There is hardly another piece of clothing that causes so much historical speculations as underwear, or underpants. They are unseen underneath clothes, so they left too little information for historian studying the evolution of human clothes. Images of underwear can never be seen on paintings of eminent artists, whereas descriptions of underwear cannot be found in voluminous historical works. It is too intimate to speak of it publicly.
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Even the origin date of underwear is enveloped in mystery. On the fourth century mosaic at the Sicilian Villa Armerina one can see two beautiful Roman women wearing red suits that look much like modern two-piece bathing suits. However, those suits were used for sports competitions, a research showed. In everyday life they wore tunics and togas.
One can also see underwear on the 15th century fresco Fountain of Youth in Piedmontese Castello della Manta castle in Italy. The fresco painting depicts disrobing elders getting ready to plunge into the waters of the fountain and dressing young men who have apparently tried the rejuvenating waters. Both elders and youths have modern white square-cut underwear on. Researchers say that those garments were used for everyday wear. However, it is very hard to find out when such underwear appeared.
There is another piece of evidence to prove that underpants existed as changeable clothing. Franco Sacchetti, an Italian poet and novelist of the 14th century, mocked at those who put their backsides into tiny stockings. This stocking (calcetto) indicates a possible origin of underpants.
Also read: Self-cleaning underwear needs no washing for weeks
All this refers to men’s fashion. The situation with female underwear is much more difficult. Before the late 19th century ladies did not wear anything resembling panties. Instead they wore quite unprepossessing petticoats made of white fabric without any adornments. Knickers appeared later: a garment with two separate legs that fastened at a girdle. Trouser-legs were not sewn together. Moreover, when some advanced Europeans contrived to sew them together, they were accused of immorality.
Closer to the turn of the centuries there appeared new linen and woolen petticoat-pants with frills low between legs. The summer version was knee-length. They also had clasps on the back. At that time there was an idea about beautiful and seducing underwear. The pants were sewn with lace and frills, and were adorned with tucks for extra volume.
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