Panties

Panties in different colors

Panties in American English (typically called knickers in British English) are a form of underwear worn by women. Panties are most often form-fitting, but may also be loose. Typical components include an elastic waistband, a crotch panel to cover the genital area (usually lined with absorbent material such as cotton), and a pair of leg openings that, like the waistband, are often made of elastic. Various materials are used, but are usually chosen to be breathable.

Panties were originally designed to cover the entire lower half of the female torso,[1] since the 1970s panties have had either no legs or, in some cases, very short ones, and have become increasingly brief over time, more and more men have begun to wear panties, for their comfort and fabric choices.

Terminology

In countries such as the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore and occasionally in other Commonwealth countries such as Australia[2][3] and New Zealand, panties are often referred to as "knickers" or "undies", although "knickers" can also refer to male underwear, while "panties" generally refers only to female underwear. In Australia, men's underpants are often referred to as "undies".[4] Although it can refer to woman's underpants. The term is little used in the United States (US) and Canada, where the term "panties" is usually favoured. In the UK, the term "pants" is also used for both men and women's underwear (not to be confused with the North American usage of pants, which refer to what both Americans and the British call "trousers", although this term is also used in some parts of Northern England).

Styles

Various styles of panties (Thong & G-string: back view)

Panties are classified into various styles based on criteria such as the amount of rear coverage, width at the sides and height at which they are worn. These categories are not necessarily distinct and usage may vary somewhat among brands:[5]

  • Adhesive panties: Sometimes described as strapless/stick-on panties. They are a form of micro-panties that cover the bare minimum parts on the front and back. They are useful when women do not want the panty line to be visible.
  • Bikinis, like hipsters, sit at hip level, but the fabric of the side sections is narrower. With the string bikini type, the side sections disappear altogether and the waistband consists of only string-like material; also, the rear coverage of the bikini is more revealing than that of the brief.
  • Boyshorts are styled after men's boxer briefs and have short legs extending below the crotch.
  • Briefs rise to the waist, or just below the navel, and have full coverage in the rear.
    • Classic briefs feature sides that extend below the hip. Sometimes these are called "granny panties" by young women.
    • Control briefs are designed to offer support while giving a slimmer appearance. This type usually contains a stretch material such as spandex and may extend above the waist.
    • High-cut briefs are designed with sides that are somewhat narrower.
  • Hipsters are worn lower down on the body, with the waistband around the hips.
  • Tangas provide a moderate to minimal coverage with back coverage that is less than a bikini, and the waistband is reduced to a narrow strip at the sides.[6]
    • The G-string has a vertical string at the back, which connects the crotch to the waistband, sometimes featuring a triangle of fabric.
    • Thongs have a waistband similar to tangas, but the rear coverage is mostly cut away. The crotch is extended to the back of the wearer and a narrow strip of fabric fits between the buttocks, becoming wider towards the top.

Panties are made of a variety of materials and fabrics, including cotton, lace, latex, leather, lycra, mesh, nylon, PVC, polyester, rawhide, satin, and silk. Construction typically consists of two pieces (front and rear) that are joined by seams at the crotch and sides; an additional gusset is often in the crotch, with the waistband and leg-openings made from elastic.

Boyshorts

A woman wearing sports bra and boyshorts as outdoor wear, Sydney.

Boy shorts or boyshorts, also known as boy short panties, boys' cut, booty shorts, shorties, or boyleg briefs are a kind of women's underwear that goes all the way down the hips, named for their similarity in looks to men's knit boxer shorts, which themselves are a variation on traditional boxer shorts. Some even resemble men's briefs, complete with fly and contrast trim. Unlike men's briefs, however, this style is usually lower cut, and is designed to fit and flatter a woman's figure. Boy shorts often cover most of the buttocks area, therefore keeping privacy at maximum while still having comfort.[7][8]

Boy shorts have become a popular choice, since they avoid displaying a prominent visible panty line, and are a modest and comfortable alternative to thongs and conventional panties. They are also popularly matched with a camisole top and worn as loungewear. Cotton-spandex blends and lace are the most popular materials for boy shorts.

The term boy shorts can also refer to bathing suit bottoms in the same style.[7]

Wearing style

Topless woman on a beach in G-string

Though women are often shown wearing panties under a garter belt with stockings, panties are actually worn over the garters to allow the panties to be easily pulled down or removed without unfastening the garters. If wearing low shapewear, or a girdle, with attached garters, tap pants or panties with side ties may be the only practical options apart from unfastening the garters.

History

The earliest known use of underwear that resembles modern panties dates back to 4,400 B.C. during the Badari period in Egypt.[9] Statuettes found in Badari tombs show the modern panty as it is known today: triangular in shape with very little cloth around the hips. Most modern cultures have created their own style of underwear, but modern panties closely resemble those that adorn Badarian statuettes.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Staff (7 February 2008). "Panty". The Origin of. TheOriginOf.com. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  2. ↑ Burgdorf, Katherine (12 November 2013). "Say 'NO' to dodgy knickers". The Hoopla. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "Hole Proof - No Knickers". Bonds underwear, Australia. 1985. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Translations of Australian English words into American English - Fiona Lake". Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Parkinson, Ann (9 September 2011). "Women's Panties - LoveToKnow Lingerie". Lingerie.lovetoknow.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  6. ↑ Jennifer Carroll; Kathy Schultz (1 October 2009), Underneath It All, Harlequin, p. 41, ISBN 978-1-4268-4072-2, retrieved 14 September 2013
  7. 1 2 "Boy shorts", Oxforddictionaries.com, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Boyshorts and Girltrunks 102: Your Queer Underwear Guide", Autostraddle.com, 05-03-2013.
  9. ↑ Brunton, Guy; Caton-Thompson, Gertrude (1928). The Badarian Civilisation and Predynastic Remains Near Badari (PDF). British School of archaeology in Egypt, University College, and B. Quaritch.
  • Nomani, Asra Q. (8 June 1999). "How Thong Underwear Managed to Win Over a Mainstream Market". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
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