Your underwear can say a lot about you, much more than you might think, even if it is covered by clothes. That’s why it’s called intimo in Italian (literally ‘intimate’, standing for undergarments).
To celebrate underwear’s evolution throughout the years, the Victoria & Albert Museum will run a special exhibition this month. From 16th April 2016 to 12nd March 2017 you will be able to explore the most intimate part of your wardrobe.
Monday to Friday pants
cheekfrills, 2015
Incredible as it seems now, there was a time when the bra didn’t exist (and some of you would be happy about that), and underwear was more than basic.
That’s the purpose of Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear: to tell the story of underwear design from the 18th century to the present day, considering the practical and personal, sensory and fashionable aspects.
Following the success of this year’s Shoes: Pleasure and Pain, the exhibition will focus on “the practicalities of underwear and its role in the fashionable wardrobe while highlighting its sensual, sexual appeal”.
Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear will display more than 200 examples of underwear for men and women, with a special highlight on innovation and luxury. Corsets, crinolines, boxer shorts, bras, hosiery, lingerie and lounge-wear by famous designers such as Stella McCartney, La Perla - the Italian brand founded in Bologna in 1954 by the talented Ada Masotti - Rigby & Peller and Paul Smith, will be showcased alongside contextual fashion plates, photographs, advertisements, display figures and packaging.
‘Tamila’ lingerie set from the Agent Provocateur Soirée collection
S/S 2015
Photographer: Sebastian Faena, Model: Eniko Mihalik
Highlights will include long cotton drawers worn by Queen Victoria’s mother; a 1960s Mary Quant body stocking; a pair of gender-neutral briefs by Acne; a sheer dress by Liza Bruce, famously worn by Kate Moss; and neutral leggings decorated with a mirrored glass fig leaf by Vivienne Westwood.
Also, the exhibition will explore one of this year’s trends, the corset. Corsets were recommended to improve medical conditions and posture, but the circumference of some of these models was so tight that they had a dramatic impact on the body. However, there will be space to a debate on how to make them healthy.
Cage crinoline, the ‘Princess Louise Jupon Patent’
c. 1871
The exhibition, sponsored by Agent Provocateur and Revlon, will be an occasion to explore the inner part of your look.
For more information and to book tickets, please visit the website of Victoria and Albert Museum.
