One can use lingerie to track the changes in attitudes toward women through various historical periods. With that in my mind I researched the evolution of lingerie and found this insightful and informative video: “Revealing Garments: A Brief History of Women’s Underwear”. In it H. Kristina Haugland, associate curator of Costume and Textiles at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, traces important landmarks in lingerie history. The history of feminine undergarments—corsets and drawers, bustles and brassieres, stockings and shoulder pads—reflect changing ideals of women’s figures and societal roles. They can also reveal the shifting standards of beauty, hygiene, modesty and respectability over time. This video is a great way to strip away (pun intended) some preconceived notions of what lingerie and feminine underwear are all about and what they have meant to women’s cultural growth through history.
