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Related information of
Adult Lingerie:
* adult lingerie is the kind of underwear, sleepwear, and other items of intimate apparel worn by women
* adult costume is a style of dress, including accessories and hairdos, esp. that peculiar to a nation, region, group, or historical period.
* adult underwear is a kind of clothing worn next to the skin under outer clothes.
* adult pajama is a loose-fitting garment consisting of trousers and a jacket, worn for sleeping or lounging. Often used in the plural.
* adult boxer or boxer shorts, men's loose-fitting undershorts with an elastic waistband.
* adult babydoll, often, baby dolls. Also called baby doll nightgown, baby doll pajamas. a garment for women or girls consisting of a hip-length top of delicate fabric often decorated with ruffles, ribbons, or lace, with a matching panty, worn for sleeping.
* adult corset, sometimes, corsets, a close-fitting undergarment, stiffened with whalebone or similar material and often capable of being tightened by lacing, enclosing the trunk: worn, esp. by women, to shape and support the body.
* adult catsuit is a tight-fitting one-piece garment for women usually made of leather or a synthetic fabric such as spandex and covering the torso, legs, and sometimes the arms.
* adult bodysuit, or body, is a leotard-like garment that may or may not have snaps at the crotch. It is usually skintight or formfitting and can have sleeves of any length or be made like a tank top. There are bodysuits for both females and males,
* adult bodystocking is an article of lingerie, similar to a leotard or a catsuit. It is much the same thing as a unitard, but the term bodystocking is likely to be preferred when the garment is worn as an underlayer in cold weather. It usually has long legs, but it may have long, short, or no sleeves. It is usually made from a sheer fabric similar to those used for stockings and tights, or from fishnet material. Some people consider bodystockings to be an erotic garment.
* adult funwear is a kind of wear, clothing, or costume for fun or games
* adult hosiery describes tight-fitting garments worn directly on the feet and legs. Most are made by knitting methods. Modern hosiery is usually tight-fitting by virtue of stretchy fabrics and meshes. Older forms include binding to achieve a tight fit. Due to its close fit, most hosiery can be worn as an undergarment, but it is more commonly worn as a combined under/outer garment.
* adult bra ( brassiere) is an article of clothing that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. The bra is considered a foundation garment, as well as an undergarment, because of its role in shaping the wearer's figure. It was originally developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to replace the corset, and has now become, in many parts of the world, the most popular form of undergarment for the upper body, although camisoles and chemises are becoming more popular.
* adult panty is a kind of short underpants for women or children (usually used in the plural)
* adult clubwear is a kind of fashion design, primarily in ready-to-wear lines, boyfriend is any style for women's clothing that was modified from a corresponding men's garment. Examples include boyfriend jackets and boyfriend jeans, which are more unisex in appearance than most women's jackets or pants while they are still designed for the female form.
* adult bustier (alternately bustier re) is an article of clothing for women, which is form-fitting and is traditionally worn as lingerie. It looks somewhat like a Basque, but a bustier is shorter. It reaches down only to the ribs or the waist and has a different function: its primary purpose is to push up the bustier by tightening against the upper midriff and forcing the breasts to move up, while gently shaping the waist. These days, it is often made with mesh panels rather than boning. The bustier is a multi-purpose garment and doubles up as a push-up bra for inner wear and as a camisole for outer wear. The bustier can also be worn as a half-slip under diaphanous upper garments if a bold display of the midriff is not desired. In modern days, women wear a bustier as an undergarment/push up bra in the occasion that their dress or outer-wear has a low-back.
* adult robe is a loose-fitting outer garment. A robe is distinguished from a cape or cloak by the fact that it usually has sleeves. The English word robe is borrowed from French, although in French it typically refers to a woman's dress. There are various types of robes, including:
* adult gown (medieval Latin gunna) is a (usually) loose outer garment from knee- to full-length worn by men and women in Europe from the early Middle Ages to the seventeenth century (and continuing today in certain professions); later, gown was applied to any woman's garment consisting of a bodice and attached skirt.
* adult teddy is a form of bodysuit-like lingerie, often worn in the boudoir. By definition, a teddy is an undergarment which combines a camisole and panty in one piece. Unlike a bodysuit, it is typically looser and more sheer, and may be designed to slip off from the shoulders, rather than to open at the crotch. The teddy is normally worn for the seductive look, rather than practical reasons.
* adult teddiettes is a loose-fitting teddy designed as sleepwear. Sleep teddies tend to use simpler materials and styles than teddies designed for visual appeal.
* adult chemise can refer to the classic smock or shift, or else can refer to certain modern types of women's undergarments and dresses. In the classical usage it is a simple garment worn next to the skin to protect clothing from sweat and body oils, the precursor to the modern shirts commonly worn in Western nations.
* adult pantyhose (also called tights) are sheer, close fitting coverings of the body from the waist to the feet, most frequently worn by women. Like stockings they are usually made of nylon. The one-piece pantyhose garment appeared in the 1960s and provided a convenient alternative to stockings (nylons).
* adult garters are items of clothing, used to keep stockings up. Normally just a few inches in width, they are usually made of leather or heavy cloth, and adorned with small bells and/or ribbons. In the 18th to 20th centuries, they were tied just below the knee, where the leg was skinniest, to keep the stocking from slipping. The advent of elastic has made them unnecessary from this functional standpoint, although they are still often worn for fashion.
* adult girdle originally meant a belt (or metaphorically speaking, something which confines or encloses, as in Tolkien's Girdle of Melian). In modern English the term "girdle" is most commonly used for a form of women's foundation wear that replaced the corset in popularity.
* adult halter top is a kind of woman's top, secured behind the neck and across the back, leaving the arms, shoulders, upperback, and often the midriff bare.
