A babydoll is a short nightgown or negligee intended as nightwear for a female. The garment is often trimmed with lace, ruffles, bows and ribbons, optionally with spaghetti straps. Sometimes it is made of sheer or translucent fabric like nylon or chiffon or silk. It is said the name was popularized by the 1956 movie Baby Doll starring Carroll Baker in the title role, which essentially marked the beginning of the enduring popularity of the style for adults. At the same time, new synthetic fabrics and boutique retailing made the form both affordable and easy to purchase.

Short daywear dresses of a similar style are sometimes called babydoll dresses; the name is sometimes two words, baby doll, and sometimes hyphenated, baby-doll. Some styles are similar to what is worn by dolls in the form of infants, and by some infants; the gown is short enough that diapers are easily changed. Thus, it is a common garment for those who indulge in sexualized play-acting around ideas of infantilism. However, there may be an alternative origin for the style, if we consider the lineage of lace-trimmed shortie bed-jackets and bed-capes of the 1930s and 1940s.

It is now a highly eroticized item of adult apparel, often classified as a form of lingerie. When worn by an adult woman there is great contrast to when worn by an infant; the legs are fully displayed and some styles emphasize or deliberately expose the breasts as well. The gown is often sold as a set with panties as a typical babydoll is short enough that these are visible when it is worn with them. Styles of the same general length but not intended to emphasize sex appeal are sometimes called shortie nightgowns.

They are now available in a sufficiently wide variety of styles that many lingerie retailers consider babydolls a distinct department. Modern baby dolls often vary considerably from the styles of the 1960s and 70s. Baby doll negligees from the 1950s to the early 1980s are now collectable items.

The Film: Baby Doll

Baby Doll is a 1956 film which tells the story of how Archie Lee Meighan, middle-aged cotton gin owner, can hardly wait for the 20th birthday of his childish bride Baby Doll, when he'll be allowed to consummate the marriage...he thinks. But rival owner Silva Vaccaro suspects Archie of burning his gin down, and takes on an erotic form of Sicilian vengeance.

The movie was written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Elia Kazan.

It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Carroll Baker), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Mildred Dunnock), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White and Best Writing, Best Screenplay - Adapted. While the costume design was not nominated, the film is credited with both the name and originating the popularity of the babydoll nightgown, which derives from the costume worn by Baker's character.

The Catholic Legion of Decency succeeded in having the film withdrawn from release in most U.S. theaters because of their objections over its sexual themes.

Tennessee Williams's first choice for the title role of Baby Doll was Marilyn Monroe,

Another review of the movie:
Carroll's most memorable role and a role that started the Lolita trend in films. Carroll plays a 19 year old virgin whose unusual marriage and life is changed forever when her husband asks her to entertain a rival cotton gin owner. Carroll should've won an Oscar for her role. The film was considered shocking and immoral when it premiered in 1956 and this scandal gave the movie a lot of publicity. Carroll became an overnight sensation. Tennessee Williams wrote the screenplay.

The Film: Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?

As a child, "Baby Jane" Hudson was the toast of vaudeville. As an adult, however, Baby Jane was overshadowed by her more talented sister Blanche, who became a top movie star. Then, one night in the early 1930s, came The Accident, which crippled Blanche for life and which was blamed on a drunken, jealous Jane.

Flash-forward to 1962: Jane (Bette Davis), decked out in garish chalk-white makeup, still lives with the invalid Blanche (Joan Crawford) in their decaying LA mansion. When Jane isn't tormenting the helpless Blanche by serving her dead rats for breakfast, she is plotting and planning her show-biz comeback. Convinced that her days are numbered if she remains in the house with her addlepated sister, Blanche desperately tries to get away, but all avenues of escape are cut off by the deranged Jane.

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? sparked a trend towards casting venerable Hollywood female stars in such grotesque grand guignol melodramas as Lady in a Cage (1964) and Hush ... Hush Sweet Charlotte (1965). In addition to revitalizing the careers of Davis and Crawford, whose real-life mutual animosity came through loud and clear, the film made a star of sorts of 24-year-old character actor Victor Buono, cast as a porcine mama's-boy musical composer. Lukas Heller's screenplay was based on the novel by Henry Farrell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide