References:

• Smithsonian Magazine
• Mental Floss
• University of Virginia
• Lingerie Talk
• Google Book-La comédie de notre temps
• Google Books-The Corset
• Google Books-The Cut of His Coat
• ​Met Museum

You read that right, paper mini dresses. These disposable fashion pieces were at their peak from 1966-1968. The style tended to all be the same: sleeveless, a-line dresses that ended above the knee. Although they are/were called "paper" dresses, these two or three wear garments weren't actually made out of real paper. Based on what Valerie Steele describes in her discussion of the garments with FIT, I would imagine the fabric to be similar to a kind of reusable plastic-y bag, not the nice canvas ones but a more flimsy one. Others have said it feels like hospital gown fabric. Steele says the fabric was non-woven and a mix of cellulose and cotton. 
I remember seeing one of the paper dresses from FIT's collection last year. It was their Campbell's Soup send away dress as part of the Faking It exhibit. Most paper dresses were used as ads and send away freebies.

Bombast:: noun 
high-sounding language with little meaning, used to impress people

This (in my opinion) very fun word to say has some of its origins in fashion. During the Northern Renaissance (c.1500-1600) cotton, wool, horsehair, or sawdust was used to stuff/pad trunk hose and doublets. Men's doublets were padded around their midsections to give a very specific shape to their bellies. This over stuffing of one's garments could be equated to a rat for women's hair to give it more volume or a shape. A more clothing related modern example would be chicken cutlets for bras or shoulder pads. 

What I like about this exhibit is the layout is intuitive and a great refresher for designers and clothing history enthusiasts alike. From why bias cut charmeuse is the perfect silk for a 1920s dress to how designers have worked to create couture fabrics for specific fashion lines; the lay out of the exhibition flows brilliantly. Check it out!

"Doubles" references a second, third, fourth, or sometimes 10th copy of a garment for film or theatre. These "doubles" can be created in a costume shop or bought depending on the needs of each show. But, why would a production need a "double" for something? It is slightly different between film and live theatre. 

The need for "doubles" in film usually stems form something happening in the filmed scene that would do damage to or change a costume piece. This could be anything from spilling water on oneself to a bloody murder scene. Any time a costume piece could potentially be changed while filming the costume department will ask if a "double" is needed. This way while filming an actor can change out of the "damaged" clothing into a new piece for another take without slowing down filming. 

Other reasons for needing "doubles" in film and also theatre sometimes result from a traumatic action such an explosion, war, cake face plant, etc. that would significantly alter a garment in the plot of the production. When this happens, a crafts person would be hired to take an identical costume piece and alter it to the aftermath of the action. This way an actor can change into the damaged or altered costume instead of wading through a bog to get muddy. 

A third reason for a "double" would be the need for an identical looking person or stunt double. This time a double would be made or bought for someone standing in for the original actor. You can see this happen in Phantom of the Opera while the Phantom leads Christine down to his lair. 

So, anytime you see a character getting soup spilled on them or escaping from the temple of doom, realize there was a costume design team with at least one "double" waiting in the wings for a second take or scene. Sometimes they have a whole wardrobe rack.