What Katie Did

Specialties

What Katie Did specialize in vintage inspired lingerie, corsets and stockings.

Fitting vintage lingerie is far different than visiting a modern day lingerie store and you need to allow plenty of time to discuss what look you’re wanting to achieve and to try lots of lingerie on.

Please allow 45 minutes to 1 hour for a shapewear or corset fitting as several styles normally have to be tried on before finding the perfect garment for you.

Please arrive before 5pm if you would like a fitting to allow enough time.

Our lingerie comes in cup sizes A-​FF, dress sizes 4 to 14. What Katie Did are also well known for our steel boned corsets which are designed to reduce your waist by 4 – 5 inches.

If a steel boned corset is just a little too much for every day they also have a glamorous range of shapewear inspired by the golden age of Hollywood, as well as 1950s style bullet bras and garter belts and for that all important finishing touch: fully fashioned seamed stockings.

History

Established in 1999.

Katie Thomas founded What Katie Did in 1999. Originally the brand just sold stockings from a booth in London’s Camden market. London in the Winter is extremely cold, and Katie’s dream of looking glamorous in kitten heels and fishnets soon became that: just a dream. Fed up with thermal underwear Katie decided to take the business online.

Stockings led to garter belts, garter belts led to a 1950s style circle stitch bullet bra and deep retro style panties. The lingerie was followed by steel boned corsets (Katie started her career in corsets in 1995 at Skin Two Retail). In 2004 Katie received a telephone call from Topshop requesting to see her collection. Katie went through her vintage collection and sketched a few designs and in September 2004 launched her wholesale collection in Topshop, London

What Katie Did lingerie can now be found in over 100 stores worldwide, and their two flagship stores in London UK and Hollywood USA.

Meet the Business Owner

Katie T.

Business Owner

Katie became interested in vintage fashion, in particular the 1950s, in her mid teens. Her first job was at Skin Two Retail, a fetish clothing store in London. In the mid 1990s corsets could only be found in fetish stores, and she was soon introduced into a world of fully fashioned seamed stockings, longline bras and girdles. Katie would get up early on Friday and Saturday mornings to search for vintage lingerie in London’s Portobello Market, a few minutes walk from Skin Two.

In 1999 Katie decided to set up alone, and invested $ 150 in nylons, which she sold at a booth in London’s Camden Market. Katie’s aim for What Katie Did was just to provide a living for herself. Of course things never turn out exactly as planned and the brand seemed to have other ideas.

Katie now divides her time between London and Los Angeles. When not at work she lives in a sleepy Berkshire village in England with her husband and daughter.

What Katie Did also recommends

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reviews

Shoe Stores

Katie T. says,

«Shoes inspired by the 1920s –1940s a couple of miles from our Melrose store.»

The Way We Wore

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Women’s Clothing

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Used, Vintage & Consignment

Katie T. says,

«Fabulous vintage clothing — just remember your gold credit card!»

Rose Bowl Flea Market

343

reviews

Flea Markets

Katie T. says,

«Unmissable, massive fleamarket on the second Sunday of the month. Get up early and remember your sunscreen. It gets hot!»

Decades, Inc.

47

reviews

Used, Vintage & Consignment

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Women’s Clothing

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Men’s Clothing

Katie T. says,

«‘Modern’ vintage store (ie 80s Chanel) but also carries Dita Von Teese’s clothing range. A short walk from our Melrose shop.»

Miss L Fire

13

reviews

Shoe Stores

Katie T. says,

«Vintage inspired shoes by fellow London brand Miss L-​Fire.. Do not miss!»