Why Wear a Bodysuit?

A bodysuit is an all-in-one garment which covers the torso and crotch, and can be a form of underwear. It often has a snap-crotch for easy access for toileting.

Many of us who are old enough will remember our mothers or grandmothers wearing these garments as “foundation” pieces; they were very popular in the 1960’s and the 1980’s, and in the 1990’s the bodysuit as upper-outerwear was, for a short time, very popular amongst adolescent girls.

Once a wardrobe staple, the bodysuit is making something of a comeback, and as an underwear item, it has much to offer women of all ages – especially during the cooler months!

Bodysuits are stretchy and are not unlike a one piece swimsuit in appearance. They create a slim and sleek line under clothing; bras and undies are all in one piece and there is no line where the bra ends or the undies begin.

Bodysuits are versatile. They can be worn in an array of ways and for an array of reasons:

·        Warmth – wear a bodysuit in winter and you have no risk of bare skin if your top rides up for any reason

·        Wear your bodysuit as a modest base underneath sheer tops or clothing with an open weave.

·        High waisted jeans look great with a bodysuit underneath.

·        Cropped tops look better with a bodysuit underneath them so as to avoid exposing the midriff if you’re not thrilled with showing it off.

·        If you have a favourite kimono you want to wear, a basic bodysuit looks and feels better than wearing a singlet top which requires tucking in.

Why Choose a Bodysuit?

·        It stays in place – no matter what

·        It eliminates bulkiness of clothing that otherwise needs tucking in

·        It is flattering and slimming – acting like shape wear

·        Snap closures make using the bathroom a breeze

·        It looks like a normal top – but better

Buy a bodysuit from Undiewarehouse. We have gorgeous bodysuits in store from Jockey and also from Ambra. You will look and feel amazing when you wear one – and will wonder why it took you so long to discover this versatile and comfortable garment!

Should You Go Commando?

We ladies all love our underwear. But some women love going commando – and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Aside from missing out on wearing beautiful and sexy underwear, are there any cons to occasionally (or frequently) going commando? Are there any pros?

Aside from common decency (if wearing a short dress or short shorts) and modesty, why should we wear undies?

·        Underwear protects us from infections

·        Underwear protects us from parasites – for example, pubic lice and other nasties can live on towels and linen, and can be picked up very easily by sitting on these sans underwear

·        Underwear protects us from irritation, due to seams, studs and zippers in clothing

·        Underwear protects our outer clothing from natural bodily secretions and sweat, keeping odours and stains to a minimum

There are, however, some good reasons to go commando at least some of the time – like at night when sleeping, or when at home, or when wearing a maxi dress or skirt. 

Here’s why:

·        No underwear = no visible panty line. Of course a g-string eliminates this too, yet g-strings are not healthy to wear every day. Yeast infections and other regional issues are exacerbated by wearing a g-string, leading to potential urinary tract infections.

·        Underwear in summer traps heat and moisture. This can cause itching and, again, yeast infection – going commando allows for better air circulation in the region. This is imperative for optimal health.

·        Whisper to your guy that you’re sans underwear and he’s sure to look at you in a whole new and exciting light!

Our tips?

·        Whatever underwear you choose to wear, make sure the gusset is made of cotton

·        Change your underwear at least once a day, and shower or bathe at least once a day

·        Don’t use harsh bath products or feminine perfume products on your genitalia

·        Don’t wear g-strings every day and don’t wear them to sleep in at night

·        Avoid synthetics and polyesters in underwear on the hottest, most humid days. Cotton is your best friend.

·        Always wear underwear while menstruating

·        Make sure your underwear fits comfortably and is not too tight

·        Always wear underwear underneath jeans, capris, or other trouser-style clothing which has seams that can irritate the delicate genital area.

·        Even if it’s just at home in the evening, go commando from time to time. Especially if you suffer from yeast infections, irritation, or cystitis.

·        If you do choose to go commando – NOBODY NEEDS TO KNOW!!!

·        Buy underwear that you love – and you will love to wear. Whether you’re a girl who loves a lacy cheeky pair or cotton full coverage, you will rock it if you love it.

