A babydoll is a short nightgown or negligee intended as nightwear for women. The
garment is often trimmed with lace, ruffles, appliques, Marabou fur, bows and
ribbons, optionally with spaghetti straps. Sometimes it is made of sheer or translucent
fabric like nylon or chiffon or silk. The garments hemline is usually about six
inches above the knee like a Minidress and may have a scoopneck. They are usually
considered provocative.
It is said the name was popularized by the 1956 movie Baby Doll starring Carroll
Baker in the title role, which essentially marked the beginning of the enduring
popularity of the style for adults.*[1] At the same time, new synthetic fabrics
and boutique retailing made the form both affordable and easy to purchase.
Short daywear dresses of a similar style are sometimes called babydoll dresses;
the name is sometimes two words, baby doll, and sometimes hyphenated, baby-doll.
Some styles are similar to what is worn by dolls in the form of infants, and
by some infants; the gown is short enough that diapers are easily changed. Thus,
it is a common garment for those who indulge in sexualized play-acting around
ideas of infantilism. However, there may be an alternative origin for the style,
if we consider the lineage of lace-trimmed shortie bed-jackets and bed-capes
of the 1930s and 1940s.
It is now a highly eroticized item of adult apparel, often classified as a
form of lingerie. When worn by an adult woman there is great contrast to when
worn by an infant; the legs are fully displayed and some styles emphasize or
deliberately expose the breasts as well. The gown is often sold as a set with
matching panties (UK - knickers) as a typical babydoll is short enough that
underwear is visible if worn . Styles of the same general length but not intended
to emphasize sex appeal are sometimes called shortie nightgowns.
Babydolls are now available in a sufficiently wide variety of styles that many
lingerie retailers consider babydolls a distinct department. Modern babydolls
often vary considerably from the styles of the 1960s and 1970s. Baby doll negligees
from the 1950s to the early 1980s are now collectible items.
Some babydolls open up in front and resemble more of a robe or peignoir.
Another type of Babydoll is the Babydoll T-Shirt, which is nothing more than
an extra long T-shirt worn as a nightie.
A provocative Babydoll is called the "Fembot" which is made up of
a marabou clad bralette with pleated chiffon for skirt and marabou strip for
hemline. It got its name from the movie Austin Powers: International Man of
Mystery, where feminine robot androids wear such Babydoll nightgowns.
Read more...
| 
