Undergarment

The undergarment, more commonly known as underwear, has been a part of our everyday lives for centuries. You may be more familiar with the terms knickers, boxers, thongs or Y-fronts, but where on earth did the history of such garments originate?

Dating back over 7,000 years, the loincloth was the first step of the journey for the undergarment. However, in many countries the loincloth was more like an outer garment as it would be worn alone. It consisted basically of a piece of cloth that would cover the groin and attach to a band of material around the waist.  Unlike today, undergarments were solely for the use of covering up the groin area. The history of the once understated undergarment has seen major adjustments in both its image and its purpose.  Just as its sister garment the bikini has come along way, so too has our underwear.

Back in the 19th century, stays, or corsets were extremely popular for women. As the spinning jenny machine was invented the rise in undergarment production grew, and so too did demand.  The purpose of the corset was to give the woman’s bust a firmer posture and make the waist look as tiny as possible.

By the 20th century, undergarments were so popular; there were designers all over the world competing to establish the next must-have in the undergarment world. The notorious corset, had started to lose its appeal as newer more relaxed styles of bodice were the new flavour. The steel bones were removed making it much more comfortable than the restricting corset of earlier years. Men were not far behind in new designs either. The first style of boxer was introduced by a company called Bossier.  This was most certainly a landmark occasion for the male undergarment.

1913 was also another year to go down in history.  Mary Phelps Jacob, a woman from New York made the first design of what we today call the bra.  Although the intention in her design was to make a garment that would cover up the whalebone of the corset that was visible through the dress. Two pieces of handkerchief were tied together with ribbon and by 1914 her revolutionary creation was patented and this was the start of worldwide production of the brassiere.

The 1930s saw the production and design of men’s undergarments rapidly soar, and the ‘jockey’ was born. This was a pair of briefs that offered similar support to that of the extremely unappealing jock strap. As the popularity grew, new styles were pushing their way through and boxers similar to those worn by professional fighters were making an appearance.

The 1950s and 1960s brought about a new perception of women’s undergarments. There was now an element of seduction attached to the design. Simple drab styles had turned a new corner and colours and prints were introduced to our underwear. The undergarment was now an established fashion item in its own right. Designers were now looking at emphasising the woman’s breasts rather than the earlier years were the attention was paid solely on the waist. This brought a whole new dimension to women’s wardrobes.

As of the 1970s onwards, women now not only look for comfort ability in their underwear, but sex appeal plays a large part.  Madonna was famously known for wearing that conical bra on stage in the eighties. Women were starting to take just as much pride in their underwear as they were in their outerwear, giving women all over the world a new found confidence. Just as the bikini was evolving into a sexier fashion item so too was our underwear. Shops like Ann summers, La Senza and Agent Provocateur now promote this image making underwear shopping more fun than ever before. Many shops even have a bridal range to complement your bridal gown. With a range of bras and corsets, thongs and briefs, stockings and suspenders, the choices are endless. The main function of our undergarments may still remain the same as it’s always been, to protect our outer clothing and provide support, but if you can look and feel sexy all the while, then even better.

Please contact us at Domains.co.uk for more information on Undergarment.co.uk