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Vanity Fair, History in the Making
You may ask, "Why Vanity Fair?” Because Vanity Fair makes some of the most beautiful lingerie I have ever seen and becoming so highly sought after.
Created my skilled artisans of the lingerie business these pieces are the works of masterpieces and pure geniuses. (In my opinion anyhow!) Dating back to 1899, the company started producing it's lovely wears in 1919 and is sadly ended in 2007 when Fruit of the Loom bought them out. Each garment is to be cherished for many years to come. I own and possess some of the most gorgeous pieces ever created and I offer them to you here on eBay! (Well the one’s I can only part with of course!).
Rule of Thumb on Vanity Fair Labels:
Key Dates/Timeline on Vanity Fair
- 1899 Reading Glove and Mitten Manufacturing Company was founded by 8 men in Reading, Pennsylvania
- 1911 John Barley, one of the 8 men buys out the other men
- 1913 Name change: Reading Glove and Mitten becomes SCHUYLKILL SILK MILLS
- 1914 Silk lingerie starts being produced by the company, this is the start of the Vanity Fair lingerie!
- 1917 The name "Vanity Fair" is chosen through a name competition within the company for it's lingerie line
- 1919 Name change: Schuylkill Silk Mills becomes VANITY FAIR SILK MILLS, INC.
- 1921/22 Rayon, Acetate were used in addition to Silk, sometimes blended.
- 1929 Vanity Fair opens the Vanity Fair Stocking Company, producing silk stockings
- 1939 Designer NANCY MELCHER (assigner for VF) applies for a patent for the "Corselette", an "all in one" open bottom skirted style girdle, with bra and garters attached
- 1940 Production is stopped on all foundation garments (bras, girdles, etc.)
- 1941 Patent for the Vanity Fair Corselette was approved
- 1942 Name change: Vanity Fair drops the name "Silk" from the title, because of the embargo on silk during WWII
- 1945 Embargo on silk, elastic and nylon are lifted, and company resumes production of their foundations
- 1948 Vanity Fair announces halt on silk production and will convert everything to nylon, and this is when TRICOT was first used in VF lingerie.
- 1948/49 Hues in soft pinks, yellows, minty greens and blues, "Perma-Pleats, and various "prints" were introduced in the line of lingerie
- 1950 Vanity Fair Stocking Company closes
- 1951 Vanity Fair Mills goes "public"
- 1950s (known around 1952/53) Novelty prints (leopard, zebra, butterfly, etc.) were introduced, and higher end "conversation pieces" such as gold lame' items were produced in the mid 1950's
- 1958/59 Lycra (Spandex) is used in foundations along with rubber which was still being used
- 1961 Vanity Fair announces the discontinued use of rubber, and uses Lycra Spandex now.
- Mid 1960s (65 or 66) Themed lingerie was introduced in the entire line of their negligee's, slips, panties, girdles, brassieres, pettiskirts, loungewear etc. Some of these "themes" included: Rhapsody In Bloom, The White Collar Look, Fuji Drama, Luxury Liner, Hush Honey, Moon Flight and more.
- 1969 Name change: Vanity Fair Mills becomes VF CORPORATION. Company starts producing jeans wear after purchasing the H.D. Lee Company. Company acquires BERKSHIRE INTERNATIONAL CORP.
- 1970 Hosiery reintroduced
- 1981 Cotton panties introduced
- 1984 Fleecewear is introduced after Bassett-Walker, Inc is acquired.
- 1998 Bestform (Exquisite Form) and Lily of France are acquired by the VF Corp.
- 2007 Sadly, Vanity Fair sells to Fruit of the Loom.
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| 1920s-1930s-DARK BLUE lettering embroidered on woven/cloth labels with "cameo" figure from a tap "french knicker" panty. |
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| Late 1940s to 1950s-LIGHT BLUE script embroidered on woven/cloth labels that read “ TRICOT NYLON” and NOT “Tricot ALL Nylon”.Hence the word “ALL” is omitted. |
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| 1960s-LIGHT BLUE script embroidered on woven/cloth labels much like the 40s/50s, BUT the difference is the tag is a bit larger and the words “MADE IN THE USA” is added, and Tricot ALL Nylon (hence that word “ALL” being added). From a white tricot panty. |
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| Note the "Tricot ALL Nylon", only on the 1960's tags, NOT on the 1950's. Tricot Nylon was 1950's, and the word "ALL" added in the 1960's. |
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| 1970's Blue block lettering, on double cloth label, from a slip. |
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| 1970s-BLUE BLOCK LETTERING on cloth/woven labels from a pink babydoll nighty. |
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| PURPLE Script on cloth/woven label tags were used in the loungewear (houserobes etc.) from late 1960s through the late 70s from a lounging dress-gown. |
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| Gold Embroidered Tag-1950s in their "Conversation Pieces, and Gold Lame pieces. |
Vintage Vanity Fair Ads: Here are a few of my favorite vintage Vanity Fair magazine advertisements. I have over 100, if you are looking for any particular one, please let me know.
