Frederick’s catalog designs became visual lures to his clientele as line drawn voluptuous long legged woman; idealistic to Mellinger’s women in his view of perfection. The base of anything he designed or promoted in his catalogs and later his retail outlets was; "Fashions change but sex is
always in style”.

Frederick’s design reputation in the world of fashion was ‘Risqué’ or Sleazy’. It was often assumed he designed for men’s ideals of fantasy women rather than the women that would be wearing the creations. He revolutionized the fashion industry and made it acceptable for women to pride in their sensuality and sexuality. His designs may have well led the post war baby boom. A few years later, Mellinger, an Army soldier, noticed his barrack comrades had racy Hollywood pin-up posters proudly displayed. Mellinger shared his vision of women donned in more exotic scants of clothing. When Frederick Mellinger returned to New York he also returned to the retail garment industry but this time his own; “Mellinger’s of The Lower East Side” followed by “Frederick¹s of Fifth Avenue”. In 1947 Frederick Mellinger relocated his “Mail Order Lingerie Business” westward to Hollywood Boulevard boasting his new business name, Frederick’s of Hollywood. Frederick’s catalog designs became visual lures to his clientele as line drawn voluptuous long legged woman; idealistic to Mellinger’s women in his view of perfection. The base of anything he designed or promoted in his catalogs and later his retail outlets was; "Fashions change but sex is always in style”. Frederick’s design reputation in the world of fashion was ‘Risqué’ or Sleazy’. It was often assumed he designed for men’s ideals of fantasy women rather than the women that would be wearing the creations. He revolutionized the fashion industry and made it acceptable for women to pride in their sensuality and sexuality. His designs may have well led the post war baby boom.

Today, over a decade beyond the passing of Frederick Mellinger, the Frederick’s of Hollywood brand, whether retail, catalog or web on line stores, are shopped by both women and men across all societal boundaries. His goal early on and once written now achieved: to offer "the most alluring, body-hugging, figure-enhancing outer fashions, always aimed at men."

From his not so humble beginnings with his ‘Rising Star’ push up bra to the Mellinger branded ‘head to toe’ look of sensuality and array of sexual teachings he offered to both men and women; Frederick Mellinger has earned his place in the history of sexuality awareness which in the twenty-first century is a commonplace knowledge.

His vision and design revolutionized the fashion industry and undergarment business worldwide. Frederick Mellinger and the Frederick’s of Hollywood collection original creations are truly breathtaking and in Frederick’s style.

Just a little more, enjoy this fabulous collection!

In the decade leading up to World War II, apparel fashions for women began their debut on the cover and pages of Glamour Magazine that marketed on the trump that every woman possessed the potential for Glamour.

The T-Shirt was introduced for men in 1932 by the persuasion of the sailor’s uniform and Brassieres and Pajamas were dubbed with nicknames of Bra and PJ’s in 1934. The still popular knee length shorts worn by men and woman alike today came first to fashion as Board Shorts in 1940 to protect the jewels of surfers from being exploited on shore.

At the end of the official “dirty thirties” apparel styles for the average women had seen little change beyond neckline and waistline embellishment but onset of the Americas involvement in World War II would change the women’s fashion industry forever.

With boys of age and household heads off to battle, women became the sole breadwinners of the typical American family. Factory labor positions once held by men were now being maintained in operation by women dressed in men’s dungarees and shirts rather than apron clad housedresses. Although women’s trousers and shorts were available in the late 20’s and 30’s they were reserved more for women’s sportswear and non-societal gatherings rather than for common use by the A-typical housewife.

The mode of transportation for a woman’s commute to work was usually by foot or bicycle as few had either the financial resources to buy or ability to drive a vehicle. In 1944 the ‘Pedal Pusher’ pants were designed to prevent the bulk of skirts or baggy legged dungarees from being caught in the chain and spokes of bicycles. By the 1950’s the Pedal Pushers would become a fashion craze endorsed by Hollywood teen starlets and open the world to women’s Athletic and Sportswear.

During the depression years the son of a Hungarian-American tailor worked for a mail order company on the lower east side of Manhattan. The young lad was named Frederick Mellinger, a mere tad over fourteen, and received walking papers from his employment for voicing his futuristic ideal of black bras and panties for women opposed to white and boring. A few years later, Mellinger, an Army soldier, noticed his barrack comrades had racy Hollywood pin-up posters proudly displayed. Mellinger shared his vision of women donned in more exotic scants of clothing.

When Frederick Mellinger returned to New York he also returned to the retail garment industry but this time his own; “Mellinger’s of The Lower East Side” followed by “Frederick¹s of Fifth Avenue”. In 1947 Frederick Mellinger relocated his “Mail Order Lingerie Business” westward to Hollywood Boulevard boasting his new business name, Frederick’s of Hollywood.