* adult knickers is a word for women's undergarments and there are now many names for the undergarments that previously have been called knickers, such as panties, thongs, g-strings, briefs, shorts, tangas, etc. Note that while the term 'knickers' refers almost exclusively to women's underwear, 'knicks', knick-knacks' and similar more masculine variations are acceptable monikers for men's underwear, particularly for young boys.
* adult g-string (alternatively gee-string or gee string) is a type of thong, a narrow piece of cloth, leather, or plastic that covers or holds the genitals, passes between the buttocks, and is attached to a band around the hips, worn as swimwear or underwear by both men and women.
* adult nightwear, also called "sleepwear", "nightclothes", or "nightdress", is clothing designed to be worn while sleeping. Nightwear usage is seasonal, i.e. different weights for different seasons or it is only worn in winter.
* adult basque is an item of women's historical apparel. The term, of French origin, can mean either a long corset or jacket characterised by a close, contoured fit and extending past the waistline over the hips. In Victorian outerwear, basque refers to a closely fitted jacket extending at the back past the waistline over the hips, to be worn over a bustle. In 20th century and contemporary attire, the term is used to refer to an article of lingerie, particularly a torso-hugging camisole that resembles a basque or corset (typically featuring decorative front or back lace-up detail), but of more delicate construction and offering little or no figure-molding compression.
* adult corsetry is craft of making corsets and corset-like garments and accessories most of which incorporate stays. It is also a subfield of fashion that deals with those garments and accessories and it is common term used for those garments and accessories. Term derives from the word corset. A special type of tailor who is an expert in corsetry is called corsetmaker.
* adult sleepwear is a kind of clothes, such as pajamas or a nightgown, worn in bed. Also called nightdress, nightwear, sleepwear
* adult briefs are a type of short, tight Y-shaped underwear and swimwear, as opposed to styles where the material extends down the legs. In the case of men's underwear, briefs, unlike boxer shorts, hold the wearer's genitals in a relatively fixed position, which makes briefs a popular underwear choice for men who are participating in athletic activities or who feel they need more support than loose-fitting underwear can provide. In addition, boxers often ride up the body when the wearer is running.
* adult bikini a very brief, close-fitting, two-piece bathing suit for women or girls. Often, bikinis. underwear briefs that are fitted low on the hip or below it.
* adult thong is a strip of material, esp. of leather or hide, used to fasten or secure something. Thong is also refered a shoe or slipper fastened to the foot chiefly by a strip of leather or other material passing between the first and second toes and often attaching to another strip of material, as a strap across the instep or around the ankle. The thong is a brief garment for the lower body that exposes the buttocks, consisting of a strip of fabric passing between the thighs and attached to a band around the waist.
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A teddy is a form of bodysuit-like lingerie, often worn in the boudoir.
By definition, a teddy is an undergarment which combines a camisole and panty
in one piece. Unlike a bodysuit, it is typically looser and more sheer, and
may be designed to slip off from the shoulders, rather than to open at the
crotch. The teddy is normally worn for the seductive look, rather than
practical reasons.
Modern Teddy Styles
There are two main types of teddies available today: teddies designed for
visual appeal and teddies designed as practical clothing. Most modern teddies
fall into one of these two categories. Common teddy styles are listed and
explained below.
While some may dispute the reasons why breasts change in shape with age and
argue over whether or not the process can be delayed or reversed by wearing a
bra, it is a natural process of bodily change. Health ethicists are concerned
that plastic surgery and implants have altered our concept of what is "normal"
and medicalised women's bodies by making a normal process a "disease.
Pain relief and comfort
Wearing a bra can offer relief of breast pain (mastodynia, mastalgia),
particularly when women are performing strenuous physical activity or
exercise. Indeed, the sports bra is an example of a bra which has been
specifically designed for this purpose. An underwire bra can also help support
breasts and keep them from bouncing (for example, during running), which is
painful whether the breasts are large or small. Recently the requirement for a
bra during exercise at all has been questioned following extensive studies on
athletes and sportswomen.
In the specific case of larger breasts, the bra lifts the breasts away from
the chest and can prevent two skin surfaces from rubbing together. Without the
bra, maceration (loss of skin), intertrigo (rash) and fungal infections are
possible. This does, however, depend upon a correctly fitted bra that performs
as intended.
Cultural significance
Feminist comment
Many feminist writers have interpreted the bra as an example of how women's
clothing has shaped and even deformed women's bodies to historically aesthetic
ideals, or shaped them to conform to male expectations of what is desirable.
Germaine Greer, for example, has often depicted bras as symbols of oppression,
and it was views like these, considered radical by some, which perhaps gave
rise to the urban legend of bra-burning ceremonies.
The bra as a fashion item
Breasts which have not undergone sagging, and which present a "pert" or
"perky" appearance, are widely considered to be a marker of youth. Bras are
therefore used, particularly within Western cultures which place great value
upon youth, to promote what is considered a more desirable youthful appearance
by lifting the breasts from their natural position. Furthermore, the modern
bra is often more decorative than its predecessors, and therefore has become
both a fashion statement and an adornment, and even an icon of sensuality.
The design of bras which aim to be fashionable, rather than functional, has
been driven by changing fashions in outerwear, which has often dictated what
could be worn underneath. Hence its shape has evolved through flat, round,
pointed, conical, to "natural". Although in popular culture the invention of
the bra is frequently attributed to men, in fact women have played a large
part in bra design and manufacture, accounting for half of the patents filed.
Social pressures and trends
The average American woman today owns six bras, one of which is a strapless
bra, and one in a colour other than white. While reliable data are hard to
obtain, it is thought that in the Western world about 90% of women wear bras.
Some women wear bras based on modesty; others because they believe that it is
part of their cultural norm and that not wearing a bra would lead to
ostracism.
