The history of camisoles

Believe it or not, that camisole you’re wearing has quite a bit of history. Modern camisoles stem from the historical camisole. Let’s take a closer look at the history of camisoles.

Shirts were originally worn by both men and women. The “old” shirts were more specifically worn as underwear, and were always worn under the main clothing. As the world of fashion has changed since medieval times, so has the shirt.

During the Renaissance period, the corset became a “must have” fashion. The first corsets were worn under the shirt. However, it was only a matter of time before the fashion industry (even then) started looking for a new shirt solution. After all, the corset became more elaborate and ornate. The long, thin shirt did not hide the corset well, so a solution had to be found.

The solution came during the Victorian era. It was the camisole. Can you believe the camisole dates back to the Victorian era? Camisoles solved the shirt dilemma. Instead of being long and bulky, the camisole was light and short. Women soon discovered that they could effectively hide their corsets without adding weight: the camisole. The camisoles hid the corset well and also maintained the illusion of being “thin”. Camisoles soon joined shirts in the “must have” fashion category. Since panties had not been designed yet, both camisole and camisoles were used as underwear.

Corsets were not used as widely in the early 20th century, due to growing health problems. Similarly, women began to enjoy athletics during this era. Therefore, bloomers were designed to appeal to the athletic yet feminine woman. “Teddies” became extremely popular because it combined the camisole and the bloomers, joined in one piece.

It wasn’t until the 1920s that the stuffed animal was divided into two parts. Designers began experimenting with teddies…making them “sexier” (shorter, tighter, etc.). The 1920’s era marked the beginning of modern camisole ensembles.

Since the 1920s, the camisole has gone from being an undergarment to being both an undergarment and an outer garment. Camisoles are one of the most used basic garments among women of all ages and backgrounds. Truly, the camisole has come a long way from its origin during medieval times and clearly defines femininity.