A Fetish for Stealing Undies

Just a couple of months ago, an hilarious news story was reported in which a Chinese man, having stolen and stashed hundreds of pieces of women’s lingerie, was exposed when a ceiling collapsed under the weight of his hidden stash.

Located in the southeast Chinese city of Yulin, the man, aged in his thirties, who later admitted to psychiatric issues and a lifelong obsession with women’s lingerie, had been stealing and hiding the underwear in a ceiling above an emergency exit in his building. After the ceiling collapse, police found more than two thousand items, including bras and panties hidden in the roof.

The underwear had, seemingly, been stolen from other residents in the offender’s housing complex – they had been complaining of missing and vanishing underwear for some time. The offender had accessed a master key and entered the other residents’ apartments during their absence with the sole aim of stealing and hoarding their underwear.

He stored his stolen items in his own ceiling, until he ran out of room there; at this point he accessed the ceiling cavities in communal fire escapes.

This is not the only underwear burglar to make his way to infamy in the news recently. A Singaporean man who had been stealing lingerie from women’s indoor washing lines was caught in the act – and was publicly shamed into wearing one of the stolen bras as he was paraded around the block.

Why do men steal women’s underwear?

·        Some men want a kinky keepsake of their sexual encounters with a specific woman.

·        Some men get off on the risk of pinching something intimate.

·        Some men get off on the thrill of stealing – full stop – and getting away with it.

·        Some men have a fetish for worn underwear. There is even an industry for selling and buying worn (and unwashed) panties. Japan even sells used panties in vending machines, alongside tobacco products and beer, so extreme is this fetish in that country.

·        What causes a man to have an underwear fetish? A Japanese study used MRI scanning technology to look at the brains of men with self-confessed panty fetishes, and found that decreased blood flow to the temporal and occipital lobes of the brain was a factor in all subjects.  Whether this is a cause or just a correlation is unknown. Like all fetishes, it begins in early life and is usually triggered by an event.

Looking Back – The Codpiece

It can be funny sometimes to think how styles and trends and the epitome of manliness have changed over the years. When this writer was a little girl, manly men wore white Y-front undies and never went without a white chesty Bonds singlet (at least, that’s what my father wore ... and does to this day. Some of us don’t move with the times so easily, it seems).

Five hundred years ago, the epitome of the quintessential manly man was expressed in the codpiece. Worn almost exclusively through the 1500’s and all but gone by the 1600’s, this was one unforgettable garment which was basically underwear worn as outerwear.

Men of this era wore hose to cover their legs; these did not cover the genitalia as well.  The stylish length for jackets and doublets rose over time, and men found themselves embarrassingly exposed in their nether regions when they sat or mounted their horses. To cover their genitals, they wore a simple piece of linen which was tied down or buttoned to the hose. It was named the codpiece, from the Middle English word “cod” which meant “scrotum”. The codpiece also offered better freedom of movement.

It wasn’t long before codpieces became a way for men to enhance rather than hide the area. They were padded, embellished, and made longer and bigger - to the point of being ridiculous. Some were crafted from metal. The bigger a man’s “ego”, the bigger he wore his codpiece.

There may have been other reasons for this than to simply emphasise and exaggerate a man’s sexual wares. Anthropologists believe that the prevalence of venereal diseases dictated the use of codpieces to allow them contain dressings and medications for the area, without being obvious to others.

King Henry VIII of England is perhaps the most famous wearer of the codpiece; a look at his surviving armour shows just how big he wore this garment. Considering that it is well known that he suffered from advanced and severe syphilis, and in light of the medication theory, one can surmise that perhaps it wasn’t all about his ego. Not entirely, anyway.

These days we usually only see codpieces at Renaissance Fairs and on Superhero costumes...

An Heroic Campaign from Jockey...

Jockey underwear has a long and illustrious history of providing men with briefs, boxers, singlets, and much more for many decades. They have recently released a global advertising campaign which may well be their cleverest yet...

The idea of putting sporting greats in underwear advertising campaigns is nothing new – and Jockey has done so, from  baseball’s Baltimore Oriole pitcher Jim Palmer in the 1970s, to basketball player Michael Jordan, and, more recently, soccer legend David Beckham.

