Everyone at Billy's is a major fan of vintage everything. From glassware to fly rods, we think vintage is just the coolest. So when it comes to bras and lingerie—you guessed it—we love that, too! Getting to connect and chat with others who share that love is always a hoot and helps build a meaningful community around what we are about—women being able to afford great bras and lingerie. Without stress and with some fun.
We asked our good friend Peggy Sue to show off some of that fun and talk about her love for and experiences with discovering vintage lingerie. Hopefully this inspires you to explore or expand your vintage side and try a new style!
Would you introduce yourself with a little about you — what makes you who you are, where you're headed in life, etc.?
I'm Peggy Sue! I'm a Midwest girl with an infatuation for all things vintage. I love history, nature, and sharing my interests online. I've worked with people most of my life: children, seniors, disabled people, but now I model vintage-styled content. I’ve been having the time of my life, and I hope I can do it for a long time!
What are one or two things you'd love for people here to know about you?
First, that I love my work! I really do love nature. I find it endlessly interesting and awe-inspiring, and I hope I can weave it into my internet life more.
For modeling, I make content of all kinds — some of it for adult sites, but I also make more tame, just-for-fun content and livestream to my community often. I'm having an amazing time doing it. My work has brought me so much freedom and joy, and I'm very grateful for the opportunity to make a living out of my special interests.
Do you have any hobbies or escapes you couldn't live without?
Currently, video games — which may surprise some people. I'm a massive Skyrim fan.
What does it mean to be confident, sexy, and truly yourself? What do you do to convey that in your life?
Confidence is a journey. For a lot of people, being told "just be confident" can feel like a tall order. People always struggle to get there, but it arrives when you accept yourself as best you can, and love and enjoy yourself — by yourself and with others.
I try to convey my confidence in my work a lot. It takes a certain amount of confidence to show it all online. I still struggle with it sometimes, like everybody does, but my work has honestly been huge for my self-acceptance and self-love.
How do you help yourself not only look sexy, but truly feel sexy?
Taking time to take care of myself makes me feel sexy. I really value a slow day where I can spend time grooming and doing all kinds of self-care. Good sleep, good food — there's a lot that goes into feeling good. But I find that when I take time to honor my needs, I can really get in my element.
Since we're a bra-selling brand, could you share your bra fitting journey? What has your experience been with being fitted, measured, and wearing the right or wrong size?
Funnily enough, the first time I got fitted, it was at Victoria's Secret with some friends. I was so flat-chested that I wore extra-padded bras all the time — even to my own fitting with the nice lady at the mall. So my first measurement was a self-imposed lie, which is pretty funny now.
I'm a 32B (confidently!), and I think the best way to do it is to use a soft tape measure and look at some resources online (Billy's guide with photos is great!). I don't wear bras all the time, but when I do, it's very important to me that they fit.
What's your favorite brand of lingerie to wear? Do you have any favorite styles or pieces, vintage or modern? What have been some of your favorite vintage pieces you've owned and worn?
I don't have a favorite brand right now — all of my bras are thrifted, which makes for a random collection. So if somebody were to ask me where I’d shop for bras, I would probably say Billy’s Bras! Ha!
My favorite bra is actually from Value World, which is a standard resale shop. They had two of them: I bought one, went home, tried it on, then drove right back and bought the duplicate. I'm so glad I did. They're Playtex, my guess is from the late 1970s, mostly cotton, no padding or wire, I think maybe even a training bra. They give a subtle vintage shape — just slightly pointed. They're beige with a durable lace, and I love that they work for so many vintage looks, and look great under everything else too. To me, they're priceless.
Other than those, some stand out pieces I have are an Edwardian corset cover, and a Victorian pair of split-drawers. Those are basically the underwear Victorian women wore, which kind of looked like bloomers, but there’s a huge opening down the crotch. Those are pretty fun.
How would you describe your aesthetic and style? Does it differ when you're modeling?
For my everyday look, I'm usually weaving vintage pieces and silhouettes into my style. I have a lot of modern clothes and a lot of vintage. Most of my modeling work is vintage, though, which is nice — a lot of my vintage pieces aren't very wearable out in the world, so I'm glad there's a place for them in my life now.
You're known for fully embracing 50s–80s vintage style, especially in lingerie. What first made you fall in love with those eras' undergarments?
It felt like a romantic period in history — very feminine, lots of lace and satin, exaggerated busts and waists. I probably fell in love with it through movies and the internet, though I was always drawn to vintage aesthtics, even as a kid.
Walk us through your process — what makes the perfect vintage lingerie piece to add to your collection? What details make you go "this one has to come home with me"?
