History hidden in plain sight: The bow on women's panties
Many women who wear panties with a small bow at the front daily are unaware that this piece of underwear has a long and interesting history. It can serve several functions and be very helpful for both women and men in daily life.
4:12 PM EDT, August 18, 2024
In almost every lingerie store, women's panties are decorated with a bow at the top. Today, the bow mainly serves a decorative function, but it used to be different. Where did it come from on underwear?
Many women wouldn't even consider paying attention to the small bow on the front of their underwear. Daily habits make us not ponder why this element is present there. And it's quite interesting.
Once, the bow helped to identify the front of the panties. In times when electricity was unknown, women had to dress in the dark. The tiny bow made it easier to find the orientation, saving valuable time in the morning.
Bows on underwear may have their roots when panties did not have elastic bands. A ribbon threaded through a few holes and tied at the front into a bow helped keep the underwear in place.
Interestingly, men also used similar solutions. Numerous historical sources indicate this. An illustration in the German edition of "On Famous Women" by Giovanni Boccaccio from 1474 shows Semiramis, the queen of Assyria, and her maids in panties with the mentioned bow.
How a small detail on our underwear can hide such a rich history is fascinating. Although the bow, although mainly decorative today, had practical uses that have endured in our daily wardrobes and can still serve us today!
