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Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear

Published 11:26 PM EDT, Tue April 19, 2016
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Tamila lingerie set from the Agent Provocateur Soire collection, SS 2015, Model Eniko Mihalik
Tamila lingerie set from the Agent Provocateur Soire collection, SS 2015, Model Eniko Mihalik
Sebastian Faena
Corset, 1890-1895
Corset, 1890-1895
V&A Images/Victoria and Albert Museum/V&A Images
Paul Smith boxer shorts, 1996
Paul Smith boxer shorts, 1996
Richard Davis
Bust bodice of satin and machine lace, ca. 1905
Bust bodice of satin and machine lace, ca. 1905
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Man's linen shirt, Great Britain, 1775-1800 and underdrawers, France, 1775-1799
Man's linen shirt, Great Britain, 1775-1800 and underdrawers, France, 1775-1799
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Advertising poster designed by Hans Schleger for the Charnaux Patent Corset Co. Ltd, c. 1936, Courtesy of the Hans Schleger Estate
Advertising poster designed by Hans Schleger for the Charnaux Patent Corset Co. Ltd, c. 1936, Courtesy of the Hans Schleger Estate
Charlotte Hazeldine
Westwood leggings, Courtesy of the FIDM Museum at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles
Westwood leggings, Courtesy of the FIDM Museum at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles
FIDM Museum/Brian Sanderson
Trompe l'oeil corset dress, designed by Antonio Berardi, SS09, Worn by Gwyneth Paltrow at 'Two Lovers' film premiere, 2008
Trompe l'oeil corset dress, designed by Antonio Berardi, SS09, Worn by Gwyneth Paltrow at 'Two Lovers' film premiere, 2008
Sipa Press/REX Shutterstock/Rex Features/Sipa Press/REX Shutterstock
Postcard advertising aussieBum briefs, Australian, 2015
Postcard advertising aussieBum briefs, Australian, 2015
aussieBum
Corset of peach cotton, c.1914
Corset of peach cotton, c.1914
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Advertising brochure for Charnaux 'Anotex' corsetry, c.1934
Advertising brochure for Charnaux 'Anotex' corsetry, c.1934
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Knickers and sleeves, Strumpet & Pink, Bustle
Knickers and sleeves, Strumpet & Pink, Bustle
Victoria and Albert Museum
Babyloo Darling by Fifi Chachnil
Babyloo Darling by Fifi Chachnil
Fifi Chachnil
Ladies maternity corset, 1875-1899
Ladies maternity corset, 1875-1899
Richard Davis
Jean Paul Gaultier dress, 1989
Jean Paul Gaultier dress, 1989
Victoria and Albert Museum
Mail order catalogue for Dean Rogers Ltd, 1970
Mail order catalogue for Dean Rogers Ltd, 1970
Victoria and Albert Museum, London

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