The latest Jockey campaign, with the catchphrase slogan , “Supporting Greatness”, shows images truly great American heroes doing what they did in their briefs.

Astronaut and moonwalker Buzz Aldrin, military man General George Patton, and baseball king Babe Ruth were all known to wear Jockey briefs – that is a fact – and the company is taking advantage of the fact that these great men wore their merchandise.

Buzz Aldrin, now aged eighty-four, was the second man to walk on the moon – and he has expressed great pride in being a part of this exciting new campaign. As he said himself, “everybody wears underwear” and “this commercial is fun”.

The television commercials are especially fun. Aldrin is seen in a spacesuit on all kinds of planets, planting the American flag whilst swatting away aliens and asteroids. Commercial spots with Patton and Ruth are in planning stages.

There are both television and print commercials to be broadcast and published, and for Jockey, the aim is to remain cool, appeal to men as buyers of underwear, and to deliver the powerful message: that if these men wore Jockeys, today’s guys should do so as well.

And we know they did. Babe Ruth was a spokesman for Jockey during the years of his career; Patton, like almost all of the American military of the time, wore them, and Aldrin wore them in training as they were a supplier to NASA. (He did not actually wear them on the moon - apparently space requires specialised undergarments – who knew?).

The end message is that Jockey is enduring, reliable, functional, and supports greatness of all kinds in its wearer. Get yours from Undiewarehouse today!

More Fun Facts About Undies!

·        Your Undies offer a peak into how “High Maintenance” you might be! Apparently, a woman who favours white cotton underwear is easier to get along with than a girl who likes satin and lace smalls. According to a clinical researcher named Dr. Baumgartner, simple undies are worn by women who are comfortable in their own skin, and who don’t need bells, bows and whistles to feel sexy.

·        Underwear is a very personal choice – and women tend to have very set preferences. Of more than one hundred thousand women recently surveyed:

§  37% preferred bikini briefs

§  23% preferred briefs

§  19% preferred thongs/g-strings

§  17% preferred boy shorts

·        According to a study from 2012 in the UK, the average woman owns thirty four pairs of undies; American women own twenty one pairs on average (no Australian data was available). This is easily five times more than owned by the average man.

·        Women typically have a range of underwear: everyday, work, sport, special occasion, and VERY special occasion undies.

·        Early American Spacesuits (yes, those worn by astronauts) were actually made by bra manufacturer, Playtex!

·        We keep our underwear for a LONG time. 15% of women commonly wear undies they have been wearing for up to ten years.

·        It’s not uncommon for women to “go commando” in order to avoid visible panty lines. Rather than opting for a thing, a significant number of ladies choose to just go without altogether.

·        Surveys suggest that women get grumpy if their underwear isn’t just right: if it clings, clumps, slips, chokes, or is simply ugly, a woman’s mood can be seriously impacted by what she’s go going on under her clothing.

·        The colour of one’s chosen underwear can speak volumes about their personality:

§  Black = classy, strong, ambitious

§  White = calm, tender, conservative

§  Blue = creative, pleasant

§  Yellow = loving, adventurous, cheerful

§  Green = independent and relaxed

§  Red = passionate, vibrant, naughty

·        As many as 64% of women actually wear the wrong size bra!

·        Men have their underwear preferences just as much as women do. Ten percent of men prefer boxers, twenty five percent prefer boxer briefs, and forty percent prefer wearing briefs. The remaining twenty five percent preferred “other”...

Underwear and Good Health

·        For optimum health, men and women should both opt for cotton underwear. Cotton is breathable, comfortable, and absorbs moisture – thus reducing bacteria growth. Still love the satin, lace or polyester briefs? Satin and lace undies are so pretty – yet they aren't so good for you. Think of them as you would sweets – a “sometimes” treat, but not a daily go-to staple. And make sure they always have a cotton gusset.

·        Many modern fabrics are even better than cotton at wicking sweat and keeping the wearer drier. And make sure they always have a cotton gusset. But don’t be fooled by “silver infused” antimicrobial undies – just a few washes and at least half the silver is gone. Not worth the money, is it?

