Panties
Women's underpants
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- 3 chapters
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Panties are made of a variety of materials, including cotton, lace, latex, leather, lycra, mesh, nylon, PVC, polyester, rawhide, satin, and silk. 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 elastomer.
Terminology
In the United States and Canada, "panties" is a common term to refer to female underwear bottoms.
In the United Kingdom, Ireland, and occasionally in other Commonwealth countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, panties may be referred to as "knickers", "undies", or simply "underwear". The last two of these are gender-neutral terms and can be used for either male or female styles of underwear bottoms.
In Australia, male underpants are often referred to as "undies", although the word can also refer to panties.
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History
Underwear resembling modern day panties were first invented in the 1920s, when long drawers were shortened to be made less cumbersome, although they were heavily decorated and had to be fastened. The bows used for fastening still remain on some panties as a decoration to this day.
Between 1930 and 1947, panties were shortened further and made with cotton instead of linen. By the 1960s, wide-legged panties (this may refer to French knickers) were used instead of a slip by most women in the west and were often manufactured in vibrant colors and prints.
In the 70s, close-fitting panties became more common made in stretch fabrics such as polyester and stretch cotton. The 80s saw high-leg briefs which were also popular In the gym as aerobics dance wear worn over tights or as part of a leotard.
In the 90s bottom-exposing panties such as thongs became popular. In some cases the strap of the thong would ride above the low-slung waist of jeans or trousers, matching the fashion trend for exposed bra straps under vest tops with spaghetti straps.
In the 2000s, boyshorts and hipster styles were introduced. However minis and briefs and other styles continued to be popular. Around this time, innovations in fabric technology yielded seamless styles which allowed people to wear tight-fitting clothes in smooth fabrics without their underwear showing through.
Styles
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:
- Notes