Loin cloths to boxers, thongs and briefs oh my! Here is the info you need to know on how the past shaped the undergarments we know and love today.
Our journey begins in Ancient Egypt, where the first traces of undies have been found and dated to 3,000 B.C. That is over 5,000 years ago for those keeping count. What they wore, at the time, is what most of us would call a loin cloth. The Egyptians liked to make theirs out of leather men and women to cover their nether regions. Loin cloths also helped insulate them during the colder times of the year and protect the most delicate parts of their body. Women would have also worn a ‘strophium’, which was a cloth worn around the chest serving the same purpose as a modern-day bra.
In the 15th and 16th centuries men adopted the codpiece. This was a triangular shape of cloth to cover the open part in the front of a man’s pants. Due to the nature of the style, men would be exposed if only wearing the one layer, to prevent any mishaps a tunic or long shirt was worn over the top to keep wandering eyes guessing.
Corsets on the other hand became popular during the 19th century and provided women with an hour glass shape emphasizing the narrow waist and voluminous bust. Misconceptions about the corset include that they were unnecessarily restricting and uncomfortable. In truth a well-fitting corset would be supportive for the wearer like a bra. As with most garments, the times in which a corset would be uncomfortable is when it was the wrong size or laced too tightly. Many also have the misconception that women in a corset could do nothing but sit in them all day. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Women were working and had a very active role in society while wearing their corsets.
The bustle followed the rise of the corset. The bustle was essentially an extra layer placed on the bum to extenuate the ladies bottom. They started as an extra layer of padding and were later made out of soft wire and other materials. As the large bustle faded from fashion the modest and smaller bustle followed in addition to tighter skirts, which would eventually lead to the end of the bustle altogether.
Most of us are familiar with men’s boxers. But did you know up until the early 1920’s the common underwear of choice for males were long john’s? These were a long legging style of inner pants that provided comfort and warmth. However, the massive popularity of boxing made the impractical long john the bane of sportsmen. Boxers soon became common among athletes, becoming with time the wardrobe staple we all appreciate today.
Last but not least and bringing us to a close is the thong. While initially used for a swimsuit design in the 1970s, it gained popularity in women’s fashion during the 90s. In the era of tight jeans, thongs helped conceal the infamous ‘panty line’. As fashion trends have come and gone over the years, the thong has stayed current. How’s that for longevity?
Rylee Schaeffer.
Executive Editor.