Oh I’ve seen a production of Iolanthe at the opening when they are dressed like that.I helped in the stage crew for that one....the humor of it was they threw in a few plump ones to sort of stomp around while the smaller ones were a bit more daintier in their opening...”tripping thithering”.(Produced a lot laughs when the fat ones came stomping through) A bit more lower cut and modest but still much like the clothing seen in posting 13. They used very shear and lacy material and flesh colored leotards or stocking for the legs. I don’t remember how they kept the wings on. This was Summer Savoyards “83 production of Iolanthe
All fairies, except, of course, for the FAIRY QUEEN ( who is supposed to be dressed like a Wagnerian Valkyrie ) have always worn very floaty, sheer material, wispy dresses.
The VERY big deal, about the original opening, was that The Savoy was the FIRST Brit Theatre to use electric lighting, starting with this show AND the fairies had teeny electric lights twinkling in the crown the wore. Perhaps that is why Brits call tiny Christmas tree lights "FAIRY LIGHTS"; which we don't. :-)
Sounds like an interesting staging; though strictly speaking, non-traditional and not at all what Gilbert would approve of.