tidbit: blog 
tidbit's blog
tidbits from tidbit
Published February 5, 2009Views: 211
Where did the idea for underwear come from?
The use of "underwear" has been recorded as far back as 3000 B.C. Generally, just a narrow band around the waist where decorative and magical pendants were hung.
The Egyptians wore woven material wrapped around the body several times and then tied in front.
Loincloths were worn in Crete around 2000 B.C., usually decorated and most with very intricate patterns.
Between 2105 B.C. and 1240 B.C. Babylonian and Mesopotiamian men wore loincloths as undergarments. The women generally wore short skirts as undergarments.
Much later (A.D. 200) the Romans picked up the tradition with both men and women wearing a loincloth similar to what we consider the brief in today's society. The Roman women also wore a band across the breast called a "mammillare". (The beginnings of the "Bra")
In 1850 Amelia Jenkins Bloomer created a "costume" for women that consisted of a short jacket, a skirt that extended below the knee, and loose "Turkish" style trousers (which later became referred to as "bloomers". Thankfully, this trend never caught on, however, the term "bloomers" stuck and eventually became the name for any loose, baggy underwear worn by women (same thing as "granny panties")
The actual term "underwear" was not coined until around 1879.
- During WWII, American's stationed in Europe had a hard time finding men's underwear. At that time, most Europeans considered underwear to be "optional". Even today American underwear is extremely popular in Europe.
Ironically enough, no one knows who actually began the original manufacturing of underwear in the US. Some claim it was the Union Underwear Company in Indiana. Others, BVD - Bradley, Voorhees, and Day. Yet some say that the first underwear in the US was actually imported from Stansfields in Nova Scotia!
- The word "negligee" comes from the French word meaning "careless" or "neglected". Originally, the garment was a soft, loose-fitting gown. NOT the tight fitting, corset like, lace article it later came to be.
- Speaking of corsets, in the 1900s, both men and women wore corsets. Men primarily wore them in sporting events such as horseback riding.
- Most American underwear was made of wool, which would cause lots of itching, primarily in the southern regions of the US (heat/ humidity). It wasn't until the 1920's that the process of carbonizing wool to remove burrs, created a much softer fabric (cotton).
Filed under: Personal
close![[no avatar]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/presentation/v1/images/golo/noavatar.gif){kind=avatar}
Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.
February 5, 2009 10:29 a.m.
GOLO member since July 13, 2007
February 5, 2009 9:53 a.m.
February 5, 2009 9:52 a.m.
GOLO member since July 13, 2007
February 5, 2009 9:50 a.m.
GOLO member since December 18, 2007
February 5, 2009 9:49 a.m.
HAHAHAHA
GOLO member since July 13, 2007
February 5, 2009 9:47 a.m.
GOLO member since August 28, 2008
February 5, 2009 9:47 a.m.
February 5, 2009 9:46 a.m.
Probably when the "Lucky Charms" started to defy gravity{;o)
February 5, 2009 9:39 a.m.
GOLO member since December 18, 2007
February 5, 2009 9:39 a.m.
Please log in to add comment.