Panties from past to present
illustrations by Christina Wong
NO ONE LIKES the word “panties,” but everyone loves a history lesson! The Fulcrum follows the thrills and frills throughout the last century.
Bloomers, 1900s–1930s.
The Hanes Company gained popularity with the edgy, modern girl when they introduced bloomers. Loose and gathered above the knee, bloomers shifted away from confining corsets, allowing girls to take part in male-dominated activities like bike riding. Factories meant mass production; underwear companies got competitive. The race to create panties with the fewest ties and buttons was on.
Granny panties, 1930s–present.
Originally known as “step-ins,” granny panties were a hit because they allowed flexibility. Despite granny panties having a bad reputation these days, most girls own more than just a couple pairs. When your belly button needs an extra layer of warmth or your muffin top needs flattening, granny panties do the job. Plus, they come in a dazzling array of colours, from white to beige to black.
Bikini briefs, 1960s–present.
From the “day-of-the-week” cotton panties worn by six-year-olds to the colourful and patterned lace, silk, and nylon pairs worn by girls who have discovered boys, bikini briefs are presently one of the most popular everyday panty styles.
The thong, 1980s–present.
First sold by Frederick’s of Hollywood as “The next to nothing panty,” the thong was an instant hit. The dreaded visible panty line became a thing of the past, and as casual sex lost its taboo, so did the thong. Jeans became low rise so that rhinestones, bows, and straps could be seen by the public at large.
Boyshorts, present.
According to Cosmopolitan, the boyshort is taking over from the thong in popularity. For once, Cosmo makes a valid point: boyshorts don’t dig into the hips, they show a little bit of booty, they’re sexy without being skanky, and they come with a wedgie-free guarantee.
