Lingerie

According to the French proverb, when it comes to clothing and life, it "is impossible to overdo luxury."

This type of motto is apropos when it comes to the evolution of lingerie. While undergarments were once "unmentionables" and the subject of garters and brassieres taboo, the fashion sect of lingerie has since blossomed into a lucrative and luxurious market that turns a kiss of satin and a feathery touch of silk into sublime art.

History

Eleanor of Aquitaine with chemise under the glorious gown.
In the days of antiquity, nudity was not only revered in sculpture but, for women, it was made prominent in a way that calls to mind the mythical Amazon women. For instance, the Minoan women from the isle of Crete were wearing garments that resemble today's bras. From 450 B.C. to 285 A.D., Grecian women wore small swaths of fabric that wrapped around the breasts for support.

During the middle ages it became less acceptable for a woman's breasts to be exposed in any way that could be deemed vulgar. As curves went into hiding, the chemise became a "must have" for any damsel of the Maid Marion era.

Worn between the skin and the outer garment, the purpose of the chemise was to keep odors of the body -- sweat and grime -- from soiling the actual dress.
Time Frame

Scarlett O'Hara was queen of the mini-waist.
By the 1550s the whalebone and steel rod corset was introduced, though it was not until the 1860s that it arguably became the most significant part of a woman's wardrobe. With waists severely nipped, decolletage was prominently displayed.
Function

Lacy garter
The 1920s saw the demise of the corset. Figures were boyish and nubile and undergarments such as stockings and garters were introduced. Drawers, though common starting in the 17th century, became frilly and fancy during the Roaring Twenties.
Identification
A turning point in the lingerie evolution was courtesy of Frederick Mellinger when he opened the first Frederick's of Hollywood in 1946. Here, women could find hosiery, bridal lingerie and bedroom slippers, among other things. Bettie Page is one of the most well-known celebrities who flaunted her curves using Frederick's lingerie.

The era of glamorized lingerie had dawned.
Significance
Founded in 1977, Victoria's Secret carried on the tradition of glamorous lingerie. Though it started in San Francisco, the chain soon went worldwide, drawing customers in with an atelier-like environment where both men and women could feel comfortable.

By the early 1990s Victoria's Secret earned approximately $1 billion. In 1999 the catwalks were the launching pad for "Victoria's Secret Angels." Models in this posse include Adriana Lima, Heidi Klum and Laetitia Casta. The company only further cemented the popularity of silk and satin lingerie that any woman can afford.