Slip

An example of a form of underpinning that combined the petticoat and corset cover into one piece, this example of Belle Époque underwear shows the typical lavishly sewn details common during this period, even for so-called unmentionables. The placement of the lace insertions and the tucked panels is visually pleasing and the level of skilled hand work required is evidenced in the delicate hemstitching used to join the piece. The Belle Époque period, which lasted from the late nineteenth century to World War I, saw great detail in garment decoration, and as this slip exhibits, in the undergarments as well.