Full Slip, Half Slip or Pettipants? Here’s How to Choose

Did you know that the first lingerie items we ever made, shortly after the end of World War II, were slips? They’re truly at the heart of our brand! Not to mention, absolutely essential to our wardrobes too.

There are so many different reasons to wear a slip: they add warmth, they add opacity to sheer clothing, they keep your outerwear cleaner for longer (and who wouldn’t love to cut down their laundry?)… We could go on. But with multiple styles to choose from, how do you choose which slip is the best match for your outfit?

To help you select the right one, we’ve put together an easy reference guide on when to wear a full slip versus a half slip, versus the various different types of pant slip.

Velrose® Full Slip with Wide Lace

Full slip dresses

When to wear one: under most dresses, and some top + skirt combinations

For a completely smooth look under your dresses, nothing beats a full slip – there’s no risk of creating a visible line at your waist like the waistband of a skirt slip might, and it smooths over both panty lines and any lines from your bra’s band or closure. In a slinky fabric (such as our nylon slips and our bias-cut satin slips), it also helps your dress to hang nicely instead of clinging to your skin, so you won’t be constantly tugging it back into position through the day.

If you opt for our Satin Essentials Wide Strap Chemise, the reversible design (a deep U neckline on one side, and V neck on the other) means it’ll work under most dresses. Worried about adding bulk to your outfit? Don’t be! A good slip skims closely over the body, leaving no excess fabric to get bunched up. If you’re not sure that a style with a fitted bust will suit your cup size, you can choose a princess-seamed slip which has a more free-sized fit while still following your curves.

When not to choose a full slip to go under a dress? When it’s a dress with a particularly plunging neckline, low sides or back, or thin shoulder straps which would mean the slip ends up visible. In these instances, stick to a half slip.

Can you wear a full slip under a skirt and top outfit too? Of course! Just bear in mind that if you’re not tucking the top in, the slip fabric might show at the waist if you lift your arms up.

Shadowline® Rochelle Satin Half Slip

Half slip skirts

When to wear one: under any skirt or dress

Much like a full slip, a half slip has a wonderfully smoothing and anti-static effect, but of course for the lower half of your outfit only. They’re a great option when you’re wearing a close-fitting skirt with a looser-fitting top, plan to flash a little skin between the two garments, or really only care about making sure your panties won’t show through a lightweight sundress under bright daylight.

Plus, got a skirt or dress hemline that’s a touch too short? A half slip (or full slip, for that matter) is a great way to extend it. While we usually recommend picking a slip that’s at least 1” shorter than your outer hemline to ensure it won’t be seen even when sitting, if you opt for a slip with a beautiful lace trim, it can look super pretty when left deliberately visible!

Velrose® Adjustable Length Culotte Slip

Pettipants

When to wear them: under pants, and on highly windy days!

Pettipants, culotte slips, pant liners… all of these offer an alternative to half and full slips for those who prefer a pant-style garment. They have more or less all of the same benefits (except the option to use them as a skirt extender), in addition to some others: in hot weather, they’ll act as a protective layer between your legs to minimize thigh chafe, and in very windy weather, they offer the security of knowing that even if a gust of wind lifts up your skirt, you’ll still be fully covered below.

Our customers find pant slips particularly useful to wear below lightweight and light-colored pants, to avoid unintentionally-visible panties. For pants of any style, we recommend a narrow-fitting pant liner that won’t add any bulk below your clothing. But under skirts and dresses, you might prefer the comfort of a looser, culotte-style undergarment; especially in summer, this will allow for better air flow so that you stay cool and comfortable.

We hope we’ve helped to demystify slips for you. The only thing still left to consider is aesthetic style. While fans of vintage fashion may prefer our more traditional lingerie slips such as the Velrose® Full Slip with Wide Lace in classic nylon (now available in more sizes!), satin slips are hugely popular today and offer a more contemporary look that’s no less practical. In fact, many people are even styling their satin slips as outerwear, and our new bias-cut Rochelle Satin collection was designed with exactly that kind of underwear/outerwear versatility in mind.

Overall, our slips and pettipants are available in a wide range of colors and lengths so that no matter your outfit, you can always find the perfect under-layer. Additionally, they’re available in a variety of fabrics including nylon, cotton batiste, cotton knit and satin charmeuse. Find out more about the Shadowline Lingerie fabrics, and when you might want to wear each one, here.