Bras are a relatively recent invention and are by no means universally worn
around the world. In a cross-cultural study of bra size and cancer in 9,000 in
the 1960s, a Harvard group found 93% of women wore bras (from 88% in the UK to
99% in Greece), but could not find enough women in Japan with bras to complete
their study. In a number of cultures, women are quite comfortable to sunbathe
or swim without any external support.
The prevalence of the bra, and perceived social expectation to wear one, does
not imply that openly displaying it is encouraged. On the contrary, it is
often not considered suitable to expose one's brassiere in public in western
cultures, even partially, despite the fact that it is similar in appearance to
the upper part of a bikini; to do so may be considered sexually provocative.
However more young people are doing so, and bra straps are a common sight.
Occasionally they may wear a bra as outerwear. An attractive bra can be
considered partly as an accessory, just as a camisole might; more women,
particularly in Eastern Europe, are now wearing translucent tops which reveal
the underlying bra.
Even considering this relative cultural taboo, being seen in one's bra is
still more socially acceptable than exposing the bare breasts, except at the
beach. Indeed, women may choose to be seen in just a bra to make a specific
point. For instance, bras have recently been used by organisations like breast
cancer charities to raise money, either by sponsored walks or to sell bras
owned or decorated by celebrities.
An increasing number of women and health professionals are challenging the
traditional values that suggest that that bras are either medically necessary
or required socially and are adopting bralessness (also known as brafreedom,
or breast freedom). One survey found that 20% of women over 50 were not
wearing bras (Farell-Beck and Gau p.171).
Some men also choose to wear bras. This may because they have large breasts
due to a condition known as gynecomastia or simply obesity.
Many entertainers, actresses and members of the fashion industry have chosen
not to wear bras. Susan Stranks who presented the Thames TV children's
programme, Magpie between 1968 and 1974 chose not to wear a bra, even on
camera. Another well known woman who regularly appears braless on TV is the
presenter of BBC Gardening's Ground Force, Charlie Dimmock.
Health problems
Many of the statements about the benefits of bras are actually situations
where they can make things worse, because the vast majority of women wear bras
that are ill-fitting. For instance, rather than keeping the breasts away from
the chest wall, bras that are too tight can actually compress them against the
chest even further. This also pulls the upper thoracic and cervical vertebrae
(spine) forward and down, interfering with back, shoulder and chest movement.
As they did with corsets, health professionals have also had concerns about
the constricting effects of brassieres, although this varies considerably with
design and the relative size of the bra and the breast. While at least sports
bras do not usually cause any significant impairment in respiration, some bras
may put pressure on nerves. Others believe that wearing a bra can actually
increase the downward movement of the breasts with age, because the chest
muscles (pectoralis) that support breasts are used less and atrophy from lack
of use.
Myalgia
Use of a properly fitting bra is regularly recommended for reduction of
mastalgia (breast pain) from exercise or other activities which cause the
breasts to bounce, or for pain related to fibrocystic breast disease. A trial
comparing the effectiveness of danazole versus use of a sports bra for
treatment of mastalgia found the sports bra to be much more effective, and
avoided the side effects experienced by 42% of those taking danazole. Sports
bras were also found most effective at reducing mastalgia caused by exercise.
When the shoulder straps transfer most of the weight of the breast, a deep
groove can be seen over the shoulder. Use of thin straps, such as spaghetti
straps, can exert pressure on the trapezius muscle, resulting in temporary
symptoms such as neck and shoulder pain; numbness and tingling in the arm; and
headaches.
This seems more common in women whose activities require them to lift their
arms above the shoulders. In a study of 100 women with painful shoulders, they
were asked to not wear their bras for two weeks, by which time their symptoms
had improved but returned within an hour of replacing the bra. 84% did not
elevate their arms, and in these symptom relief was complete. Three years
later, 79% of the women were still bra free; the remainder preferred pain to
not wearing a bra. 16% worked in occupations requiring elevating their arms,
and only achieved partial improvement. 13 of the 16 decided to become
bra-free, and by six months all were cured.
Back pain is particularly common among large-breasted women who wear bras
offering insufficient support. In extreme cases, such discomfort can lead to a
woman seeking breast reduction surgery. In a study of 103 women seeking
breast-reduction surgery (reduction mammaplasty) for pain, one woman never
wore a bra, but of the remaining 102 all were wearing an incorrect bra size.
The underband was too tight and the cup size too large. The larger the woman,
the worse the fit. The result was a bra that compresses the breast and
distorts it by compressing the breast against the skin of the chest wall.
Based on their research, many physicians believe that bra size is meaningless,
when breast volumes are calculated accurately. "The current popular system of
determining bra size is inaccurate so often as to be useless. Add to this the
many different styles of bras and the lack of standardization between brands,
and one can see why finding a comfortable, well-fitting bra is more a matter
of educated guesswork, trial, and error than of precise measurements."
A G-string (alternatively gee-string or gee string) is a type of thong, a
narrow piece of cloth, leather, or plastic that covers or holds the genitals,
passes between the buttocks, and is attached to a band around the hips, worn
as swimwear or underwear by both men and women.
The two terms G-string and thong are often used interchangeably; however, they
can refer to distinct pieces of clothing: The primary difference between the
two garments is that a g-string has less material between the legs and
buttocks, hence a string-like appearance. Variants of the G-string include the
V-string, a thong with a triangle "V" of cloth at the top of the rear, and the
T-string, where a single string passes around the waist and between the legs,
forming a T between the buttocks. See also the general article on thongs.
Origin
G-string or thong is probably the earliest form of clothing known to mankind;
having originated in the warmer climates of sub-Saharan Africa where clothing
was first worn nearly 75,000 years ago. Many tribal peoples, such as some of
the Khoisan people of southern Africa, wore thongs for many centuries. Much
like the 2000-plus-year-old Japanese fundoshi, these early garments were made
with the male genitalia in mind.
