Bloomability
A trousseau of secondhand bloomers.
Bloomers aren’t just underwear, they’re a bit of feminist history and, to me, the ideal summer bottom. Below, I’ve gathered a veritable trousseau of shoppable secondhand bloomers in a superbloom of sizes and styles—but first, a bit of bloomer history.
Proto-suffragette Amelia Jenks Bloomer (1818-1894) didn’t invent bloomers, but she went so hard promoting them in her periodical The Lily—the first newspaper by and for women—that they came to be associated with her name. That’s because in the 1850s, rights-curious women wanted a less cumbersome standard of dress, and ballooning pants tapering into a frill at the cuff—very much inspired by South and Central Asian shalwar kameez and Turkish şalvar—were going to free them.
These days, I’m seeing bloomers layered under a cotton nightgown, paired with a corset and ballet flats for a “backstage at the Moulin Rouge” look, with a structured blazer or a baby tee and boots, or just subbed in for a sweatpant. They’re the perfect convergence of Pierrot/clowncore, babydoll/pajama dressing, lingerie-on-the-outside, aughts bubble skirts, and an old pair of boxers. Here are some cute ways folks are doing it:
And now, for the bloomers I’ve gathered from the trunks hidden away in the attics of the internet. Note: The resellers very much know that we all want a pair of antique cotton Edwardian bloomers right now, and the prices for those exact search terms often reflect that. But try also: pantaloons, pantalettes, pettipants, ruffle pants, pajama pants, pantomime/clown costumes (seriously). Also, if you’re willing to do a teeny bit of sewing, you can get a pair of real antique ones for cheaper if they still retain the original split crotch for quick trips to the privy.
Top row, left to right: 26”-33” handmade cotton eyelet lace bloomers ($25.59); 32” bloomers made from a vintage table runner ($85); XS/S handmade bloomers with pink trim ($32.79); 24”-32” Vanity Fair bo peeps ($49.94).
Middle row, left to right: 1970s floral ruffled bloomers ($48); XL coquette bloomers ($49.99); 1960s M/L yellow bloomers ($24); 28” antique French 1900s bloomers ($164—I know, but valenciennes lace and mother of pearl buttons!);
Bottom row, left to right: 24” Victorian cotton bloomers ($80); 1X buttery pettipants ($29.99); S/M ivory pettipants ($12); 27”-33” 1910s handmade split bloomers with all the frills ($113); 25”-26” Edwardian ruffle hem capris ($68).
Honorable mentions that didn’t have workable photos for the collage: these intriguing “ex-museum” black lace bloomers; an antique French cotton pair at a reasonable price; this extremely cheap L/XL vintage pantaloon twofer; this knee-length nylon pair with cute tiered lace; this sweet pair of embroidered capris; these Hawaiian-print bloomers (live a little!); this homespun muslin pair.
And now I’m gazing into my crystal ball and predicting a fall trend: knickerbockers—the more formal, structured, ballooning version of a bloomer. (These turn-of-the-century gynmasium bloomers would be a very covetable head start.) See you there!
More Mildew shopping ideas:
Buggy fashion
Funny phones
I love this. I was just making samples for a client who is releasing a knickerbocker style 😍