Underpants are underwear worn on the lower body generally extending no higher than the navel.Underpants. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved 2 August 2012. In British English, they are often known as simply pants. If a given pair of underpants has a wider waistband, it might bear the brand name of the manufacturer on it.
Types of underpants Gender Type Example Description Unisex Long underpantsLong underpants are the bottom half of a style of two-piece underwear called long underwear, long johns, or thermal underwear, that has long legs and long sleeves, and is normally worn during cold weather; also commonly worn by people under their clothes in cold countries. The male version of a long underwear bottom may or may not have a front fly. Briefs Classic briefs have an elasticated waistband at or near the wearer's waist, and leg bands that end at or near the groin. Many male briefs feature a fly. They also come in ultra-absorbent varieties. Bikini briefs Bikini briefs are a variation on classic briefs that have less coverage; but typically have full coverage of the buttocks. Conventionally, the men's version has no fly. Thong Thongs are like bikini briefs, except the backside is very narrow and goes between the buttocks. Open drawers Open drawers are undergarments where the backs and front of the legs are not joined. DiapersDiapers (North America) or nappies (Britain, Ireland, and Australia) are a type of underwear worn by young children and those suffering from incontinence. Unlike other briefs, diapers allow the wearer to urinate or defecate without soiling their surroundings. These can be either reusable or disposable. Male Boxer shorts Boxer shorts, boxers, or trunks (Britain), have an elasticated waistband that is at or near the wearer's waist, while the leg sections are fairly loose and extend to the mid-thigh. There is usually a fly, either with or without buttons. Midway briefs Midway briefs are similar in style to boxer briefs, but are longer in the leg, at the longest being down to the knees. Boxer briefs Boxer briefs are similar in style to boxer shorts, but are form-fitting like classic briefs. Like men's briefs, they often utilize a fly. Boxer briefs are sometimes called "trunks" in Britain. Trunk briefs Trunk briefs, also known as simply trunks, are shorter than boxer briefs but still have leg sections, unlike briefs."High Anxiety in the Underwear Department". The Wall Street Journal. New York. 14 May 2009. Female Panties ”Panties” is a general term for female underpants. There are a number of different styles including variations of the unisex types. Panties are sometimes known as "knickers" in Britain.
History In medieval Europe, men commonly wore loose lower-body undergarments known as braies, which were tied at the waist and worn beneath other clothing. Their length varied over time, becoming shorter as styles of hose changed. Dedicated underpants were still not universal in early modern Europe. A surviving pair owned by the 17th-century Dutch stadtholder Hendrik Casimir I dates from about 1630-1640; the Rijksmuseum notes that such garments were mainly worn by wealthy men at the time, while most men instead tucked the tails of a long shirt between their legs.
By the 19th century, underpants had become more established. Men's underpants were produced in both short styles for wear beneath breeches and longer versions for trousers and pantaloons, using materials including linen, cotton, wool and silk. Increasing commercial manufacture brought innovations such as improved front fastenings, back opening and adjustable waistbands, while manufacturers increasingly advertised underwear for its comfort and fit. Women's lower-body underwear also developed during the century, with drawers and one-piece garments known as combinations becoming part of fashionable dress.
During the 1920s, women's drawers became shorter and narrower to suit changing fashions. By the 1930s, increasingly close-fitting versions were commonly described as briefs. Men's underpants underwent a comparable reduction in size. In 1935, the American company Cooper's introduced the Jockey Y-front brief, derived from French briefs and swimwear. The design used elasticated leg openings and a waistband to provide support and incorporated a distinctive overlapping Y-shaped fly.
New styles continued to emerge during the later 20th century. Rudi Gernreich's thong design, initially developed as swimwear, was produced as women's underwear by the Lily of France from 1975. In men's underwear, Calvin Klein introduced a lower-rise version of the brief in 1982 and increasingly used visible branding on the waistband. The company's 1992 advertising campaign featuring Mark Wahlberg in boxer briefs helped make branded waistbands and underwear more prominent in fashion and popular culture.
See also Leggings Sagging True Scotsman Underwear as outerwear
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