Unmentionables: A Brief History of Underwear

by Elaine Benson, John Esten

Traces the history and evolution of undergarments from prehistoric times to the present

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, History, Adult

160 pages, Hardcover

First published November 11, 1996

Reviews

[Liberty Boyd-White · Rating 3 out of 5]

"...women had become as upholstered as the love seats in their drawing rooms. It was not unusual for them to wearing as many as thirteen undergarments weighing as much as ten pounds. This concealment had its provocative aspect. The protagonist of Isak Dinesen's short story 'The Old Chevalier' describes it:

'In those days a woman's body was a secret which her clothes did their utmost to keep...And underneath all this Eve herself breathed and moved, to be indeed a revelation every time she stepped out of her disguise, with her waist still delicately marked by the stays, as with a girdle of rose petals."

[Amber Ray · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read it with an eye towards historical costuming and undergarments....it's more of an undies picture book. Not a very good or informative book....I felt I knew more than the author at times! Geez, at least give some fundamental time changes and maybe talk about how elastics and modern fabrics changed what we wear--buttoned vs slide on is a big difference even since my parent's youth!

[Nicole Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

brawsome!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short look at the history of underwear. Nice pics!