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 briefer over time.

Terminology

In countries such as the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland, South Africa, and occasionally in other Commonwealth countries such as Australia[2][3] and New Zealand, panties are often referred to as "knickers" or "undies". In Australia, men's underpants are often referred to as "undies".[4] 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]

Panties are made of a variety of materials and fabrics, including satin, silk, PVC, cotton, nylon, mesh, lace, rawhide, leather, latex, lycra, and polyester. 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.

Wearing style

Woman at 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.[7] 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. ↑ "Say ‘NO’ to dodgy knickers". thehoopla.com.au. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  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. ↑ 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.
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