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Site directory for underwear for menstruation
& daily wear
Women have used underpants-like clothing to hold pads in place since
at least the early part of the twentieth century. Before the crotch
was closed, and even afterwards - underpants consisted of two tubes
of cloth joined at the waist before then - women had to find a way to hold
a menstruation-absorbing cloth against their body (unless they used a tampon,
sponge or some other material, assuming they used anything at all. But that's
another story.)
The list is chronological - top items are the oldest - if that can be determined.
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(Historic underwear below)
Chemise (Hemd, "shirt," in German) the undergarment worn by
women, men and children in Europe for probably much of the past thousand
years or more in Europe.
German open-crotch underpants (Unterhosen)
for attaching a menstrual pad (1888, drawing)
Early 20th-century Japanese ads for menstrual
underpants (from publications)
"Sanitary Bloomers," (underpants),
1922 (ad from Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog, U.S.A.)
Various underpants, panties, 1928 (page
from Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog, U.S.A.)
Step-in underpants, Hickory, 1928 (ad from
Vanity Fair magazine, U.S.A.)
Variety of underpants from the Savage catalog,
1930, U.S.A.
First Sears everyday briefs (nonmenstrual
underpants), 1935 (ad from Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog, U.S.A.)
German underpants (Unterhosen)made from American
sugar sack twine (1945/46)
Various underpants and panties (and sanitary
napkin belts), 1946-47 (page from Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog, U.S.A.)
German brief panty (German: Slip, Unterhosen)
for menstruation (about 1960)
Various panties, 1960s (part of Personal
Digest, Modess, U.S.A.)
Kotex New Freedom towel & pantie ad (date?
publication? U.K.)
Modess "Panti-kini" (two-band holder
to hold pad in crotch; 1960s-1970s, U.S.A.)
Kotex "Panti" (clasp and band to
hold pad in crotch; 1970s?, U.S.A.)
Nikini pads and briefs, 2 ads (U.K., 1970s?)
SheShells bikini panty (snap open at sides;
no special crotch; possibly for menstrual pads or tampons, 1970s, U.S.A.)
Zero Pantees, 1980s (ad in unknown magazine;
disposable; for women, men and children, United Kingdom). Morning Glory,
above, also used "pantee."
German menstrual panties with tabbed and reinforced
crotch, early 1990s
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Copyright 2006 Harry Finley
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