer and she could pick the cloth and I would not charge her any thing  she didn`t like  that  so she declined  there was just too much of her middle showing  how is it that when  a person goes out to a sit down dinner that the waitstaff can`t be dresses

        1. User avater
          Becky-book | | #20

          About that restaurant... you should probably talk to the manager about what they allow the wait-staff to wear to work.  Some eating establishments actually encourage (require) the girls to wear immodest clothing! We just don't give that place any more of our business.  The 'market' responds to 'demand', so let the manager, or owner know that you find it distasteful to see their employees only partially dressed.

          Becky

  5. flossie | | #21

    My 20 year old daughter has recently discovered that the current fashion for flimsy summer dresses  (as opposed to jeans and t shirt) requires a slip - suddenly all my carefully stored petticoats from when I was her age (and size!!!) have a new life. She is also very quick to suggest a lining in any dresses I make her if i don't have a slip in the right colour or style.

    1. fabricholic | | #22

      Hi Flossie,

      Good for her.  Some teenagers don't wear slips and the dresses do not have linings.  I am 50 years old and I guess I am old fashioned, but they look so tacky to me.

      Marcy

      1. flossie | | #23

        Hi Marcy, I'm 54 and I don't think we are old fashioned - just mature and sensible!. I actually re-modelled another dress for my daughter yesterday  - she had bought it in an op-shop because she loved the material but it needed a lining. Fortunately I had just the right lining fabric in the stash. Neither she or her older sister sew but I have taught them to appreciate good material and they both love to design their own clothes which I then make up for them.

        Kind regards Pauline Webster ("flossie" Melbourne , Australia)

        1. fabricholic | | #24

          Hi Flossie,

          I have a daughter 20 years old, also.  She has a daughter 16 months old.

          How did you put a lining in the dress?  Did you sew it to the inside of the waist?  I think your daughters are very lucky to have a designer/seamstress for a mother.  Since my daughter has gotten older, she doesn't like anything I make for her.  It just doesn't come out right.  She loves what I make for her daughter, though.  I would love to see your projects.  Why not upload pictures of some of your favorites?

          Marcy

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