Underwear, the Fashion History

Book excerpt: This book looks at underwear in general from 1490, and in some depth over the last 150 years, highlighting women's underwear, which is perhaps the most intriguing, certainly the most variable. Reference to men's and children's is mainly limited to brief notes on specific innovations, particularly those with a bearing on developments in women's underwear. Stockings and tights are only briefly mentioned as they do not quite qualify as under (i.e. hidden) garments. For each of three 50-year periods, from 1840 to 1990, the book looks at the image "outside in"---that is, the fashionable silhouette, and what layers were needed beneath to sustain this; then at the reality, "inside out"---with an analysis of the actual clothes, fabrics, design and decoration: and finally at the context, "round about" which focuses on reminiscences of wearing, and developments in the industry. These last sections also give details bout making, cleaning and mending, together with notes on buying and selling.--Introduction.