Although developed for the male anatomy by primitive peoples, in the modern
West thongs are more often worn by females. They first gained mainstream
popularity as swimwear in South America, particularly in Brazil in the 1970s.
In Brazil, where the buttocks ("bunda" in Brazilian Portuguese slang) are
especially admired and emphasized; it was originally a style of thong swimsuit
whose rear area became so narrow that it would disappear between the wearer's
buttocks. Female strippers and erotic dancers in the west have been wearing
G-strings and thongs during their routines since the mid-1920s.
Etymology
The origin of the term "G-string" is obscure. The term is first attested in
writings by Americans in the late 1800s describing the loincloth of
Philippines natives. In the "Philippines Islands" entry in the 1911 edition of
the Encyclopædia Britannica, the term "geestring" is used. Others say the term
is derived from the G-string on a musical instrument, but it may just be an
abbreviation of "groin-string". The origin of the word "thong" is from the Old
English thwong, a flexible leather cord.
There are a number of intermediate styles between full rear coverage and a
string rear. Like the tanga, the G-string is essentially a bottom covering
that covers the pubis and leaves the buttocks bared; The term G-string is
generally used when the vertical strap in the rear of a thong is no wider than
a string. Other similar styles include the brazilian, rio, and T-back
(T-string). The naming of the intermediate cuts is debatable, and different
vendors use the words somewhat interchangeably.
Commercialization
Popularization in the Western culture
Attitudes to wearing G-strings vary, as is usual with highly revealing
clothing. By the late 1980s, the design (for females) had made its way into
most of the Western world, thong and G-string underwear became more and more
popular through the 1990s. As of 2002, thong underwear was one of the
fastest-selling styles among women. One advantage attributed to the wearing of
thong underwear is that no visible panty line can be seen even under a thin,
light-colored or skin-tight garment. Although the popularity of wearing thong
underwear in America has taken off only in the last decade, in Europe it has
been commonplace for many more years.
C-string
There are several variations on the G-string. An example of one variation is
the C-string; as narrow as a thong but without the band around the waist,
leaving just a "c-shaped" piece between the legs held in place firmly by a
flexible internal frame. Since there is no material around the waist, the
C-string completely eliminates the panty lines which thongs and other
underwear create. C-strings are also designed for use as beachwear, which
reduces the tan lines that would have been left by the side straps of even a
G-string. Removing the side straps also eases donning and removal.
Male wear
In the USA and Europe, the wear of G-strings or thongs by men, was once mainly
limited to the dance belt, the posing pouch and the realm of male strippers.
4% of men polled prefer thongs. They are also used by men who don't want
visible brief lines, the popular male wrestlers like Hulk Hogan and Kurt Angle
don't want visible brief lines under their wrestling suits.
Attitudes
G-string underwear is not without its own controversies. In 2002, an American
clothing retailer known for their racy catalogues launched a line of thong
underwear marketed specifically at girls aged 13 to 16 years. Several consumer
advocacy groups objected to marketing of the thong, claiming they are too
sexually suggestive.
Some people in the State of Virginia attempted to pass a law forbidding the
exposure of underwear. But it did not become law.
Some county and municipal governments in the United States have passed
legislation forbidding G-string swimsuits in public, but most others do not
have a problem with sunbathers in thongs, so long as they don't engage in
unsavory activities.
The United States Supreme Court held in Erie v. Pap's A. M. that a city
ordinance requiring erotic dancers to wear g-strings was constitutional.
Typology:
* glamour lingerie is the kind of underwear, sleepwear, and other items of intimate apparel worn by women
* glamour costume is a style of dress, including accessories and hairdos, esp. that peculiar to a nation, region, group, or historical period.
* glamour underwear is a kind of clothing worn next to the skin under outer clothes.
* glamour pajama is a loose-fitting garment consisting of trousers and a jacket, worn for sleeping or lounging. Often used in the plural.
* glamour boxer or boxer shorts, men's loose-fitting undershorts with an elastic waistband.
* glamour babydoll, often, baby dolls. Also called baby doll nightgown, baby doll pajamas. a garment for women or girls consisting of a hip-length top of delicate fabric often decorated with ruffles, ribbons, or lace, with a matching panty, worn for sleeping.
* glamour corset, sometimes, corsets, a close-fitting undergarment, stiffened with whalebone or similar material and often capable of being tightened by lacing, enclosing the trunk: worn, esp. by women, to shape and support the body.
* glamour catsuit is a tight-fitting one-piece garment for women usually made of leather or a synthetic fabric such as spandex and covering the torso, legs, and sometimes the arms.
* glamour bodysuit, or body, is a leotard-like garment that may or may not have snaps at the crotch. It is usually skintight or formfitting and can have sleeves of any length or be made like a tank top. There are bodysuits for both females and males,
* glamour bodystocking is an article of lingerie, similar to a leotard or a catsuit. It is much the same thing as a unitard, but the term bodystocking is likely to be preferred when the garment is worn as an underlayer in cold weather. It usually has long legs, but it may have long, short, or no sleeves. It is usually made from a sheer fabric similar to those used for stockings and tights, or from fishnet material. Some people consider bodystockings to be an erotic garment.
* glamour funwear is a kind of wear, clothing, or costume for fun or games
* glamour hosiery describes tight-fitting garments worn directly on the feet and legs. Most are made by knitting methods. Modern hosiery is usually tight-fitting by virtue of stretchy fabrics and meshes. Older forms include binding to achieve a tight fit. Due to its close fit, most hosiery can be worn as an undergarment, but it is more commonly worn as a combined under/outer garment.
* glamour bra ( brassiere) is an article of clothing that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. The bra is considered a foundation garment, as well as an undergarment, because of its role in shaping the wearer's figure. It was originally developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to replace the corset, and has now become, in many parts of the world, the most popular form of undergarment for the upper body, although camisoles and chemises are becoming more popular.
