Turns out, the iconic costumes were also making history by being the first service uniform registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office!
The rayon-satin constructed on a merry widow corset with satin bunny ears, cotton tails, collars, bow ties, cuffs, black pantyhose and matching high-heel shoes define what the brand strived to be: sexy with a strong touch of class.
It was never about pornography. A full-time seamstress was hired at every Playboy club to create custom costumes for each employee, making sure each one had a perfect fit for their figure.
The patent (U.S. trademark registration number 0762884 to be exact) was the first uniform for the service industry to be trademarked, ensuring that only the Playboy brand could sport the look.
It's a good thing the foresight was there—the look absolutely defines the brand, with a vast majority of people able to pick out the Playboy name seeing the uniform alone.
