![]() In 1934, hosiery designer Arthur Kneibler received a postcard from a friend visiting the French Riviera. Who likes short shorts? The French, of course. Named for the trunks worn by professional fighters, these buttonless shorts made their appearance in the 1920s, when the founder of boxing equipment company Everlast replaced leather ties with an elasticized waistband. ![]() Pugilists and underwear trends go together like a jab and a cross. Invented in 1874 for bicycle jockeys bumping their way down cobblestone streets, the jockstrap is the ancestor to today’s athletic cup (and the practical descendent of the codpiece). Potentially named after heavyweight boxing champion John Lawrence Sullivan, who was probably never teased for his taste in underwear. Usually referred to as “long underwear” today, you’ve probably worn this shirt-and-pants set if you like to ski, play ice hockey, or do other cold weather activities. This whole process was mercifully eradicated by: Long Johns Commonly worn by men, women, and children, the Union Suit was a one-piece knitted garment that buttoned down the front, usually with sleeves that extended to the wrist, legs that reached to the ankles, and a drop-seat flap so you didn’t have to take the whole thing off to use the restroom. Thanks to the Industrial Revolution, factories started mass-producing underwear. There are many reasons given for this tradition, none of which are printable by our editorial standards. In Scotland – which might be considered a warmer climate if you grew up in Siberia – going regimental is said to be the mark of a “true Scotsman”. In southern Asia, sculptured reliefs dating as far back as the 2nd century BCE depict both men and women wearing dhoti. In warmer climates, where the heat and humidity makes wearing tight trousers uncomfortable, a loose, drapey dhoti, sarong, or lungi was worn – underwear optional. Some styles of garment didn’t call for anything underneath. (Getting right to the point, in Middle English, cod means “scrotum”.) Henry VIII of England is credited with popularizing more and more outlandish and outsize styles of codpieces (the 16th century Englishman didn’t have access to big trucks or other common examples of overcompensating).Ĭodpieces were also sometimes used as pockets for small items, which makes sense when you remember that people hadn’t yet discovered the importance of washing their hands. Enter chausses – which only covered the legs – and codpieces, which buttoned, snapped, or laced to protect and conceal (or reveal) everything in the middle. Which made answering nature’s call somewhat laborious. Chausses and Codpiecesīefore the invention of elastic, undergarments were secured with long ties. Braies and hose were not intended to be worn beneath another layer of clothing, so they’re not strictly undergarments.įun fact: the Romans considered braccae to be effeminate, at least compared to their own extremely manly tunics. These loose linen or wool trousers gave way to close-fitting Renaissance-era hose (think Men in Tights…tight tights!). The favored lower-body garment of the Middle Ages is where we get the term “breeches” from. Something to keep in mind for your next toga party. And mosaics dating back to Roman times suggest that both men and women wore subligacula (not a species of vampire) beneath their clothing. Traditional Japanese fundoshi were in favor until after World War II. King Tutankhamun was buried with an after-lifetime’s supply of fine-woven linen strips. Simple lengths of soft fabric appear in many cultures. The average fig leaf is about 8” long – not bad for the first man. Effective and iconic, but points off for an utter lack of support. Adam uses a fig leaf to cover up his nakedness. So how did Pharaohs and peasants alike keep their goods supported and comfortable? Here’s a look at what’s been hidden beneath men’s clothing since the very beginning. The boxers, briefs, or boxer briefs that you know and mostly forget about (until you have to adjust them) have resembled their current form for less than 100 years.
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