Underwear: bras, undies, boxers/briefs.
Undershirts are underwear, but have their own name. My SO wears them to work, I never do.
Socks, girdles, what have you – not underwear, even if sold in the underwear section. And I work in an underwear section, so I know what’s sold there.
I do own a couple of slips (I’m 29), but I almost never wear dresses. I haaaaaaaate hose. I don’t know what I’d do without nice pants being acceptable for women to wear.
I admit I’m a bit weird:
Underwear is boxers/briefs for guys and “panties” ( :: shudder :: I hate that word) for women, be they briefs, thongs, bikinis, boyshorts, whatever. Bras are included in the genre of underwear, but I do not call them underwear.
Pantyhose are hosiery and completely different.
Things like under-camisoles (not to be confused with the camis you can wear under jackets, etc), slips, girdles etc are undergarments to me. I think it’s because wearing camisoles and slips implies you’re wearing a slightly dressier outfit (as opposed to just jeans and a tshirt, for example), and so it requires the fancier undergarments phrasing.
And sorry, Diosa, but I just can’t see a woman’s business suit with no hosiery as looking professional at alllllll.
OK, I gotta disagree with you, dear girl. I am 42, so firmly in your mama’s generation. When I was a “young lady” I wore jeans each and every day to school. We have heard of the 70s and 80s, no? Era of the bell-bottom, the Izod Lacoste, the chino pant? And let’s not forget the T-shirt. I was as casual and anti-dressy-dress as you, at that age. You have to go back a few more years, in my opinion, to get to that “young ladies were expected to wear dresses” era. Like the 60s. I was compelled to wear a dress to school in Grades 1-3, c. 1968.
And – no matter if your dress is of a non-sheer material, a slip provides proper drape for the fabric. It’s not just a matter of panty-line. It makes the dress hang properly and makes you look well-dressed. The only skirt you can get away with not wearing a slip with, in my opinion, is a bluejean skirt. The fabric’s so thick it rides up and bunches.
And get with it, people. “Panties” is a hysterical word! My husband and I love it. He refers to his various boxes and briefs as panties all the time. It never fails to amuse us.
[QUOTE=Ellen Cherry]
I was as casual and anti-dressy-dress as you, at that age. You have to go back a few more years, in my opinion, to get to that “young ladies were expected to wear dresses” era. Like the 60s. I was compelled to wear a dress to school in Grades 1-3, c. 1968.QUOTE]
Just a short bit about this. When I started high school in 1969 we were required to wear dresses or skirts. The rules were adjusted that fall to allow slacks (dress slacks, of course) from November 15 to March 15. The deadline came and went and nobody went back to wearing only skirts. By the time I graduated in 1973 we were wearing jeans, t-shirts, short skirts, and even shorts. I don’t even know what the dress code was anymore.
According to my mother, it is–as are your PJ’s. anything you are not acceptble out in public in, is underwear to her. She is 72.
QtM --ah, medical lore --a whole nother animal. Dead admissions just generate paperwork, in my world. I’m putting underwear into the “full moon=busy ER” drawer.
I third the need for a slip–and they are hard to find! I almost never wear skirts, but I have two slips: one black and one white.
And one needs hose with a business suit. Yes, one does.
I’m in full agreement with Ellen here. Not only do slips allow for good draping (why do you think they call them “slips”), but it’s just not attractive to stand up from the church pew with your skirt crammed up your ass crack. Slips and other undergarments have saved many a lady from embarrassment and humiliation in, shall we say, somber situations. That’s what they’re designed for.
Regarding pantyhose/stockings/what have you: A couple years ago, I think, I turned the TV on to see that Katie Couric chick interviewing someone famous. Know what I noticed first? The fact that she was NOT wearing hose. Utterly unprofessional and a bit trampy, if you ask me. For chrissakes, she’s not on MTV.
HOWEVER, if I happen to wear a casual skirt or dress during the summertime with my sandals, I don’t wear hose. I let my white skin show. But who cares? It’s hot, and I’m not at a wedding or funeral.
exactly-bare legs are for casual times. All else requires hose.
I wonder if it’s a regional thing. Or maybe just my family. The work seems self-defined. Underwear - wear under.
Although, I have to say that in the FairyChatHousehold, we just generically say unders to refer to these items. As in “I’m going to wash a load of unders.”
I don’t wear underwear, so I wouldn’t know.
This must be an “older woman” mindset. I wouldn’t THINK of going to the office without hose, but I am usually in the minority 5% of a 5000+ workforce who does. I don’t get it!
I’ve seen fashion magazines that diss hosiery as well. I don’t know when this happened, but I’m not pleased.
“Dry yourself off Sweetie and run get yourself a fresh set of drawers on.”
Giggling “No Daddy, I wear panties!”
“Nonsense, we don’t allow no stinkin’ panties in this house! Get thee some drawers on, Child!”
“Panties! Daddy, I Wear Panties!”
“Drawers!”
“Panties!”
Crap–Now I’m an “older” woman, too?
This just sucks.
IMO, those who don’t wear hose to formal and business ocassions are no better than they should be–hussies all and will come to a bad end. Hmmph.
At one point,my mom took to calling them “dribbies” - no idea where she got that word!
Well, I guess I’m ready for a walker now! I agree about hose–they’re a must if you’re dressed for work or a formal occasion. Bare legs look terrible with dress shoes, and with a short skirt you can see every little imperfection. Hose are your friend when you’re dressed up.
And what–no one uses the term “foundation garments!!!” OK, I don’t either…
I use “undies” to refer to the bottoms. I would consider the rest underwear (as in, I can’t answer the door because I’m in my underwear), but when I say I’m going to wash underwear I mean only the bottoms. Weird. I hadn’t given it much thought until now.