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Lingerie, that ubiquitous genre of under garments that range from the mundane to the risqu, has been around for longer than you may imagine. The history of lingerie begins with the ancient Mediterranean's and encompasses both genders and all eras. It is known that in ancient Greece and Egypt, women looked to an early form of the well-known and more modern corset. They used this for the express purpose of supporting the breasts, though not covering them; the corset came just under the bust. Centuries later, members of the noble class in European countries were purported to have worn full-coverage undergarments that kept the clothing away from the body. Medieval times did not recognize regular bathing as necessary, so this was probably a good idea. Europeans were again prevalent in the history of lingerie with their decidedly uncomfortable wearing of corsets for the sole purpose of achieving the hourglass figure. Corsets, constructed of inflexible boning, encased the torsos, accentuating the breast and hip areas. This incredibly restrictive look hung around for quite some time. As time moved into the 20th century, and women began pushing the norms, dancing became quite popular, especially in the 1920s. At this point, corsets would have limited dance movement, and the fashionable look was really moving away from the hourglass shapes. The corset took a backseat, while at the same time, a brassiere had been invented and was replacing the chemises women also wore. Of course, the first half of the twentieth century was embroiled in two world wars, which made anything considered a non-necessity in pretty scarce supply. As a result, there were just the basics: brassiere, underpants, and that is about it. Even stockings were hard to come by. Then, in the 50s, the glamorous movie stars of the time exemplified that hourglass figure, and the corset made a roaring comeback. Now, though, it was in a more tolerable form of a girdle, and it was accompanied by seamless brassieres. The sixties and seventies were, in the history of lingerie, a time when undergarments became a thing of restraint, and therefore they were often shunned. Anything too feminine, too constrictive, or too elaborate was thrown out, along with the idea of the subservient female. As time progressed into the eighties and nineties, undergarments came back into favor as something not only for support, but for enhancing the body as well as romantic relationships. Corsets, gone for the purpose of squeezing the waist into an unnatural circumference, were now more decorative, sensuous, and feminine. Overall, the history of lingerie has certainly experienced change, but it endures today. As a matter of fact, the category has such a following that there are stores dedicated solely to lingerie, and every department store has a section belonging to it as well. Today's lingerie includes a multitude of designs, both functional and decorative. The choices are endless; and so too, it seems, is the longevity of lingerie.
Article Source: http://www.bodyformind.com/db
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