Capitalism's ingenuity never ceases to amaze. "Clio" of Melbourne's Punch was able to report, 100 years ago this week that "The very latest lingerie on show at the London shops are 'Zepp nightgowns.' These are of all shades of silk and very prettily embroidered."
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"The idea of these dainty garments is that, when hurried warning is given for all to fly to the cellars [to shelter from air raids], fair ladies will not be seen unsuitably garbed. A Melbourne girl, just returned from the great metropolis, brought with her two dainty mauve ones, embroidered, one in white and the other in pale pink.
"Another Melbourne lady has just written us an account of a Zeppelin raid at Brighton. 'We were staying at the big hotel in Brighton, and at 1.30 am there was a violent knocking at our bedroom door, and we were told to come downstairs to the cellars as a Zeppelin was in sight. You can imagine the hurry-scurry, for there were over 300 people in the hotel. The electric lights had been switched off at the mains, but you can imagine the weird and wonderful sights some of the women presented by the candlelight.
"Some poor old ladies came down without their wigs, others in curling pins. Oh, the toilet revelations of that night! However, the airship did no damage and I can tell you though, we were all mighty glad to be alive and able to laugh at the funny ways all of us looked."
