Black might not be the first colour that comes to mind for summer, but few wardrobe staples are as versatile as a classic 1950s black dress. 🖤 www.whatkatiedid.com/products/19...

One of the reasons we chose to launch Centennial in vintage peach is that it's a colour we've used throughout our collections for years. It also feels perfectly suited to the collection's inspiration: the lingerie and clever construction that helped create some of Marilyn's most memorable looks.

"We're having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave..." Marilyn Monroe sang it in There's No Business Like Show Business and, judging by this week's forecast, she may have been onto something. youtu.be/ACfzcbS_0Qc...

Beach pyjamas were a holiday wardrobe staple of the 1930s, worn on ocean liners, at seaside resorts and during glamorous summer getaways. www.whatkatiedid.com/products/bl...

The Merry Widow was one of the most glamorous foundation garments of the 1950s, combining the shaping power of a corset with the support of a bra in one elegant piece. www.whatkatiedid.com/products/me...

A small public service announcement from What Katie Did... 🧵 If you're wondering about sizing, measurements, fabric composition or where a garment is made, the answer is probably already in the product description.

Preparing for this weekend's Concours d'Elegance at Wilton House has meant unpacking, steaming and sorting the collections we're taking with us. One range made me stop and take a second look: Peach Celia. 🧵

Preparing for this weekend's Concours d'Elegance at Wilton House means unpacking, steaming and sorting the collections we're taking with us. One range stopped me in my tracks: our 1940s-inspired Peach Celia lingerie. 🧵 www.whatkatiedid.com/collections...

When planning our Marilyn Monroe centenary shoot, there was one piece we knew had to be included. Not because Marilyn wore this exact robe, but because it captures the kind of effortless Hollywood glamour she made famous. www.whatkatiedid.com/collections...

This weekend you'll find us at Concours des Légendes at Wilton House. If you love classic cars, beautiful craftsmanship and great stories, it looks set to be a fantastic event. www.wiltonhouse.co.uk/events/conc...

One of the nicest things about our new Centennial collection is that it doesn't have to be worn as a complete set. The peach shade was carefully chosen to coordinate with several existing What Katie Did collections. www.whatkatiedid.com/collections...

Just two weeks after launch, several sizes of our Centennial bra have already sold out. Thank you to everyone who ordered. We knew there was a lot of love for Marilyn Monroe, but the response has exceeded our expectations. www.whatkatiedid.com/collections...

Our Morticia Underbust Corset appears in the July issue of Tatler, worn by Tony Award-winning playwright, actor and comedian Cole Escola as part of a feature promoting their return to Oh, Mary! in London's West End.

Madonna's new 13-minute film Confessions II finally landed on YouTube this week after premiering at Tribeca, and while most people are talking about the music and celebrity cameos, we couldn't help noticing something else. Black stockings are everywhere. youtu.be/yJtckcMHM2g...

One of my favourite things about running What Katie Did is seeing the creativity within the vintage community. These beautiful images landed in my inbox recently from San Diego and were simply too good not to share. IG credit Model: @edie.ciao.baby Photographer: @susanavestige Hair: @LaMagdalenaMua

Merry Widow pt 4. Like many Merry Widows of the period, the original Warner's Merry Widow was designed to be worn strapless. Combined with the limited sizing available at the time, it would only have fitted a relatively small range of bodies.

The Merry Widow pt 3. While studying photographs of Marilyn Monroe's Warner's Merry Widow, I noticed a detail that immediately caught my attention. Hidden inside each cup was a steel bone running from the centre of the underwire towards the nipple point, a construction I'd never encountered before.

The Merry Widow pt 2. One of the biggest differences between an original 1950s Warner's Merry Widow and our modern version is hidden on the inside.

While planning our MM100 lookbook celebrating Marilyn Monroe's 100th birthday, there was one piece we knew had to be included: our Glamour Merry Widow.

When people think of Marilyn Monroe's most iconic fashion moments, they usually focus on the dresses. But some of the most powerful elements of her image were the accessories. Few pieces capture the glamour, sophistication and theatricality of classic Hollywood quite like a pair of long black gloves

One of my favourite Marilyn Monroe stories isn't about a famous dress or a red-carpet moment. It's from Bus Stop (1956), and it's a captivating little glimpse into how she approached her work. 🧵 youtu.be/avqZpF-jxpM...

Marilyn Monroe is often associated with the ultimate hourglass figure, but that silhouette wasn't simply a matter of genetics. Like most stars of the 1950s, she relied on carefully chosen foundation garments to create smooth, sculpted lines.

EU customers, a quick customs update. A new €3 Customs Duty on low-value imports is due to come into effect on 1st July, but at the moment the details are still a little confusing.

Today marks 100 years since the birth of Marilyn Monroe, and it felt like the perfect moment to launch a collection inspired by the lingerie behind some of her most famous looks. If you've ever admired Marilyn's style, you'll know that the dresses were only part of the story.

The same Midi Waspie. Two completely different looks. 🖤 Black: classic, dramatic, and easy to pair with almost anything. 🍑 Vintage Peach: softer, warmer, and perfect for Summer. The same design, but different moods. Which will you choose? www.whatkatiedid.com/products/gl...

