In the world of fashion, there’s little clothing that is more revolutionised or discussed than underwear. Underwear can change the way clothes fit us,and can even be the focal point of an outfit.
Let’s take a look at a brief history of underwear for men through the ages and see how it’s influenced the intimates we currently wear.
Ancient undergarments
One of the earliest renditions of men’s underwear can be traced back to Ancient Rome and Egypt. The Roman subligacalum was worn by many men and women, including athletes and common folk alike.
It was often made from linen or leather materials and hung loosely on the hips as a loin cloth for easy movement during physical activity or hard work.
The Egyptian pano and schentis also held a similar design, but this time, a distinction between classes was made based on the garment.
For the pano, this was often a poor man’s loin cloth made from simple linen that sat loosely at the hips. The schenti, however, was made from high-quality linen and was often wrapped diagonally and draped with pleats for the pharaoh and his noblemen.
Some of these earliest trends included renditions that were more luxurious than others, not too different from our designer brands of intimate wear versus department store brand renditions.
Influence in Modern Fashion: While these ancient loincloths acted as a religious symbol of purity and imitation of the gods, their popularity really grew thanks to the free movement for working and travelling.
Modesty in Medieval Europe
By the Medieval era, the design and function of underwear changed for civilisations across Europe.
In the 1600s, the German tribe known as the Lombards began using early versions of longjohns for more formfitting support and warmth during the cold winters. Many versions even came with soles to act as footwear, much like the ever-popular modern counterpart, the ‘onesie.’
The Goths used corsets for both men and women. For men, a corset acted as a way to correct the posture and create a trendy and distinctive shape for the clothes of an army officer or Nobleman.
At the end of the 17th century, however, undergarments gained a bad rep for a time because they were commonly being worn openly by prostitutes and sex workers of the day.
Influence in Modern Fashion: Thus began the Western ideas of modesty, and underwear soon became symbols of eroticism.
Underwear meets the turn of the century
From the Victorian era onward, undergarments returned as a symbol of modesty again and were focused on being comfortable for the wearer. For men, this meant using a sleeveless undershirt and shorts combination known as the “union suit” in 1868.
At the turn of the 20th century, Jacob Golomb created boxer shorts, which included an elastic waistband to help keep the shorts up for boxing athletes in the ring. A decade later, in 1935, the jock strap was invented to provide proper support for men playing sports or working in physical jobs.
Shortly afterwards, by combining boxers’ elastic material with the “y” shaped support of the jock strap, the first pair of boxer briefs was born.
Influence in Modern Fashion: The biggest focus for men’s underwear became comfort and adequate support above all else. The modern version of men’s underwear was created.
Our love of underwear today
Underwear from the 1960s onward into the 21st century focused less on modesty and more on underwear as a fashion statement. The understanding of the silhouette and how undergarments can manipulate it grew, especially for professional athletes hoping to enhance their performance.
Onward into the 21st Century, underwear has become the star of the show. From public billboard advertisements to showcasing colour coordination with low-rise jeans, men’s underwear is no longer just a hidden garment. Even ‘loungewear’ has popularised fun and comfortable boxer shorts with rich patterns to be worn leisurely at home.
Influence in Modern Fashion: Men’s underwear is more than just functional purposes. It now embodies self-expression, confidence, and visual appeal.
Conclusion
Today, there are hundreds of styles and options of men’s underwear to choose from.
Briefs come in a plethora of patterns and colours. From massive designers to notable lingerie chains, boxers, jock straps, and thongs all transcend typical gender roles.
Underwear in the fashion world has grown tremendously through the years, allowing the wearer to be influenced by the most important factors of any clothing choice: freedom of expression and personal comfort.
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