Panties

"Knickers" redirects here. For the style of trousers, see Knickerbockers (clothing).

Panties

Panties in different colors.
Type	Underwear

Panties (in American English, also called pants, undies or knickers in British English) are a form of underwear worn traditionally by women. Panties can be form-fitting or loose. Typical components include an elastic waistband, a crotch panel to cover the genitalia (usually lined with absorbent material such as cotton), and a pair of leg openings that, like the waistband, are often made of elastic. Various materials are used, but are usually chosen to be breathable.

Panties are made of a variety of materials, including cotton, lace, latex, leather, lycra, mesh, nylon, PVC, polyester, rawhide, satin, and silk. Construction typically consists of two pieces (front and rear) that are joined by seams at the crotch and sides; an additional gusset is often in the crotch, with the waistband and leg-openings made from elastic.

Until the later 20th century, panties were large, full-cut briefs, usually white cotton, and completely utilitarian, not designed for visual appeal. Relaxing attitudes toward human sexuality during the 2nd half of the 20th century have led to a great change. Panties became parts of one's wardrobe, varied in fabric and color, with newer cuts steadily shrinking in size, and intended, at least potentially, to be seen by someone the wearer would take off her outer clothes with.

Terminology

In the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore and occasionally in other Commonwealth countries such as Australia and New Zealand, panties may be referred to as "undies", "knickers" or simply "pants". The latter is a gender neutral term and can be used for either male or female underwear. "Knickers" can also refer to male underwear, while "panties" generally refers only to female underwear. In Australia, male underpants are often referred to as "undies", although the word can also refer to women's underpants.

Styles

Various styles of panties (thong and G-string: back view).

Panties are classified into various styles based on criteria such as the amount of rear coverage, width at the sides and height at which they are worn. These categories are not necessarily distinct and usage may vary somewhat among brands:

• Adhesive panties are sometimes described as strapless/stick-on panties. They are a form of micro-panties that cover the bare minimum parts on the front and back. They are useful when women do not want the panty line to be visible.
• Bikinis, like hipsters, sit at hip level, but the fabric of the side sections is narrower. With the string bikini type, the side sections disappear altogether and the waistband consists of only string-like material. There may be less rear coverage with the bikini style.
• Boyshorts cover the hips and are named for their similarity to boxer briefs, a variation on boxer shorts. Some resemble men's briefs, complete with fly and contrast trim. Unlike men's briefs, this style is usually lower cut. Boy shorts often cover most of the buttocks.
• Briefs rise to the waist, or just below the navel, and have full coverage in the rear.
  • Classic briefs, sometimes called "granny panties" because they were the standard underpants in previous decades and have a connotation of being worn by older women. The waistband sits very high on the waist. The leg holes are small so the underwear cover as much area between waist and thigh as possible.
  • Control briefs are designed to offer support while giving a slimmer appearance. This type usually contains a stretch material such as spandex and may extend above the waist. Some have an extra firm panel to flatten the tummy. Some also compress the buttocks, while other control briefs are designed to avoid compression of the buttocks. Others merely lift the buttocks and have holes cut out for maximum fullness of the buttocks.
  • High-cut briefs are designed with larger leg holes and narrower sides to show off more leg and allow more freedom of movement.
• Cheekies can be styled as a hipster, bikini, or boyshort in the front, but in the rear, they are designed to hug the buttocks, and have a seam or runching to make the fabric sit partially between the cheeks to accentuate the shape. They leave the outer 1/3 to 1/2 of each cheek exposed and often have a lace or scalloped trim.
• Hipsters are worn lower down on the body, with the waistband straight across the hips.
• Tangas provide a moderate to minimal coverage with back coverage that is less than a bikini, and the waistband is reduced to a narrow strip at the sides.
  • The G-string has a vertical string at the back, which connects the crotch to the waistband, sometimes featuring a triangle of fabric which is the part that is sometimes referred to as a whaletail when it peeks out above the waistband of low riding pants.
  • The T-front is a type of G-string in which the string also reaches the front part. It provides almost no coverage while still maintaining the basic hygienic underwear functions and covering only the genitalia. Usually it is built by strings only, sometimes with more fabric or lace around the waist.
  • Thongs have a waistband similar to tangas, but the rear coverage is mostly cut away. The crotch is triangle-shaped, as it narrows to a thin strip toward the back and sits between the buttocks, becoming wider towards the top where it connects to the waistband.

History

The earliest known use of underwear that resembles modern panties dates back to 4,400 B.C. during the Badari period in Egypt.

Men in Panties

There has been an increase in straight men wearing women’s panties and not just crossdressers. For most find that women’s panties are extremely comfortable. Others wear them out of curiosity while there are those who get turned on by wearing them. Yet do to societal views that a man wearing women’s lingerie is taboo and that there is something wrong with the wearer makes it all the more reason to break this taboo and be naughty.

Overall most men wear panties for comfort over anything.  There are those men who find that wearing panties is uncomfortable because they are designed for a woman’s body.

But other men have found that the cut of the panties offer good support for the genitalia much like a bra supports a woman’s breasts. They have discovered how light and soft the fabric can be which prevents chaffing and rubbing against the pants, the thinner elastic on the waist is not as restrictive, the material is often thinner and lighter and can be like a second skin.  In addition with certain cuts there is no fall-out of the genitals from a leg opening.

Men have been relegated to wearing briefs, boxers, boxer-briefs for the most part.  Women’s panties come in various fabrics, textures and cuts.  Men have also found that the color selections for panties outnumber the selection of colors for men.

Women have many more types of panties to choose from like briefs, bikini, high or French cut, hipster, thongs and many more. The design and cut of women’s panties can make it feel like she is wearing nothing at all. According to one website, the most popular design of panties that men like are the brief for is gives the most coverage and support, the bikini which rides high on the hips and leaves some of the but cheeks exposed and the thong which has the least amount of coverage of all.

Yes there are differences between men’s underwear and women’s panties but those differences can attract men into wearing panties. But these differences can make finding the perfect pair difficult which becomes trial and error to find the right pair.

At the end of the day, there is nothing wrong with a man wearing woman’s panties for no one is getting hurt.

Retailers have realized that men in panties is a fairly untapped market and some have geared up to tap into that market openly. Some of them are: HerRoom, Hourglass Lingerie, FreshPair and many others.

See also

• Teddy
• French knickers
• Leggings
  • Leg warmers
  • Tights
• Lingerie
• No Pants Day
• Pantalettes
• Pantyhose
• Undergarment
• Underwear fetishism
• Underwear as outerwear
• Whale tail

External links

• Nomani, Asra Q. (8 June 1999). "How Thong Underwear Managed to Win Over a Mainstream Market". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 22 March 2018.