So, we’re not talking about the actual ‘Easter Bunny’, but a ‘Bunny’ of sorts, yes the Playboy Bunny. In recent years, Kate Moss reigned as the 40th Anniversary Bunny, which gives this role a somewhat prestigious and bona fide place in the fashion ranks.
But where did the Playboy Bunny originate and how does it sit in today’s PC world?
The Iconic Playboy Bunny was a waitress at a Playboy Club. Bunnies at the original Playboy Clubs, operated between 1960 and 1988 and were selected through auditions. They received training, and wore a costume called a “bunny suit” inspired by the tuxedo wearing Playboy rabbit mascot. It consisted of a strapless corset teddy, bunny ears, black stockings, a bow tie, collar, cuffs and a fluffy cottontail.
The Playboy Bunny outfit was the first service uniform registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The costume itself was created in 1960. First unveiled publicly in an early issue of PLAYBOY’S PENTHOUSE, it made its formal debut at the opening of the first Playboy Club in Chicago on the evening of February 29, 1960.
The Playboy Bunnies were waitresses who served drinks at Playboy Clubs. There were different types of Bunnies, including the Door Bunny, Cigarette Bunny, Floor Bunny, Playmate Bunny and the Jet Bunnies (specially selected Bunnies that were trained as flight attendants. They served on the Playboy “Big Bunny” Jet). To become a Bunny, women were first carefully chosen and selected from auditions. Then they underwent thorough and strict training before officially becoming a Bunny. Bunnies were required to be able to identify 143 brands of liquor and know how to garnish 20 cocktail variations. Most dating or mingling with customers was forbidden.
The uniforms were custom made for each Bunny at the club in which they worked. Whenever the club was open there was a full-time seamstress on duty. The costumes were stocked in two pieces, the front part being pre-sewn in different bra cup sizes such as B or C cup. The seamstress would match the Bunnies’ figure to the correct fitting front and back pieces. Then the two pieces were sewn together to fit each person perfectly.
There was a woman in charge of the Bunnies in each club, called the “Bunny Mother.” This was a human resources type of function and a management position. The Bunny Mother was in charge of scheduling work shifts, hiring, firing and training. The Club Manager had only two responsibilities for the Bunnies – floor service and weigh in. Before every shift the Manager would weigh each Bunny. Bunnies could not gain or lose more than one pound (exceptions being made for water retention.
Playboy Enterprises required all employees to return their costumes at the end of employment and Playboy has some costumes in storage. Occasionally costumes are offered for sale on the Playboy Auction site or on ebay.
“PC” the whole concept may not have been, but as a landmark item of “work uniform” fashion history, the outfits deserve credit and fond memories.