·        What is healthier – underwear or going commando? It all comes down to fabric choice. The groin is a warm and moist environment – a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. Cotton undies will catch and absorb sweat, so should be worn for optimal health. There are, however, some pants and shorts these days made with inbuilt “undies” – with antibacterial wicking fabrics. In these cases, undies aren't really necessary.

·        Another underwear “staple” that really shouldn't be worn every day is the high control shape wear so many of us rely on for a smooth (and slimmer) shape. Great for a night out or a special occasion, care should be taken that the right size is chosen. Don’t go too tight!! Frequent wearing of shape wear, or wearing pieces that are too tight, can lead to a myriad of health problems – from heartburn to pain, bloating to flatulence, digestive upset and incontinence. Other risks include pain and numbness or tingling in the legs and feet, poor circulation, varicose veins, swollen ankles and even blood clots. Finally, moisture is often trapped by these garments – resulting in skin irritations and infections. The moral of the story? Keep your shape wear for certain occasions or outfits – not for everyday wear.

·        Love your thong or g-string? It might not actually love you. Fabulous under tight clothing, it is actually a hazard if worn for too long or for exercising. The issue is not only if the thong is too tight (ouch!) but that it acts as a wick, drawing moisture from the rear towards the urinary tract – leading to possible infections. Again – wear “sometimes”, not “always”.

Everything in moderation – what better reason than to have an underwear wardrobe containing many kinds of undies?

Do Mormons Really Wear Sacred Underwear?

Most of us might not know a lot about the Mormon religion, but one thing many are aware of is that Mormons must wear “sanctified” or “sacred” underwear. Is this true? Or is it just a myth?

While most Mormon children wear undies the same as any other child, it is a fact that most faithful, adult members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (ie, Mormons) do wear a special underwear garment which is directly related to the Mormon temple.

Referred to by Mormons simply as “Garment”, this is an item of apparel worn under the clothing and against the skin. As such, it replaces normal underwear for most. It is a symbolic representation of the promises the faithful Mormon has made to God. Not exactly “sacred”, but it is “secret”.

The Garment is worn for the first visit to Temple, where individual instructions are given as to its wear and care, and a sacred ceremony referred to as the Temple Endowment is undergone. From this time, the Garment must be worn day and night, as a permanent reminder of the covenant made by the wearer to the church. The point of it is to foster a continuous and constant obedience to God, helping the wearer keep his or her focus.

Mormons believe that Adam and Eve wore clothing made for them by God when they departed from the Garden of Eden; modern day Mormons wear the underwear apparel in this same context.

The Garment serves to remind the wearer that he or she is apart from the rest of the non-Mormon world. The length and modest cut of this underwear requires the wearer to dress modestly. The only times the garment is allowed to be removed are briefly for swimming, going to the toilet, or for marital intimacy.

Consisting of two pieces, a top and a bottom, the underwear is always white, unless required by members of the armed services, in which case suitable colours are substituted.

Contrary to popular belief, Mormon women still usually wear a bra. Garments do not have knee or nipple protectors. Boys don’t wear it to prevent masturbation; instead they are warned against masturbation as inappropriate in church classes. Only as adults are garments worn for the first time.

Weird? To non-Mormons, maybe, yet other religions have their own apparel requirements. For example, Jewish men wear a yarmulke (head cap); Christian ministers wear a clerical collar; Buddhist monks wear saffron and orange robes. Muslim women may choose to wear the hijab (head scarf). All serve to reflect the religious convictions of the wearer.

But Mormons are the only ones with religious underwear.

Men’s Underwear in the 1970s – a Time Best Forgotten?

The 1970s is, quite justifiably, referred to by many as “the decade style forgot”. Psychadelic colours, bell bottoms, safari suits, brown in every shade, lime green, velour, crochet, and all in one looks are all fashions of the time many of us hope to never see again.

Questionable style in the 1970s was not, however, limited to men’s outerwear. Men’s underwear during this decade was also, put simply, at times frightful – by today’s standards, in any case. And what was deemed sexy at the time might never be suitably explained to those of us who didn’t live through it...

