Unmentionables; 250 Years of Underwear, 1720-1970

Introduction:
A fashionable silhouette is often achieved by the use of undergarments that are literally under the principal garments. Hidden beneath layers of clothing, underwear seemed mysterious in the 18th and 19th centuries. Then, as layers were peeled away in the 20th century, underwear became intriguing and finally fascinating. As this progression developed, underwear, which was at first simple and plain, became ornate, colorful and at last frivolous.