The “Undressed” Exhibit, “A Brief History of Underwear” at The Victoria & Albert Museum in London, traces the evolution of underwear design from the 18th century to the present day. The show features over “200 examples of underwear for ladies and gentlemen highlighting the enduring themes of innovation and luxury.”
From sadomasochistic corsets made from whalebone to padded bras for women and padded boxer shorts for dudes, the exhibit is an incredible show of undies.
“From the custom-made, such as a rare example of home-made ‘stays’ worn by a working woman in England in the 18th-century, to pieces by current designers including Stella McCartney, and Paul Smith, the exhibition explores the relationship between underwear and fashion,” say the exhibit’s curators. “It covers notions of the ideal body, and the ways that cut, fit, fabric and decoration can reveal issues of gender, sex and morality.”
The exhibit runs through March, 2017.
A “caged crinoline” or “skeleton petticoat” from the 1850’s.
A whalebone corset from the 1890’s.
Early “tightie whities”: a store display of “Y-front” briefs from the early 1950’s.
The “Brixton Boyz”, with pants hangin’ so low the Calvin Klein underwear show, 2010.
Man jammies from Sibling, 2013
Lingerie set from super sexy Agent Provocateur, who sponsored the exhibit.
