The Evolution of Historical Undergarments Through the Ages

Well, let me tell you somethin’ ’bout them old-timey underwears, you know, the ones they wore way back when. I ain’t no scholar or nothin’, but I seen some pictures and heard folks talkin’. It’s kinda interestin’, like lookin’ at how folks used to live, even down to their drawers.

Way back, like, thousands of years ago, them Egyptians, they had some kinda underwear made outta linen and leather. Can you believe it? Linen for everyday, and leather for when, you know, the ladies had their monthly thing. Musta been scratchy, I tell ya. Linen’s alright, but leather? Lord have mercy. I reckon they didn’t have much choice, though. No fancy stores back then, just makin’ do with what they had.

The Evolution of Historical Undergarments Through the Ages

Then, jump forward a bit, to them 1700s. Them fancy ladies, they wore somethin’ called “stays.” Sounded uncomfortable, if you ask me. All them bones and lacin’. It was like a jacket, but for squeezin’ your middle and makin’ you look all pointy. They laced it up tight, in the front or the back, sometimes both. Imagine tryin’ to bend over to pick up somethin’ in that contraption. I bet they couldn’t hardly breathe!

And then, in the Victorian times, things got even crazier. They had them corsets, which was kinda like them stays, but maybe even tighter. And them big ol’ skirts? They needed somethin’ underneath to hold ’em up. So they had these cage things called crinolines, and these bumpy things called bustles. Can you picture it? All them layers! It musta been hot as blazes in the summer, and heavy as a sack of potatoes all the time.

  • Corsets: These were for squeezin’ your waist small. Some were even made by steamin’ them, like you steam veggies.
  • Crinolines: Big cage things to make your skirt stick out.
  • Bustles: These made your dress stick out in the back, like a shelf. They called ’em “dress-improvers” sometimes. Fancy name for somethin’ that looked like it’d make it hard to sit down.

Now, you don’t see much about men’s underwear from them old days in pictures, but they musta wore somethin’, right? I guess men’s stuff wasn’t as fancy or somethin’. Maybe just some plain linen or cotton. Who knows? Men don’t talk about them things much, then or now.

And get this, I heard tell that some of them old-timey panties had an open crotch. Can you believe that? Seems kinda drafty, if you ask me. But I guess they had their reasons. Maybe it was easier for goin’ to the bathroom, or somethin’. I ain’t gonna speculate. Folks did what they did.

Anyways, these days, things are different. You can get underwear in all sorts of shapes and sizes, made outta all sorts of materials. Soft cotton, stretchy stuff, all kinda things. And you don’t need no bones or cages to hold your clothes up. We got it easy now, that’s for sure. But it’s kinda fun to think about how folks used to dress, even down to their unmentionables. It reminds you how much things have changed. Makes you appreciate a good pair of comfy drawers, let me tell ya.

The Evolution of Historical Undergarments Through the Ages

It’s funny how them old-timey clothes shaped how folks looked. You know, like them pointy stays makin’ the ladies all straight and tall, or them bustles makin’ their back sides stick out. It wasn’t just about coverin’ up; it was about makin’ a certain shape, a certain look. And underneath it all, it was all them contraptions and layers doin’ the work.

So next time you put on your comfy underwear, think about them folks way back when, with their leather and linen, their bones and cages. Be thankful you don’t have to squeeze into a corset or lug around a bustle. Times sure have changed, and mostly for the better, I reckon. At least when it comes to underwear.

Tags: [historical undergarments, underwear history, vintage lingerie, 18th-century fashion, victorian fashion, stays, corsets, crinolines, bustles, egyptian clothing, linen underwear, leather underwear, fashion history, antique clothing]

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