* glamour panty is a kind of short underpants for women or children (usually used in the plural)
* glamour clubwear is a kind of fashion design, primarily in ready-to-wear lines, boyfriend is any style for women's clothing that was modified from a corresponding men's garment. Examples include boyfriend jackets and boyfriend jeans, which are more unisex in appearance than most women's jackets or pants while they are still designed for the female form.
* glamour bustier (alternately bustier re) is an article of clothing for women, which is form-fitting and is traditionally worn as lingerie. It looks somewhat like a Basque, but a bustier is shorter. It reaches down only to the ribs or the waist and has a different function: its primary purpose is to push up the bustier by tightening against the upper midriff and forcing the breasts to move up, while gently shaping the waist. These days, it is often made with mesh panels rather than boning. The bustier is a multi-purpose garment and doubles up as a push-up bra for inner wear and as a camisole for outer wear. The bustier can also be worn as a half-slip under diaphanous upper garments if a bold display of the midriff is not desired. In modern days, women wear a bustier as an undergarment/push up bra in the occasion that their dress or outer-wear has a low-back.
* glamour robe is a loose-fitting outer garment. A robe is distinguished from a cape or cloak by the fact that it usually has sleeves. The English word robe is borrowed from French, although in French it typically refers to a woman's dress. There are various types of robes, including:
* glamour gown (medieval Latin gunna) is a (usually) loose outer garment from knee- to full-length worn by men and women in Europe from the early Middle Ages to the seventeenth century (and continuing today in certain professions); later, gown was applied to any woman's garment consisting of a bodice and attached skirt.
* glamour teddy is a form of bodysuit-like lingerie, often worn in the boudoir. By definition, a teddy is an undergarment which combines a camisole and panty in one piece. Unlike a bodysuit, it is typically looser and more sheer, and may be designed to slip off from the shoulders, rather than to open at the crotch. The teddy is normally worn for the seductive look, rather than practical reasons.
* glamour teddiettes is a loose-fitting teddy designed as sleepwear. Sleep teddies tend to use simpler materials and styles than teddies designed for visual appeal.
* glamour chemise can refer to the classic smock or shift, or else can refer to certain modern types of women's undergarments and dresses. In the classical usage it is a simple garment worn next to the skin to protect clothing from sweat and body oils, the precursor to the modern shirts commonly worn in Western nations.
* glamour pantyhose (also called tights) are sheer, close fitting coverings of the body from the waist to the feet, most frequently worn by women. Like stockings they are usually made of nylon. The one-piece pantyhose garment appeared in the 1960s and provided a convenient alternative to stockings (nylons).
* glamour garters are items of clothing, used to keep stockings up. Normally just a few inches in width, they are usually made of leather or heavy cloth, and adorned with small bells and/or ribbons. In the 18th to 20th centuries, they were tied just below the knee, where the leg was skinniest, to keep the stocking from slipping. The advent of elastic has made them unnecessary from this functional standpoint, although they are still often worn for fashion.
* glamour girdle originally meant a belt (or metaphorically speaking, something which confines or encloses, as in Tolkien's Girdle of Melian). In modern English the term "girdle" is most commonly used for a form of women's foundation wear that replaced the corset in popularity.
* glamour halter top is a kind of woman's top, secured behind the neck and across the back, leaving the arms, shoulders, upperback, and often the midriff bare.
* glamour knickers is a word for women's undergarments and there are now many names for the undergarments that previously have been called knickers, such as panties, thongs, g-strings, briefs, shorts, tangas, etc. Note that while the term 'knickers' refers almost exclusively to women's underwear, 'knicks', knick-knacks' and similar more masculine variations are acceptable monikers for men's underwear, particularly for young boys.
* glamour g-string (alternatively gee-string or gee string) is a type of thong, a narrow piece of cloth, leather, or plastic that covers or holds the genitals, passes between the buttocks, and is attached to a band around the hips, worn as swimwear or underwear by both men and women.
* glamour nightwear, also called "sleepwear", "nightclothes", or "nightdress", is clothing designed to be worn while sleeping. Nightwear usage is seasonal, i.e. different weights for different seasons or it is only worn in winter.
* glamour basque is an item of women's historical apparel. The term, of French origin, can mean either a long corset or jacket characterised by a close, contoured fit and extending past the waistline over the hips. In Victorian outerwear, basque refers to a closely fitted jacket extending at the back past the waistline over the hips, to be worn over a bustle. In 20th century and contemporary attire, the term is used to refer to an article of lingerie, particularly a torso-hugging camisole that resembles a basque or corset (typically featuring decorative front or back lace-up detail), but of more delicate construction and offering little or no figure-molding compression.
* glamour corsetry is craft of making corsets and corset-like garments and accessories most of which incorporate stays. It is also a subfield of fashion that deals with those garments and accessories and it is common term used for those garments and accessories. Term derives from the word corset. A special type of tailor who is an expert in corsetry is called corsetmaker.
* glamour sleepwear is a kind of clothes, such as pajamas or a nightgown, worn in bed. Also called nightdress, nightwear, sleepwear
* glamour briefs are a type of short, tight Y-shaped underwear and swimwear, as opposed to styles where the material extends down the legs. In the case of men's underwear, briefs, unlike boxer shorts, hold the wearer's genitals in a relatively fixed position, which makes briefs a popular underwear choice for men who are participating in athletic activities or who feel they need more support than loose-fitting underwear can provide. In addition, boxers often ride up the body when the wearer is running.
* glamour bikini a very brief, close-fitting, two-piece bathing suit for women or girls. Often, bikinis. underwear briefs that are fitted low on the hip or below it.
