Tags
'Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear'- exhibition, fashion exhibitions 2016 - 2017, history of underwear, Mark your diary!, underwear as outerwear, Victoria and Albert Museum - London
At dress between
by meappropriatestyle
Partially clothed, a state of ‘undress’
has is seductive qualities
not totally bare
yet almost there, a moment in time suspended.
Neither fully clothed,
nor totally bare
this is to be in ‘underwear’.
…
Underwear has long been part of our dress habits.
The ancients wore a type of undergarment-
a loin cloth covering the genital area.
During Roman times both men and woman
donned some manner of under clothing-
a sort of pants for man and for women a band of cloth around the chest.
In the medieval era, even a type of “breast bag” was introduced-
a proto-type idea of the modern bra (1913).
…
‘Breast bands’
A segement of a mosaic in the Villa Romana del Casale,
Piazza Armerina, Sicily, 2nd to 4th century
illustrates women wearing ‘breast bands’ while
participating in athletics
(image from historymedren-about.com)
…
More commonly, during the medieval period and later the Renaissance
most people wore only a chemise:
a simple linen shift shirt.
…
White chemise exposed
in a painting by
Meister S. H. von Linz (circa 1490 / 1500)
(image from pinterest)
…
The wearing of undergarments, however
was not a universal practice or considered of particular necessity.
Rather it was more of limited luxury
and certainly only adopted by those of the wealthy classes.
…
By the Renaissance,
underwear fashion had begun to define silhouette.
In the 16th century, European women
were subjecting themselves to wearing
constrictive under clothing (corsets)
in the pursuit of achieving figure altering forms.
…
Towards the end of the 19th century
severe health issues from body deformative results
of tightly stayed corsets
were well documented features of women health concerns.
…
‘Foot to back’
woman being tightly laced into her corset (19th C.)
(image from ntlworld.com)
…
In the past, undergarments were worn more for practical purpose
as a protective layer, between body and outerwear-
one measure to limit the need for constant washing of outer garments;
and as another layer of warmth.
Today, underwear as practical fashion
and lingerie as fashion ‘for certain eyes only’
is no longer strictly so.
Their new status is of fun / flirty pieces on full display.
…
Lingerie and underwear as outerwear
s / s 2016
from Givenchy
…
from Saint Laurent
…
from Dries Van Noten
(images from vogue uk)
…
As with all clothing / fashion trends
‘under-wearing’ practices has experienced many changes and intent.
The exhibition
Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear
chronicles the style transitions and current trends
of under garments from past eras (mid 18th C.) to present time.
This illuminating exhibition is not to be missed
for it sheds further light on an important aspect of dress history.
…
Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear
at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
16 April 2016 to 17 March 2017
Visit http://www.vam.ac.uk for further details
…