Let's start with the beginning of sexy lingerie. We know underwear and undergarments date back to the ancient time of Egypt and Greece. We also know in Crete, women wore corsets to support their breasts which by their standard was lingerie. This was the start of sexy lingerie in the beginning stage. So as you can see the focus of women looking special for their man has been around a long time and lingerie has been a major part of it. For almost 2000 years not much changed.
Beginning around the 18th century, the modern day underwear or sexy lingerie was invented. This is when the modern day story of lingerie started to influence the world. Women had padded silhouettes with a flat stomach, narrow waist due to a very tight corset. It was the start of women wearing lingerie to look sexy. It was considered an essential part of any fine woman's wardrobe. A fine woman's role was also to look sensual for their man.
The idea back then was to give women a beautiful natural look by doing the most unnatural thing, compressing their internal organs which caused many women to faint. Excessive use of satin, silk, and damask, with embroidery ribbons and laces created the effect, but to the ladies of the18th century this was a first class look. If you were of the rich, you dressed like this.
Women's bodies were controlled by corsets, bustles and crinolines. This is when the S-shaped silhouette was invented. Of course, the corset was a bustle in back and this made a woman sit with the very tip of her bottom on the edge of the chair. Look at some old pictures and you will see how accurate this is.
These undergarments weighed about 5 pounds. Somehow back then, it was considered sexy. What was considered the undergarments was what they called knickers, corsets, camisoles, and the waist slip. By now the corset themselves were extremely tight. The crinoline was made with yards of strong fabric that completely exaggerated women's figure. They also took up to two people to put them on tight enough. It was anything but sexy to put on.
Fortunately by the 19th Century lingerie became simpler and much more practical. Sexy lingerie was also finding its way down to the middle class. Corsets were substituted for a more flexible girdle with the modern bra. Pastel colors for lingerie came into use. In 1910, a boyish silhouette was very popular. The look was no waist, no hips, no bottom figure. Just look at some of the silent movies to see the styles.
The roaring twenties then hit. By the beginning of the 1930's, femininity was back in style again. Now the undergarment was a one-piece item known as a corset. This consisted of a rounded and bust-emphasizing brassiere and the girdle with garters. One-piece corsets continued to be widely used and mail order stores brought these items across the country and even to the farms.
By the 1940’s the panties grew smaller and smaller and eventually took the shape of the bikini briefs that we know today. Men loved it and it made the woman feel more sensual. By the 1960’s, colors and prints were placed on panties and bras and the "show me" came into the market place.
Fashion kept pushing women to show off their sexy underwear as outerwear! The lingerie business was growing at a rapid rate. By the 1970s sexy panties were not only to be worn for practical purposes but were now used for the visual enjoyment of the woman's partner. Of course, women's lib had the "no bra" look and the tops were made to show off this look. .
Lingerie companies realized that "sex sells" and sexy lingerie took on a new look. Women not only wanted to be a professional by day, but wanted to look sensual and very sexy for their man at night.
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