* glamour thong is a strip of material, esp. of leather or hide, used to fasten or secure something. Thong is also refered a shoe or slipper fastened to the foot chiefly by a strip of leather or other material passing between the first and second toes and often attaching to another strip of material, as a strap across the instep or around the ankle. The thong is a brief garment for the lower body that exposes the buttocks, consisting of a strip of fabric passing between the thighs and attached to a band around the waist.
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ADULT LINGERIE
A G-string (alternatively gee-string or gee string) is a type of
thong, a narrow piece of cloth, leather, or plastic that covers or holds the
genitals, passes between the buttocks, and is attached to a band around the
hips, worn as swimwear or underwear by both men and women.
The two terms G-string and thong are often used interchangeably; however, they
can refer to distinct pieces of clothing: The primary difference between the
two garments is that a g-string has less material between the legs and
buttocks, hence a string-like appearance. Variants of the G-string include the
V-string, a thong with a triangle "V" of cloth at the top of the rear, and the
T-string, where a single string passes around the waist and between the legs,
forming a T between the buttocks. See also the general article on thongs.
Origin
G-string or thong is probably the earliest form of clothing known to mankind;
having originated in the warmer climates of sub-Saharan Africa where clothing
was first worn nearly 75,000 years ago. Many tribal peoples, such as some of
the Khoisan people of southern Africa, wore thongs for many centuries. Much
like the 2000-plus-year-old Japanese fundoshi, these early garments were made
with the male genitalia in mind.
Although developed for the male anatomy by primitive peoples, in the modern
West thongs are more often worn by females. They first gained mainstream
popularity as swimwear in South America, particularly in Brazil in the 1970s.
In Brazil, where the buttocks ("bunda" in Brazilian Portuguese slang) are
especially admired and emphasized; it was originally a style of thong swimsuit
whose rear area became so narrow that it would disappear between the wearer's
buttocks. Female strippers and erotic dancers in the west have been wearing
G-strings and thongs during their routines since the mid-1920s.
Etymology
The origin of the term "G-string" is obscure. The term is first attested in
writings by Americans in the late 1800s describing the loincloth of
Philippines natives. In the "Philippines Islands" entry in the 1911 edition of
the Encyclopædia Britannica, the term "geestring" is used. Others say the term
is derived from the G-string on a musical instrument, but it may just be an
abbreviation of "groin-string". The origin of the word "thong" is from the Old
English thwong, a flexible leather cord.
There are a number of intermediate styles between full rear coverage and a
string rear. Like the tanga, the G-string is essentially a bottom covering
that covers the pubis and leaves the buttocks bared; The term G-string is
generally used when the vertical strap in the rear of a thong is no wider than
a string. Other similar styles include the brazilian, rio, and T-back
(T-string). The naming of the intermediate cuts is debatable, and different
vendors use the words somewhat interchangeably.
Commercialization
Popularization in the Western culture
Attitudes to wearing G-strings vary, as is usual with highly revealing
clothing. By the late 1980s, the design (for females) had made its way into
most of the Western world, thong and G-string underwear became more and more
popular through the 1990s. As of 2002, thong underwear was one of the
fastest-selling styles among women. One advantage attributed to the wearing of
thong underwear is that no visible panty line can be seen even under a thin,
light-colored or skin-tight garment. Although the popularity of wearing thong
underwear in America has taken off only in the last decade, in Europe it has
been commonplace for many more years.
C-string
There are several variations on the G-string. An example of one variation is
the C-string; as narrow as a thong but without the band around the waist,
leaving just a "c-shaped" piece between the legs held in place firmly by a
flexible internal frame. Since there is no material around the waist, the
C-string completely eliminates the panty lines which thongs and other
underwear create. C-strings are also designed for use as beachwear, which
reduces the tan lines that would have been left by the side straps of even a
G-string. Removing the side straps also eases donning and removal.
Male wear
In the USA and Europe, the wear of G-strings or thongs by men, was once mainly
limited to the dance belt, the posing pouch and the realm of male strippers.
4% of men polled prefer thongs. They are also used by men who don't want
visible brief lines, the popular male wrestlers like Hulk Hogan and Kurt Angle
don't want visible brief lines under their wrestling suits.
Attitudes
G-string underwear is not without its own controversies. In 2002, an American
clothing retailer known for their racy catalogues launched a line of thong
underwear marketed specifically at girls aged 13 to 16 years. Several consumer
advocacy groups objected to marketing of the thong, claiming they are too
sexually suggestive.
Some people in the State of Virginia attempted to pass a law forbidding the
exposure of underwear. But it did not become law.
Some county and municipal governments in the United States have passed
legislation forbidding G-string swimsuits in public, but most others do not
have a problem with sunbathers in thongs, so long as they don't engage in
unsavory activities.
The United States Supreme Court held in Erie v. Pap's A. M. that a city
ordinance requiring erotic dancers to wear g-strings was constitutional.
A brassiere (Brit. /'bɹæzɪə(ɹ)/; U.S. /bɹə'ziɹ/, commonly referred to as a
bra, /bɹɑ/) is an article of clothing that covers, supports, and elevates the
breasts. The bra is considered a foundation garment, as well as an
undergarment, because of its role in shaping the wearer's figure. It was
originally developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to
replace the corset, and has now become, in many parts of the world, the most
popular form of undergarment for the upper body, although camisoles and
chemises are becoming more popular.
The bra may be worn to support and enhance breast shape during everyday
activities and a specialized bra, the sports bra to support and restrain
breasts during exercise. Some wearers believe that wearing it will prevent
their breasts from sagging later in life. However, there are no reports in the
scientific medical literature that support that notion. In fact some reports
have suggested that wearing a bra will promote ligament atrophy, which
contributes to sagging, so the matter is open to debate. The bra may also be
worn to observe modesty or to present a certain image of femininity. Bras are
typically designed to lift the breasts into a particular position, for a more
youthful look or for enhancing cleavage . These roles are sometimes
conflicting. Some designers aim at producing a garment that fulfills a
practical role as well as making it look attractive. Bras are also used during
pregnancy (when breasts are enlarged and more sensitive), and for nursing (see
nursing bra) to support and provide access for breastfeeding.
