Compositions & Coffee Presents: "Creative Soul Digest"
Back2Life Style Journey Thursday
Hey again and thanks for joining me for Back 2 Life Style Journey Thursday! We are continuing our discussion of women’s health by discussing not just reproductive health but emotional as well. I’m truly getting all of you ready for Valentine’s Day this week especially since today’s style journey is about lingerie. Lingerie has a history as shapewear that changed with the times while also being undergarments for hygiene. Today, lingerie remains undergarments but is known more for it’s sexy appearance and the confidence it evokes in the one who wears it (and desire in the observer). So we will talk history and style changes in todays post and I’ll give you some amazing recommendations for wear to order your pre-Valentine’s day garb (or everyday garb).
History of Sexy
The word Lingerie is directly derived from the French word for undergarments with 'linge' meaning “linen”. Lingerie consists of undergarments, sleepwear, and robes. It’s fabric is lightweight, stretchy, smooth, sleet, and decorative with fabrics like silk, satin, lycra, charmeuse, chiffon, and lace. Lingerie’s beginning, believe it or not, was the 1700s with Stays/ Cosets. Stays, or wellbone corsets, were apart of everyday wardrobe for “proper” eighteenth century women. Not like the sexy brassiere we know today but ideal for molding the ideal body with a tiny waist and pushed up breast. The French Ceremonial ritual of the “toiletter” consisted of a morning routine of undressing and dressing in front of the court which meant putting on a “stay." Women performing this “toiletter” would linger in the undergarments, hinting at the sexual intimacy involved.
The late 1800s corsets became S-curved and pushed the breasts forward while arching the chest back to accentuate the hips. These Victorian corsets were extremely uncomfortable and constricting but the design was more intricate.
During the first half of the 20th century women wore underwear for three reasons: to alter their outward shape (corsets, girdles, brassieres), for hygenic reasons, and for modesty. Pre-Victorian women wore open-crotch drawers, which didn’t represent sexual availability but simply because only men wore closed crotch underpants at the time. In the 1937 comedy Topper, Mrs. Topper’s character was a boring, sober, and predictable woman which endangered her marriage. Her husband presents her with a pair of lacy closed crotch underpants (which was the height of fashion in lingerie at the time). This became the introduction to the closed crotch underwear in the Victorian middle-class woman’s boudoir since it symbolized sexual availability to her husband.
Next up in the 1900s the sheer nightgown. Bridal trousseaux involved sheet nightgowns, sometimes with low backs that more than hinted at the bare body underneath. These gowns weren’t just for the pleasure of the wedding night.
Slips grew in popularity in the 1920s while fashion was moving away from the hourglass body type to the boyish and straight body type. For example, the popular flapper dress had no need for tight corsets therefore undergarments had to be constructed to be invisible.
Corselets of the 1950s were designed to be worn under evenings gowns and were mostly strapless with underwire cups for breast enhancement.
The new look of the 1950s was captured in Christian Dior’s “New Look” collection centered on dresses, skirts, and coats that had super-full skirts and created an hourglass silhouette. The bust was a prominent part of the look, which meant bras became wired and structured to push up and form decolletage set against plunging necklines.
Pinup Ads also boomed in the 1950s and were common motifs in intimate apparel advertisements in the mid-twentieth century. The models in the poster would always have a suggestive pose, with hips, and chest jutting out, submitting to the viewer’s gaze and communicating loud and clear: “You bought these corselets and bustiers to have them seen, not hide them.”
In 1954 corset maker Ada Masotti founded La Perla focusing on bright silks embellished with lace trim. Masotti would package the luxury pieces in velvet boxes, like pieces of jewelry; an apt choice given the perla means “pearl” in Italian. La Perla, to this day, exemplifies how sophistication and sexiness aren’t mutually exclusive.
The 1960s were about sexual liberation and minimalist. In 1965, fashion designer Rudi Gernreich introduced a No-Bra, manufactured by Lily of France that was not only transparent but also promoted the braless look. It had no metal or wiring and was available only in A or B cups since it didn’t provide much support.
Victoria Secret was founded by Roy and Gaye Raymond of San Francisco in 1977. Roy told Newsweek that prior to founding the store, “When I tried to buy lingerie for my wife, I was faced with racks of terry-cloth robes and ugly floral print nylon nightgowns, and I always had the feeling the department store saleswomen thought I was an unwelcomed intruder.” Prior to Victoria Secret entering the market, women typically bought two kinds of underwear: plain and dowdy foundation garments in department stores, and more expensive pieces for special occasions like honeymoons. Enter Victoria Secret, and items such as lace thongs and padded satin bra became affordable. Sexy lingerie soon became an everyday thing.
Stars Wars Return of the Jedi in 1983 made Carrie Fisher a sex icon with her metal string bikini and red silk loincloth in the back. The character Princess Leia was a powerful and strong-willed heroine and many young girls admired her.
Teddies became popular in the 1980s and were recommended for sleepwear. Classic lingerie styles also became popular again, after going out of style in the mid 1960s. Career women in the 80s wore menswear-inspired power suits with giant shoulder pads to work but often wore sexy, lacy, underwear as a reminder of the their femininity.
Then there was Madonna, who has been an all around trendsetter for her iconic ensembles. During her blond ambition tour Madonna unveiled Jean Paul Gaultier cone brassier. This satin top with the conical breasts made sharp statements against the ideal of feminism softness.
Hollywood began to glamourize lingerie and by the 21st century designs doubled as outerwear.
The global lingerie market in 2003 was estimated $29 billion.
Types of lingerie
o Babydolls
o Basque
o Bloomers
o Bodystocking
o Bodice
o Brassiere
o Bustier
o Camisole
o Chemise
o Coset
o Corselet
o G-string or thong
o Garter
o Girdle
o Hosiery
o Negligee
o Nightgown
o Nightshirt
o Panties
o Petticoat
o Pettipants
o Tanga
o Tap pants
o Teddy
o Undergarment
2021 Trend
Lingerie comes in a myriad of forms today. From the lacy bra you wear every day because it gives you confidence to the sexy bodysuit that you pair with jeans for a cool “going out” look, lingerie has something for everyone all with the same intent; confidence and sex appeal.
Some hot new trends for 2021 include backless and crotch less panties known as ouvert, French for 'open'. Preview for this year include:
o Mesh Crotchless high-leg bikini- as seen in Savage X Fenty
o Open Gusset Hipster Panties
o Valentine Soft Cup babydoll Chemise and G-string thong
o Unlined Bodysuit- available in plus- as seen in AdoreMe
o Savage Not Sorry Lace bodysuits- as seen on Savage X Fenty
o Cami & Short sets -as seen on AdoreMe
o Underwire Sports Bras
Healthy Undies
Lastly folks I want to talk about why we wear underwear. Previously known as unmentionables, cotton underwear have been something both men and women have worn for their health for years. Research has shown that synthetic underwear isn’t breathable which can create a moist and warm environment down there which is not ideal. This sort of environment is the prime source of yeast infections for women. Cotton is ideal for it’s breathable nature, comfort, and it keeps things dry. Did you know experts recommend replacing your underwear every 6 months to a year? Makes sense when you think about it. Did you also know that August 5this National Underwear day? This one didn’t make as much sense to me but maybe you understand it so let me know in the comments.
Well folks that’s a wrap for this Thursday. I hope you enjoyed this weeks discussion and I was able to give you some ideas for Valentines day as well. I’ll have the usual recommendations below let me know what you think of the recommendations as well as what you’d like to see. Looking forward to engaging with you more. Until tomorrow…
--Be Free
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