Lingerie Manufactures Begin Glamorizing Lingerie - By: Victor Epand

As the twentieth century progressed, undergarments became smaller and more form fitting, but this was helped along during the late 1930s prior to World War II with the development of nylon and elastic.

Women began purchasing these new nylon stockings in mass quantities, until the new material became rationed for the war effort during the early 1940s. The form fitting material became an important part of the trend, which led lingerie to being viewed as erotic by men. Before elastic and even after it, women would normally hold the new stockings in place with metal clasps that hung from a garter belt, which was placed around the waist.

The stockings and garter belts of the World War II pinup girls that fueled many American G.I. dreams were just what they wanted to see for their girlfriends and spouses at the war's end. That is when nylon stockings were again made available to the general public. In 1913, the first brassiere was invented by Mary Phelps Jacob by tying two handkerchiefs together with a string. This was softer and more comfortable than a corset and it allowed for women to be comfortable while working in the factories.

Women enjoyed the relative freedom of movement and comfort that the bra gave them as opposed to the old corset. In the 1960s, controversial lingerie manufacturers such as Frederick's of Hollywood begin to glamorize lingerie. As a result, the idea of lingerie having a sexual appeal slowly developed in the American conscience. This change in concept of lingerie was also helped along by the counter culture of the 1960s that preached free love and the awakening women's rights movement that encouraged women to fully explore their own sexuality.

The materials of lingerie also changed. Lingerie as erotic wear was then being made of softer fabrics such as silk, lace, and satin. The break came with undergarments being made of cotton that were now viewed as being of a strictly practical use. As a result of the lingering guilt over the sexuality of women, erotic lingerie was being considered by many as being evil or taboo. Even today, there are still some vestiges of that view, because it shows most of a woman's body, although it is considered more acceptable between two monogamous married partners.

At one time, a lingerie store was viewed as being almost scandalous, because such skimpy undergarments were being shown out in public. Now, however, lingerie stores are cropping up in virtually any town of size all across the United States and in some that are considered little more than rural hamlets.

One trend seen across the United States is a demand in the domestic market place for European lingerie. One Southern native who was reared in Tennessee and attended college in South Carolina has taken her passion for undergarments to the average woman. She learned that the European lingerie industry is considerably more sophisticated than its American counterpart. This company is shooting for a very personal experience since women want to be comfortable in their lingerie.

About the Author

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for lingerie. Please visit these sites when you are looking for lingerie and hosiery, glamorizing lingerie, and UK lingerie.

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