I have such a huge collection of clothes that I've learned to become much more selective over time. It's important that things fit and are comfortable, of course, and ideally that they're pieces I can wear a lot. Sometimes I get things because I know they'll work with other pieces I already have at home.
What's one unexpected way you wear a vintage slip, corset, or other piece in everyday life that always gets compliments? What vintage pieces fit seamlessly into modern, everyday life — and which absolutely don't?
I love wearing corsets out — although I don’t do it often, usually to parties or events. Sometimes I'll wear one under a sheer top, and that always gets compliments.
I think you can make almost any vintage piece work for modern wear, except maybe Edwardian corsets — mine is a little too restrictive in the hips for my taste.
Vintage slips are also worn as everyday looks now, and have been pretty trendy since the '90s. Other nightwear too — I'm seeing a comeback of 1960s babydoll dresses and nighties.
There's something undeniably high-quality and sensual about vintage fabrics. How does wearing them make you feel in your body compared to modern functional lingerie, or modern "sexy" lingerie?
Not to sound cliché, but they used to make things better. Fast fashion doesn't compare in quality or construction. Less plastic, more structure. These pieces have endured through the decades for a reason.
Looking through your modeling work, it seems you don't shave and choose to fully embrace your natural body. How does vintage lingerie celebrate and empower that natural femininity for you?
It's been a journey to accept my own body hair, which is a shame, because no one should feel bad about their natural self. How hair is cut and shaved is a part of fashion, and it wasn't always the way it is now — in the '70s, women had much more visible body hair, so it comes in waves. It's nice to find parts of history you align with.
You're clearly very open and show your body confidently. For those struggling with body image, what vintage piece or style would you recommend first?
If you're struggling with your body shape or size, looking to past eras of lingerie can open up more options for how to look at yourself. Find a time period that feels right to you or speaks to your body. Shapewear from the past brings up interesting questions — are corsets restrictive or sexy to you? No one can answer that for you, but it's good to have options and be able to think it through.
Vintage styles are usually associated with bombshell models, both then and now, in pinup and boudoir. What would you say to women who feel "too big," "too soft," or "too boring" for vintage styles?
Impossible! There were all sizes of bodies throughout history. With a little research, you can find people who look like you in any era or style. That said, I'm not here to endorse every value of these eras wholesale — there are parts of the vintage world I love, and other aspects that can and should be left behind. You can aspire to parts of it while knowing the full package isn't worth chasing.
Some people think vintage lingerie is restrictive, old-fashioned, or just too weird to wear seriously. Are they right? How do you see it as actually liberating and empowering?
There's a lot to be said about how shapewear can be restrictive, but with the right sizing, a lot of those issues go away. Many women even say corsets help with their posture. I can say that for me, I feel very sexy wearing vintage. Some aspects of older corsets are truly outdated and unnecessary, but they can still be fun to play with — and otherwise, most of it is quite practical. Only you can say what's empowering for you, though.
Why do you think more women today should try adding at least one vintage lingerie piece to their collection? What's the biggest benefit? And what's a common myth about vintage lingerie that you love to bust?
I think women should look for higher-quality clothing instead of relying on fast fashion, and vintage is a great place to find that. Also — it's sexy! A myth needing busting is that people think it's needlessly uncomfortable, but it really doesn't have to be if you're doing it right. There are so many styles that there are comfortable options for everyone.
If a woman wants to start her vintage lingerie journey but feels nervous, what's the first piece and mindset you'd recommend?
Start with a good vintage bra, and stay open to research and experimenting. Reach out to experts and others who are already rocking the vintage look; they're a great resource to learn from!
What's your all-time favorite vintage lingerie find, and why?
Right now it's my 50s bullet bra from Billy's! It's so high quality, and I'm very excited to have it. It looks amazing under my 1950s dresses that were actually constructed for that kind of undergarment.
If you could design your dream vintage-inspired lingerie collection for modern women, what would it look and feel like?
Mostly 20s, 50s, 60s, and 80s silhouettes, with a lot of cotton, satin, lace, and maybe some fun strap details.
Have people positively received your vintage niche content?
Absolutely! It's amazing how many people are specifically into vintage. It's been very encouraging, and I think other women should embrace their special interests and put them out there — there's definitely an audience for it. It doesn't have to be "adult content;" just posting your fun looks and outfits is incredibly fun!
Where can everyone follow your journey and see more of your amazing vintage looks?
Definitely follow my TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit. My adult websites also have some very fun historical roleplay projects and are listed on my LinkMe Page with all of my social accounts!
Thanks very much to Peggy Sue for spending some time with us and sharing her thoughts so openly and honestly. If you have questions about starting or expanding your aesthetic with vintage bras and lingerie, you can reach out to us anytime at Billy's Bras on our contact page or Peggy Sue on her socials!
Have a vintage day!
0 comments