Notable Pieces
First black bras and panties; lace and appliqué embellishments; mail-order catalog debut
Frederick's of Hollywood · 1946
Frederick Mellinger's original mail-order catalog (as Frederick's of Fifth Avenue) offered racy black bras and panties embellished with lace and appliqués — shocking at a time when white and nude were the only "acceptable" lingerie colors.
First black bras and panties; lace and appliqué embellishments; mail-order catalog debut