The History Of Women's Undergarments

The English term "lingerie" traces its origins to the French word *linge* (meaning linen), as early undergarments were crafted from fine linen fabric.

Ancient China
As early as ancient times, China produced its first linen fabrics with a density of 10 threads per centimeter; however, undergarments at that time differed little from outerwear, serving primarily to cover the body and provide warmth. By 4,000 years ago, linen density had reached 24 threads per centimeter. With the spread of silk-weaving techniques attributed to Leizu, undergarments began to diverge in function from outerwear, evolving into styles such as the *moxiong* (chest band) and *guodu* (belly wrap). The painting *Court Ladies Wearing Flowered Headdresses* reveals the sheer, low-cut, embroidered "xieyi" (intimate undergarments) worn by Tang Dynasty women, while the Song Dynasty women depicted in *The Romance of the West Chamber* wore chest bands and belly wraps, featuring a thin neck strap and a diamond-shaped panel covering the chest. It was not until the late Qing Dynasty, with the influx of imported machine-made yarns and fabrics, that Western-style corsets truly began to shape the figures of Chinese women.

Ancient Rome
The corset originated in ancient Rome. By the 16th century, corsets were constructed from materials like iron and wood, causing women considerable physical discomfort. Following the Crusades and advancements in textile technology, the late 16th century saw the use of materials such as whalebone, steel wire, and rattan to create corsets. In the 1530s, fashion essentials included garters, corsets, and farthingales (hoop skirts), demonstrating the importance Westerners placed on undergarments. Their purpose extended beyond mere coverage and warmth to the sculpting of the body's curves. Undergarments were intricately designed, and putting one on could take several hours. By the Empire period (1804–1825), the corset had become more streamlined.