The Virtues of Underwear - by Nina Edwards (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Stories are woven into the fabric of our most personal garments. From the first loincloths to the intricate layers of shapewear, the concealed world of underwear is capable of expressing individual desire and also aspects of society at large. An indicator of the vagaries of fashion, underwear can be simple or elaborate. It both safeguards and exposes, reflecting our hopes and experiences. Underwear can embarrass and excite, amuse and shame us. This book illuminates the sometimes profound significance of the garments we wear beneath our outer clothing. It discusses the history of both women's and men's underwear, and global cultures of dress" --

Book Synopsis

Laced with illustrations of undergarments both prosaic and exotic, a global exposé of the hidden meaning of knickers, lingerie, and everything in between.

This book unravels the intimate narratives woven into the fabric of our most personal garments. From the first loincloths to the intricate layers of shapewear, the narrative explores the concealed world of underwear as a silent communicator of individual desire and societal affiliation. As an indicator of the pulse of fashion, underwear has evolved from minimalism to intricate designs with new materials. Beyond its role in denying our corporeal nature, underwear safeguards and exposes, reflecting our innermost desires and past experiences.

From clean underclothing resisting carnal urges to the protective embrace of fabric, this book illuminates the profound, often hidden stories told by the garments beneath our outer layers. It rewards the reader with historical insights into both women's and men's underwear and global cultures of dress.

Review Quotes

"In this history of underwear, Edwards tackles a wide-ranging and intimate topic. From antiquity through to the twenty-first century, Edwards investigates not only the evolution of underwear but also our reasons, moral, practical and sensual, for wearing it. . . . This volume provides a welcome addition to the field, contextualizing the usual exciting frilly knickers and corsets alongside more practical pieces and examining them against the cultural and societal moral backdrops of their time. Edwards is a seasoned author, with a string of fashion and cultural history books under her belt, so has a confident command of her subject matter. The text is more than just a titivating ride through the linear history of underwear; it is an insightful, considered evaluation of societal values and expectations regarding its most intimate state and acts."-- "Costume: The Journal of the Costume Society"

"This volume examines the competing demands of comfort with the need for protection and cleanliness in undergarments. This tour through drawers begins with the first sighting of underwear in a Sumerian bas-relief c. 3000 BCE, moves on to consider the mass production made possible in the 1800s due to the Industrial Revolution, and then examines how celebrities wear underwear as outerwear on red carpets in Cannes and Los Angeles. Eight topical chapters take readers on a breezy jaunt through the meanings of underwear (elaborating on the codpiece and corset) and look at immodesty, fabrics, medical matters, and economic and religious concerns. . . . The breadth of information shared in The Virtues of Underwear is astonishing."-- "Choice"

13 Beautiful Fashion Books to Make Any Fashionista Happy-- "Vanity Fair Italia"

"Edwards weaves a seamless tale of the social, visual, and economic dimensions of the hidden garments that literally underpin our lives. . . . Drawing from fastidious research, Edwards braids innumerable insights into contextual narrative in an approachable yet non-linear manner. The result is a meandering yet engaging story that manages to maintain an entertaining grip on even the most TikTok-addled attention span. . . . A sweeping introduction into the world of underwear."-- "Hyperallergic"

"[A] lively history. . . . Edwards, who has written books about buttons, offal and darkness, is an excellent researcher."-- "World of Interiors"

"[A] rifle through the pants drawer of history. . . . [Edwards] sets out to explore and evaluate the purpose, style and manufacture of underwear, as well as the attitudes various items have provoked."-- "Financial Times"

"[A] rummage through the knicker drawer of history. . . . Loaded with memorable details and thought-provoking observations."-- "Times"

"From frilly drawers to petticoats, big pants to thongs, our undergarments have changed a lot over the centuries. The Virtues of Underwear takes a look at the history of our most intimate items of clothing."-- "Prima"

"Edwards has written that most difficult of things--a book that is both scholarly and enjoyable. Her study of underwear through the ages is an immensely readable appraisal of underwear's role through history but also its significance to our most intimate, private lives."--Eleri Lynn, trustee of the Royal School of Needlework, author of "Underwear: Fashion in Detail"

"Weaving together examples from across the centuries and around the globe, Edwards's multifaceted exploration of all things underwear is an engaging introduction to the historic, thematic, material and corporeal concerns surrounding our most intimate apparel."--Elisabeth Gernerd, lecturer in design cultures, De Montfort University, and author of "The Modern Venus: Dress, Underwear and Accessories in the Late 18th-Century Atlantic World"

"Collating popular culture, literary, psychological, medical, historical and humorous references and anecdotes, Edwards skilfully weaves together informative and entertaining perspectives, histories, experiences and attitudes that tell the complex stories of underwear."--Shaun Cole, associate professor in fashion, University of Southampton, and author of "Gay Men's Style: Fashion, Dress and Sexuality in the 21st Century"

About the Author

Nina Edwards is a freelance writer based in London. Her books include On the Button: The Significance of an Ordinary Item, Darkness: A Cultural History, and Pazazz: The Impact and Resonance of White Clothing, the latter two also published by Reaktion Books.