Chemise (shirt) with matching directoire (underpants)

anonymous, c. 1920 - c. 1930

A new phenomenon emerged at the end of the 19th century: sets composed of matching underwear and/or nightwear. First in white cotton, but from the 1920s also in all kinds of subtly coloured silk fabrics lavishly decorated with lace. New was the chemise enveloppe; shirt and trousers in one piece (nowadays bodysuit) and the garter belt. This lingerie was designed to be seen.