Edwardian women often wore combination underwear instead of a separate chemise and drawers to reduce the bulk at the waist.
‘Combinations combine the slip bodice and drawers type, and are certainly more economical than two separate garments.’ (Educational Needlecraft, 1911)
Edwardian combinations combined the chemise (or corset cover) and drawers in one, and were worn under the corset. Basically Edwardian women wore Edwardian combination suits to reduce the bulk at the waist: After all, small waists and close-fitting skirts were fashionable in the Edwardian era. Combination suits reduced the fabric layers at the waist by half!
‘Combination garments are extremely popular […] corset cover and drawers in one, a most comfortable and graceful garment […] is planned to do away with the separate short skirt, thus avoiding any bunchiness about the hips.’ (Los Angeles Herald, 1907)
In the Edwardian era, combination suits were usually called “combination corset cover and drawers”, “ladies’ French corset cover and drawers in one”, as in this 1905 ad, or simply “combination suit” or “combination garment”, as in this 1910 ad.
Edwardian Combination
Over Or Under The Corset?
Usually the Edwardian combination suit was worn under the corset instead of a chemise (or slip) and drawers.
Related: Antique Edwardian Lace Slip
However, sometimes a chemise was worn under the corset, and the combination suit over the corset instead of a corset cover or princess petticoat, like in this 1905 photo. ‘The fashionably dressed woman wears but three garments, beside her corset – a little chemise […] a combination corset cover and drawer, and a petticoat.’ (Sacramento Union, 1911)
Chemise-Drawers Combination Vs. Envelope Chemise
In the Edwardian era, there was a similar garment which combined the chemise and drawers in one, called envelope chemise. Chemise-drawers combination suits had an open crotch, like mine, whereas envelope chemises had a buttoned flap instead: ‘It is a garment cut on chemise lines, with an extension at the lower edge of the back, buttoning over on to the front, to form the leg of the drawers.’ (Clothing For Women: Selection, Design, Construction, 1916) Here‘s a 1911 pattern of an envelope chemise, and here‘s a woman wearing an Edwardian envelope chemise.
Other Types Of Edwardian Combinations
While I’m writing here about Edwardian combination chemise and drawers, there existed other combination suits in the Edwardian era, such as the princess petticoat. The princess petticoat combined corset cover and petticoat, had princess seams instead of a waistband and was worn over the corset.
Related: Antique Edwardian Lace Petticoat
‘Combination corset cover and drawers, or corset cover and skirt, may be cut separately and joined at the waist line by plain band or ribbon beading, or cut on Princess lines, fitting the upper garment in to the figure.’ (Clothing For Women: Selection, Design, Construction, 1916)
Were Combination Suits Fashionable?
While in the Victorian era combination suits were still regarded as ugly utility garments, in the Edwardian era combinations became really popular: ‘Instead of making chemises or corset covers and drawers, the combination of corset cover and drawers is in greater favor’. (San Francisco Call, 1908)
The combination suit ‘takes the place of corset cover and drawers; is very comfortable, not difficult to make, and easy to launder.’ (Clothing For Women: Selection, Design, Construction, 1916)
Combinations – Suitable For Travel
Combination garments were also advertised as suitable for travel.
‘If you are going to stay three weeks or a month, or even a few days for that matter, you must commence your paring down in dainty, frilly lingerie. All the ruffles take up needed space and if you have ever tried to have them laundried in a city that was full to overflowing, you know something of the heavy expense and the decided annoyance that is always such a part of it. […]
Comination suits of thin cotton […] may not be pretty, but they are inexpensive, occupy but little space and cost but then cents fo wash.’ (San Francisco Call, 1904)
Related: Edwardian Travel Accessories
My Inspiration
This beautiful Edwardian lace combination was actually my inspiration! However, my Edwardian combination is just a very plain everyday version!
But I had other inspirations, like this plain ca. 1905 combination at the MFA, this lace combination with blue ribbon, this eyelet lace combination and this Edwardian combination with teneriffe lace insertions. Follow my pinterest board “1900s Lingerie” for more!
The Pattern
Like all my pattern, the Edwardian combination suit pattern is self-drafted. The top part of the Edwardian combination is just a rectangle. And I used this Edwardian drawers pattern as reference when I drafted the drawers part.
Circular Drawers
My Edwardian combination suit has circular drawers, also called French drawers in the Edwardian era. Circular drawers have very wide legs, not fitted into a band at the knee: ‘In the days of full skirts the wide, circular ones are very popular, while in the days of tight skirts they are narrowed down and even fastened into a band of some sort at the knees to make them fit closely.’ (School Sewing Based On Home Problems, 1916)
‘Combination garments are very popular […] A corset cover and drawers joined together under a strip of beading, and buttoning down the front, is […] comfortable and graceful. These drawers are cut circular, and extremely wide about the bottoms, so that they also serve as a short petticoat.’ (Los Angeles Herald, 1907)
‘Circular drawers have curved lower edges and are cut circular at the top so that all fulness is removed at the waist line. They are very comfortable to wear, because of lack of fulness at the top, yet permitting freedom of movement.’ (Clothing For Women: Selection, Design, Construction, 1916)
Open Crotch Seam
Early Edwardian combinations had an open crotch seam, whereas late Edwardian combination had a closed crotch seam and a buttoned flap instead like here.
Pleat At The Back
The drawers part of the Edwardian combination has an inverted pleat at the back like this antique Edwardian combination suit.
The Closure
The chemise or corset cover part of the Edwardian combination is closed with buttons. A button closure at the center front was the typical closure of Edwardian combinations.
The Shoulder Straps
My Edwardian combination has only a blue ribbon as shoulder strap like this Edwardian combination suit.
‘At the top it comes only to the bust and there are dainty ribbons to tie over the shoulders. These, when the corset is adjusted over the chemise, are untied and tucked down, out of sight, so that there is only one layer of thin fabric, in the corset cover, over the shoulders.’ (Sacramento Union, 1911)
Related: Handkerchief To Top Refashion – Edwardian Handkerchief Camisole
The Trimming
The blue velvet ribbon is not a historically accurate Edwardian lingerie trimming. I didn’t know much about suitable Edwardian underwear trimming back then. A blue silk ribbon threaded through eyelet lace, handstitched eyelets or Valenciennes lace would have been much more suitable!
Hi do you sell your garments or, the patterns? I ❤️ this
Thanks so much, Jenni! 😀 Yes, I’m planning to open an etsy shop soon to sell my costumes (and maybe patterns too).
Hi, I just wanted to ask how many fabric did you use for these combinations?
I used between 2 and 3 meters.