The term chemise can refer to the classic smock or shift, or else can refer to
certain modern types of women's undergarments and dresses. In the classical
usage it is a simple garment worn next to the skin to protect clothing from
sweat and body oils, the precursor to the modern shirts commonly worn in
Western nations.
Etymology
Chemise is a French term (which today simply means shirt). This is a cognate
of the Italian word camicia, and the Spanish / Portuguese word camisa
(subsequently borrowed by Hindi / Urdu), all deriving ultimately from the
Latin camisia. The English called the same shirt a smock and the Irish called
it a léine (IPA: /'leɪnjə/).
The history of the chemise
The chemise seems to have been developed from the Roman tunica and first
became popular in the European Middle Ages. Women wore shifts or chemises
underneath their gowns or robes; men wore chemises with their trousers or
braies, and covered the chemises with garments such as doublets, robes, etc.
In those times, it was usually the only piece of clothing that was washed
regularly. In Western countries, women's shifts did not fall out of fashion
until the early 20th century, when they were generally replaced by brassieres,
panties, girdles, and full slips.
Men's chemises may be said to survive as the common T-shirt, which served as
an undergarment until the mid-20th century. The chemise also morphed into the
smock-frock, a garment worn by English laborers until the early 20th century.
Its loose cut and wide sleeves were well adapted to heavy labor. The name
smock is nowadays still used for military combat jackets in the UK, whereas in
the Belgian army the term has been corrupted to smoke-vest. '''
Historical construction of the chemise
A chemise, shift, or smock was usually sewn at home, by the women of a
household. It was assembled from rectangles and triangles cut from one piece
of cloth so as to leave no waste. The poor would wear skimpy chemises pieced
from a narrow piece of rough cloth; the rich might have voluminous chemises
pieced from thin, smooth fine linen.
Modern usage of the term
In modern usage the term chemise generally refers to women's fashions that
vaguely resemble the older shifts but are typically more delicate, and usually
provocative. Most commonly the term refers to a loose-fitting, sleeveless,
shirt-like undergarment or piece of lingerie. It can also refer to a short,
sleeveless dress that hangs straight from the shoulders and fits loosely at
the waist.
There is a similar type of lingerie/sleepwear known as the babydoll. Both
terms describe short, loose-fitting, sleeveless fashions. Typically, though,
babydolls are more loose-fitting at the hips and are generally designed to
more resemble a young girl's nightgown (although many modern varieties only
vaguely follow this definition adding various sexualizing features which, of
course, would only be appropriate for an adult).
See also
When viewed from the side, the strap that runs around the body should be
horizontal, should not ride up the back, and should be firm but comfortable.
The underwires at the front should lie flat against the rib cage (not the
breast), along the infra-mammary fold, and should not dig in to the chest or
the breasts, rub or poke out at the front.
The breasts should be enclosed by the cups and there should be a smooth line
where the fabric at the top of the cup ends.
There should not be a ridge or any bulging over the top or sides of the cups,
even with a low-cut style such as the balconette bra.
Mechanical principles
A pair of breasts can weigh several kilograms. For instance a pair of "D cup"
breasts may weigh 15–23 pounds (7–10 kg), dependent on band and cup size. One
of the principal functions of a bra is to elevate and "support" the breasts,
that is, to raise them from their normal position lying against the chest
wall. The bra's shoulder strap should bear little weight. This is considered
the defining characteristic of the bra: supporting the weight from the back
and shoulders, as opposed to lift from below (as corsets do).
Over-reliance on the platform (backstrap) for support will lead to undue
compression of the breasts, so much of the weight tends to be carried by the
shoulder strap, particularly for larger breasts. The major engineering
weakness of the bra is that it acts as a pulley, transferring the weight of
the breasts from the lower chest wall to higher structures such as the back,
shoulder, neck, and head. This can result in pain and injury in those
structures, especially for women with pendulous breasts.
Size and measurement
The comfort and function of any given bra is highly dependent on the correct
size and fit. A large range of sizes are available to cater to the wide
variety in the size of women's breasts and bodies. Bra sizes typically vary in
two ways: the volume of the cups that fit over the breast, and the length of
the back strap that goes around the body. It is essential that the bra fit
correctly in both of these dimensions. There is typically some ability to
adjust the band size, since bras usually have three or four alternative sets
of fastening hooks. The shoulder straps of a bra are also almost always
adjustable. The size of women's breasts is often expressed in terms of her
usual bra size.
Measurement systems
Although all bras are labeled by size, many women find that the only way to
obtain a bra that fits properly and achieves the effect they want is by trial
and error with each bra type, model and brand. This method is the most
reliable.
Though many countries use the metric system, the majority of nations still use
imperial units to determine the underband size of the bra itself.
There are several methods which may be used to provide an approximate size by
taking measurements. However, bra sizing systems differ widely between
countries, between manufacturers, and between brands and designs, which can
create many problems. Many researchers have demonstrated that these problems
arise because fit requires knowing the breast volume, not the body
circumference (the distance around the body), which is what is actually
measured. Although bra sizing uses the circumference to estimate the volume,
this has been shown to be highly unreliable.
The size of a bra is commonly described by two values. The first is the band
size (underband), a number based on the circumference of the chest under the
bust, excluding the breasts. The second is the cup size given by a letter of
the alphabet, and relating to the volume of the breasts themselves. For
example, a 30D bra is for a 30-size band and a D-size cup. Cup sizes typically
start with A, the smallest, and increase alphabetically. A double lettering
system may also be used, e.g. DDD for F or AA for a size smaller than A.
