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Original poster

What happened to petticoats?

103 replies

Helpmechooseausername · 03/07/2025 22:58

I saw something on another thread that made me wonder what happened to petticoats? I'm sure you can still get them but I'm also sure most women don't bother with them!
My Mum always wore one when I was a kid back in the 70s / 80s, but I wouldn't even consider wearing one now.
So why not? What's changed that means women don't need them any more?
Thanks!

OP posts:
StarlightLady · 06/07/2025 12:12

EverythingElseIsTaken · 06/07/2025 12:02

I wear a waist slip under anything that is slightly see through. Most of my clothes are lined so don’t need it one but i have a selection if M&S waist slips in white, nude and black for the few things that need it. I wore one yesterday under a long floaty skirt that you could definitely see the silhouette of my legs through - I wore an above knee slip but the skirt was maxi length so my lower legs were still semi visible.
I think they used to be worn for extra warmth and to make some clothes go longer between washes when washing clothes was more of a chore than it is these days.
I think of a petticoat as being not quite the same as a slip. A slip (in my mind) is thin and simple but a petticoat tends to add volume as well like the hooped ad multi layered version under my wedding dress or the multi layers of tulle version I wear under my fifties style dress.

I’m laid back about silhouette. Everyone knows l have legs underneath anyway. I think there is a huge difference between a silhouette of legs and full on knicker exposure.

LookAtThatMartin · 06/07/2025 13:03

I have a drawer full and wear them on a daily basis. I’m not a jeans wearer so wear tights in winter and it’s an extra layer!

EvelynBeatrice · 06/07/2025 13:15

They are now called ‘slips’ and there has been a long column on here about them before. They make cheaper unlined dresses hang much better and look more expensive. The pure cotton ones are great under otherwise see through summer dresses.

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