Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

U is for UNDIES!!


The Rogue Speaks:

Undies began as the simple loincloth. It was a piece of animal skin that was brought up between the legs and tied around the waist with sinew or a vine. I'm sure that Jane was delighted with the look!


The loincloth remained popular for quite some time. King Tut was buried with 147 of them in his tomb. Men wore them in ancient Rome, and so did women, with the addition of a breast cloth.


In the Middle Ages, men and women both wore braies, which looked like long, loose shorts.


During the Renaissance, clausses were invented. A codpiece was added for the men's version, which you see in the example below. I don't think they came in that color, though.


Medieval women wore a chemise along with braies that covered their legs.

With the 16th century came the invention of corsets. These uncomfortable contraptions containing cane or bone stays were obviously the idea of some male chauvinist, who wanted to keep his wife on the verge of fainting from not being able to take a deep breath!!

In the 1900's, designers took out the hated whale bone and women sighed with relief.

In 1913, Mary Phelps Jacob invented the bra by sewing two handkerchiefs together. The bra tied in the back with ribbon.


During that time, bloomers came along and were made popular by the Gibson Girls.


In the 20's, bloomers became shorter, and were known as step-ins. Thanks to the flappers of that decade, the era of sexy lingerie began.


In the 50's and 60's, bras were designed to emphasize women's breast. If I had been a young fellow who had never seen a naked woman back then, this vision would be a little frightening. Those things look like they could put out an eye!!


During that time, women's hip huggers and bikini panties were invented, and were made of nylon, adding to the sex appeal.

In the 70's, manufacturers began creating what I call "punitive underwear." Pantyhose were invented, along with the "teddy," which was supposed to be very sexy, but had snaps at the crotch. As far as I am concerned, that garment was very uncomfortable, and was not particularly flattering for many women, unless they were lingerie models for Frederick's of Hollywood.


O.k., yeah, I owned a couple. But after a few very uncomfortable evenings, they mysteriously disappeared in the washer! Darn!!!

In the 1990's, panties became even MORE brief, and the thong became very popular with the younger set. Frankly, I wouldn't be caught dead in a thong! Can you spell "cellulite?"


I have been asked by my husband over the years to come to bed in something more glamorous than a tee shirt and a pair of old cotton pj bottoms. My response to him is that if he would put on a sexy thong for men, then I would oblige.


Oddly enough, that has stopped being issue, and he has started giving me the free tee shirts he gets all the time for giving blood at the Red Cross. We have finally arrived at that stage in our lives when it doesn't really matter WHAT we wear to bed at night, as long as we can lock the dogs out on the porch for a while!!

I hope you have enjoyed my little history lesson for this week. Please visit Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday for more fabulous "U" offerings!!

Oh, if you missed my post for Whimsical Wednesday, be sure to check it out before you go.


P.S. The music you hear is called The Underwear Song. Unfortunately, I cannot understand a word the vocalist is saying. If YOU can, please let me know if it is rated G!

47 comments:

Unknown said...

the things I learn when I come visit you! very interesting and entertaining. it appears we are married to the same man for my hubby wishes I would come to bed in something other than my sweat pants and flannel shirts. he gave me a silk cami set one year, but all it did was make me slide off the bed!

Betty said...

The title of your post sure got my attention! I enjoyed the history lesson and was kind of surprised that bras have only been around since 1913 and nylon underwear made it's appearance in the 1950's and 60's. As far as a thong goes...can you spell uncomfortable? I haven't heard of Frederick's of Hollywood in years. I guess Mr. Frederick retired.

Karen S. said...

Okay a fun topic we can all relate to! Hooray! If I were Jane and he looked like that picture I SURE would be happy too! This is really a fun fact filled undie goodie...thanks Judie you really rock on !

jfb57 said...

I just love that first picture - brilliant!

Teresa said...

What a fun history lesson! I'm certainly glad I live in these times where I can have my nice cotton panties and sensible bra. Some of those certainly look like instruments of torture.

Maxwell Mead Williams Robinson Barry said...

you crack me up.

where did you find those shots.

thoughtful illustrations.
well done!

Anonymous said...

Judie,I always get tickled when I drop in over here.
Visiting from Alphabe Thursday.

Unknown said...

This was such fun! I love t- shirts and pajama pants too.

I am super proud of him.

Anonymous said...

Loved this post! I'm glad I stopped by before I wrote mine! I was going to do underwear! Oh well, plan B.
Nice job and very informative. I wouldn't be caught dead in a thong, but my girls are just sassy enough to bury me in one!

I always love visiting you!

no excuses

Ames said...

When I was young I thought womans breast were shaped like that. Teddies never stayed on long enough to warrant wearing them and I can honestly say I have never worn butt floss! But I do like a man in a loin cloth!~Ames

Pondside said...

No underwear under the kilt - I have it on very good authority that 'commando' is the way to go.
Does anyone remember garter belts? Talk about instruments of torture - they were always breaking and sending one side of a stocking drooping.

EG CameraGirl said...

That was quite the history lesson, Judie! :))

To the Toy Box and Beyond said...

huh? What? You get free tees for donating blood???? Interesting post I almost did an underwear blog but mine would have involved those annoying singing fruit. I know its their logo but seriously when I think of undies I do not think fruit. Who was the mastermind behind that?

Unknown said...

Well now, that must've been quite the interesting topic to research for this week's alphabe-thursday! I'll never understand the whole thong-craze of the 90s and I'll never understand why Victoria Secret's is compelled to make a super expensive, jewel encrusted bra and panties (all I can think of is "ouch!") However, I am glad that the underwear we have these days are so much more comfortable compared to those of the past :)

My name is Riet said...

