Believe it or not, what we now call knickers or undies or tighty whities were once considered outerwear in ancient Egypt! These were called schenti or loincloths, and were worn as basic clothing by men. Or I really should say, they were the only clothing worn by dudes back then. This is to distinguish the men form the kids and the servants, because the latter went around stark naked with their privates hanging out for all to see. Of course those with a higher ranking had robes draped on their esteemed persons, but back then, underwear were basically unheard of.
As for those wonderful cups that one wishes would runneth over constantly a.k.a. the bra; they were first seen in 400 BC Greece. But if today’s Maximizers aim to uplift cleavages to lustful heights, in that era, the bra prototype was actually a band worn over the breasts to flatten the bust. This is why the Grecian look still retains some of the high-waist, below the bust silhouette even modern designers go for. Roman women went for a similar look, with pseudo-corsets/chemises in the form of linen tunics under their robes for a more streamlined form. Their men folk opted for knee-length drawers called femoralia, especially during the winter time when their gonads were in danger of getting frozen.
Fast forward to 4th century AD, and the humble loincloth gets replaced by the camisia. During these days, hygiene has become big and outer garments were protected from little “accidents” that might happen throughout the day with these long shifts or loose shirts for both men and women. It became the essential undergarment for both genders well until the 19th century, and still makes an appearance in these times for people of the more conservative persuasion. By the time Germanic tribes have conquered Europe and Rome had fallen in the Middle Ages, men’s undergarments have changed drastically from loose things into a shorter tunic and breeches called the braies. These became official underwear that became shorter and shorter until they resembled today’s swimming trunks.
However, the braies’ continuous shrinking was mirrored by the lengthening of leg covers called fascia, which were wrapped around the legs much like linen tights. Even back then, these were thought of as effeminate and suitable only for older people who needed to protect their extremities from the cold more than younger men did. Men in tights, you say? Here’s a notion to chew on: it was men who first wore knee-length stockings or chausses in Western Europe in the 9th century! So Robin Hood and his Merry Men were not figments of a gay costumer’s imagination at all. They were eventually renamed “hoses” to pertain to the tight fit from crotch to foot, but until women started wearing stockings on a regular basis, hoses were only preferred by Shakespearean actors and ballet dancers. It was in the 16th century that hoses for men got sub-categorized into the seat-covering trunk hose (a feat for when you have to use the toilet in a hurry), and the “netherstocks” which just covered the lower legs. They eventually became called socks in Britain, and Charles I made them more famous by wearing them for ball games.
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