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Ok. I have finally calmed down enough to tweet about today's new @TheUPMuseum acquisition. Fellow underwear nerds, please prepare yourself.
The acquisition is a 1940s silk lingerie set, and it is SO incredibly special, for so many reasons.
It's a Kestos style bra and tap pant sillhouette, which are my favourites, but not particularly unusual. The set was made in Britain.
The silk fabric is unusual though. Silk was heavily rationed in 1940s Britain, which is why lingerie mostly used rayon satin.
The silk fabric is unusual though. Silk was heavily rationed in 1940s Britain, which is why lingerie mostly used rayon satin.
And it's not just any silk. The fabric is entirely upcycled...
FROM AN ESCAPE MAP OF ITALY. These maps of enemy territory were printed on fine fabrics like silk so that they could be easily smuggled to frontline soldiers.
FROM AN ESCAPE MAP OF ITALY. These maps of enemy territory were printed on fine fabrics like silk so that they could be easily smuggled to frontline soldiers.
This particular map was fashioned into a lingerie set by a member of thr RAF and given to his sweetheart as a gift.
The sweetheart in question?
The Countess Mountbatten. Third cousin to Elizabeth II. Daughter of Earl Mountbatten (might ring a bell for those of you who watched The Crown recently).
The Countess Mountbatten. Third cousin to Elizabeth II. Daughter of Earl Mountbatten (might ring a bell for those of you who watched The Crown recently).
This is an incredible historical artefact for so many amazing reasons and I honestly cannot process it's now part of the collection!!!!! A huge thank you to @SianHoffman for notifying me about the auction, and to @harlowandfox for collection from the auction house 
OF COURSE we will fully document this lingerie set with @Tigzy for @TheUPMuseum once travel and photoshoots are possible, but in the meantime @harlowandfox was kind enough to send photos:
And some of you may be aware that another one of these sets exists, held in the @I_W_M collection - this set was also owned by Countess Mountbatten and likely was part of the same gift! https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30115129
I know that this design has inspired so many contemporary lingerie designers, but if anyone else has seen or heard of examples of original WW2 escape maps being upcycled into lingerie, I would absolutely love to hear from you!
Funnily enough I acquired an original 1940s escape map of Scandinavia last year that I'd planned on upcycling into lingerie but I don't quite feel the need now - think I'll have it photographed alongside the lingerie for @TheUPMuseum 
