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A Brief History of Women’s Underwear

September 9, 2013
I’ve mentioned my love of lingerie before but did you know I love the history of things? Knickers, panties, underpants are a relatively modern  part of women’s wear. From the middle ages women wore linen shift dresses or chemises with corsets over the top with no knickers.
A Brief History of Women's Underwear
A Brief History of Women's Underwear
The no knickers thing was not as scandalous as you might think, dresses were long and worn with many layers of petticoats and underskirts that varied with fashions but also provided modesty. If you’ve ever worn a poofy dress, you’ll understand how difficult it is to pee while wearing one! The solution to this was the bourdaloue, which was slipped under the skirts while standing, used and the was carried away – genius! I’ve heard of women using these behind discrete screens but also in the halls of court and at the dinner table!
A Brief History of Women's Underwear
A Brief History of Women's Underwear
Corsets certainly varied in shape through the years but most contained whale bone (actually it was cartilage from the jaw of the whale, the part it uses to filter food) because it is very flexible. There was also a busk, a separate splint like piece that was inserted into or behind the corset, between the breast. The bust provided further rigidity and in some periods, it was used to separate the breasts. These corsets laced at the back, so you would need a maid or husband to lace you in and out of the corset.Corsets were so important at the time that there were even maternity corsets!
A Brief History of Women's Underwear
A Brief History of Women's Underwear
Around the 1850’s various fashions and innovations, like the sprung steel petticoat, brought the need for a little modesty. First came open drawers – basically two legs joined to a waistband with no crotch seam to allow for easy bathroom access. Then closed drawers, cami knickers, French skirt knickers and tap panties. There was of course combination or step in one piece garments, similar to today’s teddies.
A Brief History of Women's Underwear A Brief History of Women's Underwear
A Brief History of Women's Underwear A Brief History of Women's Underwear
By 1900 undergarments began to have embellishments like lace and embroidery. The bra had been well and truly invented but were just becoming popular as corsets began to be worn much lower on the body. These bras were not very shaped and provided little support. Interestingly, this is when sanitary napkins (attached to something similar to a garter belt) became commercially available.
A Brief History of Women's Underwear
A Brief History of Women's Underwear
As corsets went out, girdles came in. The 20th century brought industrial manufacture of new fibres like nylon, rubber and elastic, along with the mass manufacture of panties, the now popular bra. Also, the word knickers became  less popular than the term panties. But what ever you call them, by the 1940’s they looked much like the knickers of today. I think the last major innovation was the invention of pantyhose in 1960.
 A Brief History of Women's Underwear A Brief History of Women's Underwear
A Brief History of Women's Underwear A Brief History of Women's Underwear
It is interesting to understand that however we may feel about these garments, they were considered perfectly normal in their time. In the 18th century babies of both sexes wore corsets, boys stopping around 10 and girls continuing into their adult lives. It was considered right and a normal part of life, like teaching a child to walk in shoes today. These garments represent broad social ideals, perceptions of beauty, femininity and moral fortitude. I’m sure you are familiar with the terms ‘straight laced’ and ‘a loose woman’, both relate to corsetry.
A Brief History of Women's Underwear
I find it astonishing how social mores through the ages have influenced how women dress, even under their clothes. I’m sure that one day people will be puzzled by underwire bras,  minuscule g string panties and girdle like spanx underwear popular in our times.
A Brief History of Women's Underwear
Despite being a rather long post this is a brief history! If you’d like to learn more, I highly recommend this video lecture. I will warn you that it’s about an hour long! I would love to hear your thoughts on anything here. Would you wear the underwear fashions of the past? If you’d like to make some more modern vintage lingerie, be sure to check out my posts on my 1930’s inspired French teddy and big knickers & pin up panties which also have a matching sweet and sexy nightgown.

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6 Comments


Katara
September 9, 2013 at 7:14 am
Reply

Yes! I love steel-boned corsets. I have made one, and want to make more when I find the time!



Sarah
September 9, 2013 at 7:17 am
Reply

I’m not sure I could put in the time and effort to make a corset but I love the idea of them. I am a fan of tap pants



Jae Van Den Heuvel
October 23, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Reply

Ah, what are tap pants?



    Sarah
    November 4, 2013 at 10:48 pm
    Reply

    Think Lady boxers… some were quite full, like circle skirts with a gusset.

And Then There was Underwear …
November 4, 2013 at 11:38 am
Reply

[…] By the 1940′s, women’s knickers became the style and materials that are still common today, according to Ask Sarah. […]



John Berryman
October 26, 2015 at 2:10 am
Reply

I was born in autumn of ’46 with two older sisters, I a boy, was made to wear my sister’s panties when mine weren’t out of the wash yet. I was a mortified five year old until once a pair was rayon- by the end of the day I wanted my own for the tactile feeling. I was set with a fixation that led to panty-girdles nylons and slips. Now 69 my fixation is unabated. My fault? I can’t really say- it’s just a seemingly irreversible fact of my nature. I relate this in hopes that if you see a man in the intimates section as you shop you will understand he didn’t choose this but can’t resist the impulse toward these pretty things. – j



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