It is known that in ancient Greece and Egypt, women looked to an early form of the well-known and more modern corset. They used this for the express purpose of supporting the breasts, though not covering them; the corset came just under the bust. Centuries later, members of the noble class in European countries were purported to have worn full-coverage undergarments that kept the clothing away from the body. Medieval times did not recognize regular bathing as necessary, so this was probably a good idea.



As regular bathing became more commonplace, full bodied lingerie was no longer necessitated, though underwear did persist. Also, the corset became a means of achieving a cinched waist, a silhouette that proved incredibly uncomfortable but highly desired. The corset utilized bones to ensure no movement, and it had the effect of making the breasts and hip area protrude, which is known as the hourglass figure. Topping this contraption would be layers of petticoats, chemises, and stockings.

As time moved forward, the history of lingerie took another turn. The early decades of the twentieth century saw the invention of the brassiere, as well as a change in the ideal body image. Dancing-the kind that required the body to move-necessitated an unlacing of the corset and an adoption of a more androgynous fashion sense.

Of course, the first half of the twentieth century was embroiled in two world wars, which made anything considered a non-necessity in pretty scarce supply. As a result, there were just the basics: brassiere, underpants, and that is about it. Even stockings were hard to come by. Then, in the 50s, the glamorous movie stars of the time exemplified that hourglass figure, and the corset made a roaring comeback. Now, though, it was in a more tolerable form of a girdle, and it was accompanied by seamless brassieres.

The history of lingerie has a blip on the radar of time, which is the 60s and 70s. Freedom, equality-these were at the forefront of society's mind. Corsets, brassieres, stockings-implements of restraint and symbolic of suppression, these were abandoned, literally. Women burned their bras, but by the 80s, they needed them back. In fact, the final two decades of the 20th century saw a resurgence in femininity, and the corset came back. Now used for more romantic purposes, lingerie became a symbol of sensuality.

So from the supportive efforts of the ancient people to the fashion statement-effect of today, the history of lingerie has certainly persevered, and it has always hinged on the feelings and needs of society. In the twenty-first century, there are more lingerie choices than ever before. Whether looking for a romantic chemise for the honeymoon or a full-support girdle for under that high school reunion dress, women of today have more options than ever in the whole history of lingerie.