Edurne Baz reviews the intricate history of underwear, from the purely functional to the most whimsical and delirious, passing through pieces that have conquered street styles.
The history of underwear runs parallel to the history of Humanity itself. Fashion is, at all times, the mirror of its time. And intimate fashion was not going to be less.
universe of underwear
The great cultural or technological revolutions, war conflicts or changes in prevailing morality have also left their mark on the universe of underwear.
It began as a way of responding to the need for shelter or personal hygiene issues, but it soon transcended mere functionality to enter the realms of social status, the ideal of beauty or an acquired modesty.
And although it was designed, as its name suggests, to be hidden under outer garments, over the years it gradually managed to peek out, until, today, the line that separates underwear from considered streetwear it is already completely blurred.
From primitive loincloths to the tiniest of today’s thongs, the history of underwear has spawned an extensive catalog of iconic creations.