A form-fitting garment is an article of clothing that tightly follows the contours of the part of the body being covered. A feature of Modern Western societies is the popularity of form-fitting clothing worn by women, compared to equivalent male garments. These include T-shirts , sweaters , shorts , and jeans . Some cultures and religious communities disapprove of form-fitting clothing, especially outerwear, which they consider to be immodest .
4-616: Panties are women's form-fitting underpants . Typical components include an elastic waistband , a crotch panel to cover the genitalia (usually lined with absorbent material such as cotton ), and a pair of leg openings that, like the waistband, are often made of elastomer . Various materials are used, but are usually chosen to be breathable. Panties are made of a variety of materials, including cotton , lace , latex , leather , lycra , mesh , nylon , PVC , polyester , rawhide , satin , and silk . Construction typically consists of two pieces (front and rear) that are joined by seams at
8-481: A smooth line to the outer clothing. Skin-tight garments are usually also form-fitting, but are held to the skin by elastic tension . In contrast, non-form-fitting garments are commonly referred to as "loose". Though many materials can be used to make form-fitting garments, the thinner materials, such as synthetic fibers , are the most commonly used, because of the smooth line that can be produced as well as their extra strength when pulled tight. Some fabrics cling to
12-929: The American English equivalent being underpants . In Australia, male underpants are often referred to as "undies", although the word can also refer to panties. Panties are classified into various styles based on criteria such as the amount of rear coverage, width at the sides and height at which they are worn. These categories are not necessarily distinct and usage may vary somewhat among brands : Form-fitting There are numerous types of clothing which typically are or which can be made form-fitting. For example, stockings , leggings , tights , and socks are usually form-fitting. Clothing used in dance and in exercise, such as leotards , unitard , and swimsuits , are usually form-fitting. Undergarments or foundation garments such as corsets , girdles , bodysuits , brassieres , and underpants are form-fitting to give
16-970: The crotch and sides; an additional gusset is often in the crotch, with the waistband and leg-openings made from elastomer. The earliest known use of underwear that resembles modern panties dates back to 4,400 B.C. during the Badari period in Egypt . In the United States and Canada, "panties" is the preferred term to refer to female undergarments. In the United Kingdom and occasionally in other Commonwealth countries such as Australia, and New Zealand, as well as in Ireland, panties may be referred to as " knickers ", "undies", or simply "underwear". The last two of these are gender-neutral terms and can be used for either male or female styles of underwear bottoms,
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