Just realised I haven't shared this (free) Substack article with you yet. It's essential reading for a special something that we're launching on Monday, the 100th anniversary of her birth: whatkatiediduk.substack.com/p/marilyn-m...

We're so sad to be saying goodbye today to Belle (social media) who is leaving us for pastures new after 4 years. Working for a small brand is different to big brands and yesterday she was reminiscing about talking to regular customers on the phone and how she's going to miss them.

Slightly chaotic stock update: our baby pink Candy Babydoll has now gone into the sale… mainly because we somehow completely sold out of the matching bloomers before the babydoll itself. 😅 www.whatkatiedid.com/products/ca...

During her farewell burlesque tour last year, Missy Malone came back for one final shoot with us after more than 15 years working together. Honestly, I think it turned out to be one of my favourite shoots we’ve ever done. www.whatkatiedid.com/collections...

Many of you know Missy Malone from our shoots over the past 15 years, but acting has actually been part of her career for a long time alongside burlesque. After retiring from performing last year, she’s now focusing fully on film and television. 🎬 www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/goodbyeho...

Golden hour for your legs ✨ Our Cava Sheer Glossy Stockings are back in stock for the bank holiday weekend. This light nude shade gives legs a sleek, polished glow inspired by 1950s hosiery ads. www.whatkatiedid.com/products/sh...

They’re back ✨ Our bestselling Black Sheer Glossy Stockings have returned just in time for the bank holiday weekend. Made in Italy from sheer 15 denier nylon with a sleek, light-catching finish inspired by vintage hosiery glamour. www.whatkatiedid.com/products/sh...

Did you know you can visit us for a private fitting appointment at our Berkshire, UK, HQ? We’ve welcomed customers from across the UK, USA and even Australia for fittings in a calm, private setting. www.whatkatiedid.com/pages/what-...

London lovelies — if you’re a Marilyn Monroe fan, this looks unmissable ✨ “Happy Birthday, Miss Monroe!” celebrates Marilyn’s 100th birthday with cabaret, drag, music and glamour at The Two Brewers, London, this June. Use code SMASH for 20% off tickets 💋 www.outsavvy.com/event/35562...

We’re very excited to be trading at Concours des Légendes at beautiful Wilton House this summer ✨ Classic cars, historic surroundings, talks, workshops and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere — very much our sort of event. If you’re attending, do come and say hello! concoursdeslegendes.co.uk/

One thing our newsletter subscribers know already: the best What Katie Did treats never make it onto social media. www.whatkatiedid.com/

Today I’m visiting our Nottingham factory, my first factory visit of the year. I should actually have visited our India factory by now too, but plans were put on hold because of the war in the Middle East.

One of the questions we’re asked most often at What Katie Did is: “when will my size be back?” So after far too many late nights and approximately 50 hours wrestling with code, we’ve introduced estimated restock dates and pre-orders on selected items. www.whatkatiedid.com/collections...

The first reviews for our new Pink Pagoda dresses are in… and they’re already 5★★★★★ 💕 Launching a brand new print is always slightly terrifying because every What Katie Did print is designed exclusively by us. There’s no safety net, just instinct, research, and a love of vintage fashion.

After weeks of waiting, our Champagne stockings with Black Seams are finally back online. www.whatkatiedid.com/products/co...

15th May 1940 was the first day nylon stockings went on sale to the US general public, which is why today is National Nylons Day.

Pretty Polly and Aristoc officially entered liquidation this week, which is genuinely sad news for British hosiery manufacturing. whatkatiediduk.substack.com/p/yet-more-...

Our fabulous Full Contrast Champagne with Black Seamed Stockings are currently starring in their own ongoing drama. www.whatkatiedid.com/products/co...

The original What Katie Did bullet bra pads are back! www.whatkatiedid.com/products/bu...

A quick reassurance regarding the news about the ex-Eleganti fully fashioned stocking factory: our own fully fashioned stocking production is completely unaffected and continuing as normal. Eleganti stockists currently also have good stock levels. whatkatiediduk.substack.com/p/fully-fas...

One of the UK’s fully fashioned stocking factories appears to have closed — and it’s a reminder of how fragile vintage manufacturing knowledge really is. 🧵 whatkatiediduk.substack.com/

Cuban heel fully fashioned stockings are one of the most recognisable styles of vintage hosiery, but most people don’t realise how different they are from modern stockings. 🧵

If you want a true 1950s silhouette, the starting point is always the bra. Outerwear can only do so much—the shape comes from what’s underneath. www.whatkatiedid.com/collections...

One of Marilyn Monroe’s go-to bras was the Hollywood-Maxwell “Whirlpool” bra, a design that shaped the bust using stitching rather than padding. It’s a brilliant example of mid-century lingerie engineering.

Marilyn Monroe would have turned 100 on June 1st. A century later, her silhouette is still instantly recognisable—but it wasn’t effortless or accidental. It was carefully constructed using specific lingerie designed to shape the body.