After what was known as the “Peacock Revolution” of the 1960s, men’s underwear styles displayed a concern for fashion and colour like never before – and in a way that had previously been reserved for outer garments. Polyester and cotton blend fabrics were popular, and not only were undies produced in ever so stylish (for the time) colours and patterns, but undershirts were co-ordinated with said undies. Nice.

There was even an all-in-one undies/vest suit available...

And even more extreme – an all in one undies and shirt ensemble...

Undergarment fashions were bold, colourful, and “anything goes” seems to have been the motto of the time.

Fancy some floral print under fashion? How about mesh nylon underwear? Or denim low rise briefs?

100% nylon fabric was commonly used for men’s undies to achieve a sleek and natural fit, which complemented the figure hugging clothing styles of the 1970s. Due to the fashion for tight trousers, tiny shorts, and synthetic fabrics, boxers were decidedly out of style and briefs were in.

Advertising of men’s undies took on a whole new character in the 1970s as well; models were often nearly naked, and perceived sex appeal in advertising was not limited to women’s lingerie. Maximising a man’s “assets” became popular like never before. The hairier the chest, the more flesh on show, and the more “loud” the undergarment – the better. If he also sported a moustache – advertising gold!

Here we are forty years on. While men’s undies are still advertised cleverly and being fashionable is important to many, one must wonder what we will think when we look back on today’s styles in decades to come. In the meantime, a nostalgic pondering on the 1970s can be funny, baffling, and everything in between...

The Starring Role of Underwear in the Cinema

There are almost countless cinematic scenes in which underwear takes a starring role – and not just recent films, either. In the very early days of Hollywood, before the censors went berserk, things were surprisingly risqué ... but even after the conservative viewpoint won out, lingerie and underwear has made regular appearances on the big screen – some very memorable for all the right reasons, some memorable as the image we wish we could un-see, and some not memorable at all.

So let’s take a look at a snippet of those classic movie scenes we won’t be forgetting anytime soon – the good, that is.

Janet Leigh in Psycho.

This Hitchcock thriller from 1960 brought an unprecedented level of violence and open sexuality to the big screen – Leigh’s character is even seen in bed with a man she’s not married to! Her lacy bras, high waisted panties and half slips are ever so sexy...

Elizabeth Taylor in Butterfield 8

Playing a prostitute, Taylor wears what is possibly cinema’s most famous full-slip in a “morning after” scene. She later leaves the apartment with nothing over it but a fur coat...

Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch

Filming for this scene in 1954 created a furore on the streets of Manhattan – and spelled the end of Monroe’s marriage to Joe DiMaggio – who thought a “lady” would never allow herself to be seen thus! She wore two pairs of knickers for this scene, to protect her modesty from the gust of wind from the subway below ... fans were delighted, filmmakers were delighted, and manufacturers of white briefs with lace trim were delighted as well. And all it took was a glimpse.

Anne Bancroft in The Graduate

A variety of lingerie scenes were part of this film, but by far the most famous image is that of “Mrs Robinson” peeling off her black silk stockings for Hoffman’s character as he nervously looked on. Hosiery was used as a sexy plot device to illustrate the nature of Mrs Robinson’s predatory urges...

Jamie Lee Curtis in True Lies

The film may not be considered a classic, but the striptease scene of Jamie Lee Curtis certainly is. The high cut black lace g-string and balconette bra the actress wore for this scene were actually her own. Lucky husband!

Sigourney Weaver in Alien

Never has a pair of bikini briefs and a mannish singlet been so appealing to the eye. Weaver’s character spent much of the movie scantily clad as she worked on the ship and  battled slimy extra-terrestrials.

Renee Zellweger as Bridget Jones

Shapewear came into its own and was no longer something we were embarrassed about when Bridget Jones pulled out her “enormous mummy panties”. We could all laugh along as she struggled into them, expending as much energy to do so as a good gym session would take. And the lecherous cad, Daniel Cleaver, wasn’t even turned off by them. Collective sigh of relief from women the world over.