Band size is usually determined by measuring body circumference under the
breasts as tight as possible. A second measurement is a loose fit taken of the
chest circumference over the fullest part of the breasts (overbust). The cup
size can then be calculated with tables or a conversion tool from the
difference between these two measurements.
The mean underband circumference in the UK is 34 inches (86 cm). For the
overbust measurement, this is 40 inches (101 cm), for women 18–64 years.
Fitting difficulties
Women often find it difficult to find the correct bra size. To achieve perfect
sizing consistently, a bra would have to be custom made, because a
"one-size-fits-all" manufacturing process is fraught with difficulties.
Breasts vary in the position on the chest, and in their diameters.
A number of stores have certified professional bra-fitters specialists.
However, even bra fitters have been shown to be quite variable in their
recommendations. Buying "off-the-shelf" or "online" bras is unwise if the
buyer has never tried on the brand and type of bra that they are interested in
buying. Some bra manufacturers and distributors state that trying on and
learning to recognize a proper fit is the best way to determine a correct bra
size, much the same as with shoes. Some critics observe that measuring systems
such as the one described above often lead to an incorrect size, most commonly
too small in the cup, and too large in the band. For anyone, especially cup
sizes larger than a D, one should get a professional fitting from the lingerie
department of a clothing store or a specialty lingerie store.
Some women intentionally buy larger cups and pad them, while yet others buy
smaller cups to give the appearance of being "full". Finally, the elastic
properties of the band make band size highly unreliable, and in one study the
label size was consistently different from the measured size. Fashion and
image drive the bra market, and these factors often take precedence over
comfort and function.
As already noted, there is no agreed standard across all manufacturers for
measuring and specifying bra size. Obtaining the correct size is further
complicated by the fact that the size and shape of a woman's breasts fluctuate
during her menstrual cycle, and also with weight gain or loss. Even breathing
can substantially alter the measurements.
It is frequently stated, from the results of surveys, that between 70 and 100%
of women are wearing incorrectly fitted bras. This may be partly due to a lack
of understanding of how to correctly determine bra size; it may also be due to
unusual or unexpectedly rapid growth in size brought on by pregnancy, weight
gain, or medical conditions including virginal breast hypertrophy.
As breasts become larger, their shape and the distribution of the tissues
within them changes, becoming ptotic and bulbous rather than conical. This
makes measurements increasingly unreliable, especially for large breasts.
Similarly the heavier a build the woman has, the more inaccurate the underbust
measurement as the tape sinks into the flesh more easily. Finally, most women
are asymmetrical (10% severely), with the left breast being larger in 62%,
especially when the breasts are large.
Many of the health problems associated with bras are due to fitting problems
and are discussed further below, under health problems. However, finding a
comfortable fit is described as very difficult by many women, which has
affected sales. Medical studies have also attested to the difficulty of
getting a correct fit.
Types of bra
A wide range of styles of brassieres now exists, to be worn in a variety of
situations, and with a variety of outer garments. For instance strapless,
backless and multiway bra styles specialise in being invisible underneath less
than full coverage garments whereas push up and plunge focus on shaping the
bust and cleavage. The degree of shaping and coverage of the breasts varies
between styles, as do functionality and fashion, fabric, and colour. Styles
range from the purely utilitarian to the sensual. Others include various
accessory structures such as padding and underwiring.
Many bras will fall into more than one category, such as a maternity bra
designed for facilitating access to the nipple, but that is also designed to
provide support to heavier lactating breasts. Definitions are not always very
accurate or exclusive (e.g. shelf bra). Sports bras have more recently been
developed with the primary purpose of restricting breast movement to aid
comfort.
Therapeutic role of the bra
Countering the aging process
Anatomically, the breasts are non-rigid areas of glandular tissue, with few
support structures, such as connective tissue. Breasts are composed of the
mammary glands, which remain relatively constant throughout life, as well as
the adipose tissue or fat tissue that surrounds the mammary glands. It is the
amount and distribution of adipose tissue that leads to variations in breast
size. In addition, the breasts contain internal ligaments, although their
exact function as related to breast support is controversial. These ligaments,
and the overlying skin (referred to as the dermal brassiere) help determine
the resulting breast shape.
As the breasts mature, they fold over the lower attachment to the chest wall
(infra-mammary fold), and their lower (inferior) surface lies against the
chest wall when vertical. In popular culture, this maturation is referred to
as "sagging" or "drooping", although plastic surgeons refer to it as ptosis,
and recommend mastopexy (breast lift) for correction.
Although the exact mechanisms that determine breast shape and size remain
largely unknown, it has long been claimed that this occurs because the normal
anatomical support is inadequate, especially in older women and those with
larger breasts. Hence the bra is often proposed as a means of providing
artificial support, based on the presumption that the breasts cannot support
themselves. Health professionals have, however, found no evidence to suggest
that the bra changes the natural process of aging of the breasts. Bra
manufacturers have also stated that bras only affect the shape of breasts
while they are being worn.
Indeed, there are indications that wearing a bra may have an effect opposite
to that which was intended. In a Japanese study, 11 women were measured
wearing a standardised fitted bra for three months. They found that breasts
became larger and lower, with the underbust measurement decreasing and the
overbust increasing, while the lowest point of the breast moved downwards and
outwards. The effect was more pronounced in larger-breasted women. This may be
related to the particular bra chosen for the experiment. There was some
improvement after changing to a different model. These findings were confirmed
in a much larger French study of 250 women who exercised regularly and were
followed by questionnaires and biometric measurements for a year after
agreeing not to wear a bra. While there was some initial discomfort at the
first evaluation, this gradually disappeared and by the end of the year nearly
all the women had improved comfort compared to before the study. The
measurements showed firmer, and more elevated and youthful breasts. One
example of a woman who had breasts that were uncomfortably large, and who had
improvement after two years of being without a bra is given.
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