Lingerie is a term for women's fashion undergarments.
It derives from the French word 'lin' for linen. While the term in
the French language applies to all undergarments for either sex, in
English it is applied only to those women's undergarments designed
to be visually appealing or erotic, typically incorporating materials
such as lace and silk, and not applied to functional cotton undergarments.
The concept of lingerie being visually appealing is relatively recent.
Up through the first half of the 20th century women selected underwear
for three major purposes: to alter their shape (first with corsets
and later with girdles or bras), for reasons of hygiene, or for modesty.
Women's underwear was often very large and bulky. As the 20th century
progressed underwear became smaller and more form fitting. In the
1960s 'controversial' lingerie manufacturers such as Frederick's of
Hollywood begin to glamourize lingerie and the idea of lingerie having
a sexual appeal slowly developed.
