Red Hat No Knickers? (prev question)?

Question

Hearing this phrase recently when someone was referring to a friend (we laughed) I wondered whether there was actually anything behind the usage.

I was taken to this site and found this has been asked before, and the previous answer was just suggesting that people were a bit brazen by this phrase, obviously what it means today (not literal).

But I have seen elsewhere a red hat did actually signify a prostitute...can anyone else shed any more light on this?

"Red hat no drawers refers to prostitutes in London during the war,because prostitution was illegal they would wear a red hat,so punters would recognise them,i was told this by many returned soldiers after the war."

Answer 1

Up here in Yorkshire we say fur coat and no knickers, that's how prostitutes were known during and after the war, later it became white shoes and black tights with the price they charged scrawled on the sole of their shoe.

Answer 2

Red Hat No Knickers

Answer 3

Round here Jess it's hat or no hat and never knickers.

Answer 4

The prostitution story is acurate those who did not wear a hat died their hair. A variation is "All fur coat and no knickers" indicating someone who has come up in the world financially but not culturally.

Answer 5

Doesn't answer your question but in our area the phrase is:

"Fur Coat nae knickers"

It means the lassie is trying to be posh but really is common - well it does up here in Scotland!

Answer 6

don't know, but it sounds like a good night.

Answer 7

i am gonna sh@g santa on the 25th....ho ho ho