Bra thumbnail 1
Bra thumbnail 2
Not on display

Bra

ca. 1955 (made)
Artist/Maker
Rigby & Peller (designer and maker)
Place of origin
London (made)

Foundation garments of the 1950s incorporated new light and highly tensile elastic panels, which reduced boning. Other innovations included high-line zipped and step-in girdles and corselettes (combined bras and girdles).

New supportive bras included plunge, half-cup and underwired designs. Beautifully crafted bras were made by elite corsetiere Rigby & Peller (est. 1939). Here whirlpool, circular-cup stitching creates a tilted, pointed bustline.

Object details

Categories
Fashion
Accessories
Underwear
Womenswear
Europeana Fashion Project
Interiors
Household Objects
Shekou
Values of Design
Design Society
Object type
Bra
Materials and techniques
Machine embroidered tulle and nylon with underwiring
Tulle
Nylon
Metal
Machine Embroidery
Brief description
Bra, black machine-embroidered tulle and nylon with underwiring, Rigby & Peller, London, England, ca. 1955.
Physical description
Black machine embroidered tulle bra lined in black nylon, with blue and green flowers
Dimensions
  • Height: 15cm
  • Width: 68cm
Gallery label
(22/09/2007)
UNDERWEAR [case panel]

A couture garment usually included meticulously constructed undergarments. They were either integrated into the structure of the garment, or made separately.

In creating the New Look after the war, Dior used firm underpinnings such as girdles, under-wired bustiers, and tulle and horsehair petticoats. He placed extra padding on the hips and bust to ensure a smooth womanly figure.

As the 1950s progressed, foundation and support garments became increasingly sophisticated. Lightweight materials such as nylon and new stretch fabrics ensured greater comfort. [81 words]

[object label]
Brassiere
Rigby & Peller
London
1950s

Lightweight nylon and fine underwiring provided support without cumbersome padding.

Nylon and net, underwired

Given by Rigby & Peller
V&A: T.599-1995
Credit line
Given by Mrs J. Kenton of Rigby & Peller
Object history
Rigby & Pellar was established in South Molton Street by Mrs Rigby and Mrs Peller in 1939. They remain elite bespoke corsetiers, but have also expanded to include high-street ranges.

Registered File number 1994/299.
Summary
Foundation garments of the 1950s incorporated new light and highly tensile elastic panels, which reduced boning. Other innovations included high-line zipped and step-in girdles and corselettes (combined bras and girdles).

New supportive bras included plunge, half-cup and underwired designs. Beautifully crafted bras were made by elite corsetiere Rigby & Peller (est. 1939). Here whirlpool, circular-cup stitching creates a tilted, pointed bustline.
Bibliographic reference
de la Haye, A., The Cutting Edge London: V&A Publications, 1997, p.182
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.599-1995

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Record createdNovember 28, 2007
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O141106/bra-rigby--peller/
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