Tap pants

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Tap pants are a form of lingerie worn exclusively by women. It is also known by the names of French knickers, side-cut shorts, and dance shorts. As the name implies, they are a type of shorts, in that they cover the pelvic area and the upper part of the upper legs.

Tap pants look much like track shorts, allow freedom of movement, and can be worn as an outer garment over other types of underwear (g-strings). However, most wearers may wear them as innerwear or leisurewear with nothing underneath. From a distance, one could mistakenly identify tap pants as a half slip.

[edit] Name

The name "tap pants" originates from shorts worn by tap dancers while practicing their routines.

[edit] Materials and design

Tap pants are mostly manufactured using materials like lace, silk, satin and cotton voile. Some pairs may have ruffles.

[edit] Popularity

Tap pants have been losing popularity to more slimmer versions of underwear since the mid 20th Century[1], as loose undergarments do not mix with figure hugging dresses, and especially with pants.