Have you ever wondered why women’s underwear sometimes has a cute little bow on the front? It turns out that there’s an interesting story behind it.
In the past, when elastic bands were not yet widely used, pants were fastened with a ribbon that was inserted through the eyelet lace on top. To keep the ribbon in place, it was tied in a small bow, conveniently located at the front. This made it easy to tell which side was the front when getting dressed in a hurry, especially in the dark.
While this explanation seems plausible, there isn’t much evidence to support it. Although people prefered wearing underwear before elastic was invented in the 1820s and became popular in the 1900s, it’s difficult to find concrete proof of this tradition.
In medieval times, men wore loose drawers called “braies” that were fastened with a drawstring or a belt. However, we no longer use belts to secure our underwear, and men’s underwear no longer feature bows.
As for women in Europe, there is debate about what they wore before the fifteenth century. Textiles, artwork, and writings from that time are rare, so it’s challenging to determine exactly what kind of undergarments women wore. However, it is known that women wore corsets, petticoats, and chemises underneath their clothing. In the 1800s, drawers became more common, and they became increasingly ornate with bands and lace.
It’s possible that when elastic became popular, the drawstring bows on women’s underwear were kept as a decorative element. Another possibility is that underwear producers simply found the bow to be a charming embellishment without any significant historical meaning. After all, who doesn’t appreciate a cute bow?
So, the next time you see a bow on the front of women’s underwear, you’ll know that it may have originated from a practical purpose or simply added for decorative flair. Either way, it’s a unique feature that adds a touch of femininity to these undergarments.
