Underwear Flashcards
What were the 3 historical purposes of underwear?
1) protect outer clothing from the body
2) Shape the body (from the 16th century)
3) Fashion statement (from the 20th century)
How is underwear a “social border”?
It divides the private (naked body) from the public (outer clothing), protecting both.
Why is underwear considered in “limbo”
It’s unseen yet designed for potential visibility - always ready to be seen.
Why is modern underwear often coloured?
To appeal to a viewer, real or imagined, reflecting preparation of the body for visual culture.
What did the corset symbolize in the 16th to the 18th centuries?
femininity, class, and sexuality; it shaped the “natural” form of women.
Why did children wear corsets?
To train postures and body shape from a young age - boys stopped around age 10, girls continued.
What were the farthingale, pannier, and bustle used for?
Hips, sides, rear - to exaggerate feminine features.
What health dangers were associated with corsets and victorian fashion?
Curved spines, flammable hoop skirts, arsenic-laced dyes, mercury in hats.
What replaced the corsets after WWI
Girdles, then bras - more comfortable and practical.
Who invented the two-piece bra, and when?
Hermione Cadolle in 1889, Paris.
What is the Wonderbra and when did it emerge?
A Canadian-designed push-up bra from the 1960s, became the most popular ever marketed.
How did feminism challenge bras in the 1960s?
Bras were seen as symbols of male oppression - leading into bra-burning protests.
What was the “union suit”?
One-piece red wool underwear for men, with front and rear flaps.
What were ‘long Johns”?
Two-piece underwear replacing the union suit by the 1930s
When did briefs become popular?
1935, with Cooper’s inc (Jockey) inventing the Y-front briefs.
when did men’s underwear become sexualized?
1960s onward, due to feminism, gay rights, and media images.
What do Abrahamic religions say about underwear?
The focus is more on modesty and shame of nakedness than on underwear itself.
What is the purpose of Mormon temple garments?
Spiritual protection and a reminder of convenants - must be worn at all times.
What is the Sijh Kacchera?
A drawstring undergarment symbolizing modesty and self-control.
What is the orgin of pjs
Adapted from Punjabi lounging wear in colonial India to Victorian sleepwear.
How did TV change sleepwear norms for women?
Mary Tyler More wore pjs on The Dick Van Dyke show, breaking tradition
Why did swimwear cause legal/social controversy?
It challenged the line between public and private exposure, with arrests for showing too much skin.
Who was the the first female swimmer to wear one-piece suit?
Annette Kellerman, arrested in 1907 of indecency in Massachusetts.
What was the impact of WWII on bathing suits?
Material shortages led to the popularization of the two-piece swimsuit.
