Build your own vintage-inspired lingerie set with our classic black and peach collections. Inspired by the shapes and construction of 1940s and 1950s underwear, these bras, suspender belts, knickers and girdles are designed to mix and match. Choose each piece separately for the fit, coverage and shaping you prefer, whether you’re dressing beneath a favourite vintage outfit or adding a little glamour to everyday life.
What Katie Did began with stockings in 1999, and the lingerie worn with them became an essential part of our story. Our classic collections draw on the distinctive silhouettes of the 1940s and 1950s, from a defined bust and waist to the smooth line of high-waisted knickers beneath a fitted skirt.
These are newly made garments inspired by vintage lingerie, rather than original vintage pieces. Some follow historical patterns closely; others combine period details with stretch fabrics and adjustments for modern wear. Each product description explains its particular construction and fit.
A lingerie set should suit your body and how you like to dress. Choose your bra, knickers and suspender belt separately, allowing you to select a different size in each where needed.
Start with the bra shape you prefer, then choose the coverage you want below the waist. High-waisted knickers create a classic vintage line, while smaller briefs offer an alternative beneath different outfits. Add a suspender belt if you wear stockings, or consider a girdle with suspenders if you would also like shaping.
Our black and peach fabrics are used across several ranges, so you can mix designs rather than limiting yourself to one named collection.
Maitresse combines black satin with the practical stretch of powermesh in its coordinating pieces. Harlow offers a vintage peach alternative, with unpadded bullet bras, knickers and suspender styles that can be worn together or mixed with other ranges.
For a different feel, our Liz pieces use stretch fabrics made with recycled fibres and are manufactured in the UK. They offer another way to build a retro lingerie wardrobe, particularly if you favour flexible fabrics for regular wear.
Choose according to the feel and silhouette you enjoy, as well as the colour. A satin cup and a stretch brief perform different jobs, even when they form part of the same outfit.
The pointed profile of a 1950s bullet bra can make a marked difference beneath fitted knitwear and vintage dresses. Our unpadded styles work with your natural bust, while the padded version helps hold a more pronounced conical shape.
For a 1940s silhouette, our CC09 bra takes its inspiration from an original British CC41 pattern. A longline bra offers another option, extending the garment below the bust to provide shaping through more of the torso.
Choose the silhouette you want before comparing sizes. Our Bullet Bra Fitting Guide explains the differences between our pointed styles and how to assess their fit.
High-waisted knickers provide coverage with a distinctly vintage appearance, but they are not automatically firm-control shapewear. The fabric and construction determine how much support or smoothing a garment provides.
A suspender belt is primarily there to hold your stockings securely. A girdle offers shaping as well, while a girdlette combines the appearance of a deeper suspender style with coverage through the hips. Check each garment’s description to find the level of support you prefer.
You do not need the firmest option to create a vintage outfit. The useful choice is the one that gives you the line you want and feels comfortable beneath your clothes.
Complete the Set with Stockings
Our stretch seamed stockings combine a vintage appearance with a more forgiving fit. They are made in Italy and work with suspender belts, girdles and corselettes fitted with suspender straps.
For traditional non-stretch nylon, explore our fully fashioned stockings, made in England on original Reading knitting machines. Their back seam is part of the construction, and careful sizing is especially important.
Both types need suspenders to hold them in place. Choose according to the feel, fit and finish you enjoy wearing.
Our classic lingerie is made by specialist manufacturers in different countries. Maitresse and Harlow are made in India, while our Liz range is manufactured in the UK.
The country of manufacture and fabric composition are listed on each product page, so you can check the details of the individual pieces you choose.
Measure firmly and use the size chart for each garment. For waist-fitting pieces, measure at your natural waist; for bras, follow the guidance for that particular style. Non-stretch satin, flexible powermesh and firmer shaping fabrics behave differently, so one size label is not a substitute for checking the measurements.
If you need help putting a set together, our small team can advise on sizing and combinations. We also offer fittings by appointment at our Pangbourne headquarters in Berkshire.