Oh I love his post. SO funny and so true. I think all husbands are the same, they don't like the t shirts. I love the teddies and so did he. LOL A thong, never had that , look so uneasy. Grat U word.

Jo said...

Fabulous post! I actually have a relative, generations past, who died because her dress caught a spark from the fireplace and the whalebone in her corset heated and burned her severely ... let's here it for then end of such torturous devices!

Wanda said...

Your post just goes to show how far we've come. Some of those undies really do look like forms of torture. When it comes to undies, I'm way more into comfort than fashion!

Jo-Ann said...

Silly, funny, great illustrations, and educational too. Will I be thinking about men in loincloths all day? Big Smile. THanks, Judie

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

A great post in the history of undies! The thong gives me discomfort just to look at. I mean how in the world would someone like to wear a string between their cracks like that? We saw them at the beach, and my boys screamed "look at that butt-crack!" :-(

Tammy said...

I always learn such fun stuff here, not to mention the pictures....

Vicki/Jake said...

UNDIES! Or the lack of em:) I LOVE (and am not surprised) that you picked UNDIES. Can you imagine being buried with all your undies? HAHA, If I could get away with it, I'd throw all mine out the door!! BTW, I always thought a man invented the bra...probably told by some woman who didn't want us to be blamed for the dumb things:)

Ok, now I have to remember to wait..

Gattina said...

Very interesting ! This string thing must hurt ! I never wore one ! I would prefer a figue leaf !

Monica said...

What a fun post!

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

I love that top pic! Too cute...

I am at that place in life with my old boyfriend that it really doesn't matter how we look or what we wear. Isn't it grand?

cj Schlottman said...

Judie,

You have once again made me smile and cringe in the same piece. Always learn something new. I tried teddies when I was in my twenties and skinny. They were uncomfortable as hell, riding up my crack. And the snap crotch? Please, if you need that kind of torture to dazzle a man, well, that's just a shame.

Namaste..........cj

Sarah said...

Pantyhose and thong are the two things I'd never wear, and I'd never owned a teddy. OK, occasionally maybe the pantyhose, but definately not a thong. I call them "the eternal wedgies"! And, LOL at mumsy's comment!

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

Fun- loved it!

bluzdude said...

That's what you call it in Arizona? Lockin' the Dogs?

The Poet said...

Laughing...I've been away on vacation for a few weeks and had forgotten how brazen some of Miss Jenny's lot could be! I shall be chuckling to myself tonight when I think about this post.
You are too much and that Mumsy's comment just about did me in! (laughing so hard my side hurts)

Excellent stuff! I always learn a few things when I visit here!


Under Blinking Stars

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

I laughed so suddenly, I almost spewed coffee all over my keyboard! Too funny, Judie!

SarahBeth said...

Funny! I've always wondered about the kilts.....

Birgit said...

I am convinced this is the best U post ever... Thanks for the smiles! :)

Greetings from Germany,
Birgit

PS: See my U post here! :)

Keri {One Mama's Daily Drama} said...

You always have the most educational posts! I had no idea that what I would call "regular underwear" wasn't invented until the 60s! And I must say I've never seen the appeal of a teddy either.

jenn said...

thanks for the fashionable history lesson.

mrs. c said...

You are a hoot! Love your post, it made me smile and after a hard day at school with 20 4-year olds I need a smile! I like your thong ideas! I would never, ever wear them either! Have a great weekend.

Unknown said...

A history lesson in underwear, awesome! LOL, always so educational & fun:-)

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

I am listening to music in your blog.
wow.

creative you.

bless your weekend.

KM said...

How interesting and hilarious! :)I always enjoy reading!

Visiting from Alphabe-Thursday!

Mari Sterling Wilbur said...

What a fun, interesting and delightful post. I particularly enjoyed the loin cloth and the men's black undies - or maybe it's the bodies I enjoyed. :D

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

This was a fun and interesting post, Judie! I wonder if mankind will ever go back to the minimal loincloth look? Fashion does seem to go around in circles and everything old is new again..lol!

Barbara Rosenzweig said...

Judie, I have to say that although I don't leave a comment, I always enjoy your posts! This one had me lol! So informative and so well written!

Thanks for voting for my painting and for sharing the Whimsical Wednesday link. I love your gourds! So wonderfully creative! (I even added my Crab Blue Plate Special!)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Eliza Wynn said...

Those "torpedo bras" always looked kind of scary, didn't they?

Annesphamily said...

I loved this post! You shared so many different undies! Love it! Thongs look so uncomfortable to me! I hate things stuck in my....well you know! Thanks for the smile Judie!

Cher Duncombe said...

Uh, I just had to turn my head away from some of those photos, Judie. TMI!
Those pointy bras look like they could knock a person's eye out! Fun post. :)

THE SNEE said...

Hi Judie,
How I've missed reading your prose! I absolutely LOVED this post on underwear history? I finally threw away all of my ripped and torn underwear ( part of my pledge to de-box my life).
I have a dear friend, over at analogme.typepad.com, who creates underwear from her old tee shirts. Now that seems like a great blend for the tee shirt nighty.

Jenny said...

I loved this post, Judie, and I learned a lot from it.

Now if I can just find the right time and venue to share all this esoteric knowledge, things will be great!

Thanks for the smile.

I always love visiting you.

A+

KDL said...

Here's hoping I'm never forced to wear any of these insidious articles of clothing...ew. Thanks for sharing, though - very interesting! Thanks for stopping by The Simple Life.