What is the difference between lingerie and underwear?

From where do underwear and lingerie come from?

Not only undergarments and lingerie are poles apart from each other in characteristics, but in origins as well. Since ancient times, underwear has been with us in one or the other form. In ancient times, undies were found in form of loincloths. According to research, historians believed that ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used to wore undergarments. Compared with the current era, the word undergarment wasn’t welcomed with a warm heart during the 19th century. Moreover, the word undergarment was considered unattractive at that time. However, Lady Duff-Gordan, a prominent fashion designer, changed this by designing women’s undergarments that were smaller, less restrictive and more appealing. These appealing styles of undies were known as “Lingerie”.

Factors differentiating lingerie and underwear

Whether it's men’s lingerie or men’s undies or women’s underwear or women’s lingerie, each category is different from others.

Factor 1: Usage

Male underwear or women’s underwear is basically designed to provide you right comfort and protection on an everyday basis. In simple words, underwear is a type of garment worn next to the skin and beneath a person’s clothes. Furthermore, underwear for men or women underwear offers several functions. This style of garment is capable of absorbing sweat and oils from the skin and keeps a person warm in cold climates.

Underwear made out of cotton is appropriate for everyday activities. Speaking about the styles, boxers and men’s brief underwear along with boxer briefs and jockstraps are perfect for your day-to-day activities. Men’s boxer briefs can be considered for your gymming and exercises. On the other hand, women can consider wearing styles like hipster, briefs, and boy shorts every day. It would be great if women’s underwear is made out of micro modal or cotton. These fabrics are lightweight and offer the wearer the right comfort. Most importantly, these are breathable as a result, keeps your skin problems away. Speaking about bras, non-wired bras are great for everyday comfort.

Factor 2: Price

Price is the biggest factor that makes lingerie different from underwear. Starting with regular styles of undies, these are more economical and the reason is fabric. Fabrics like cotton are inexpensive whereas men’s lingerie or women’s lingerie is made out of fabrics like silk, mesh, sheer, etc are a bit more expensive.

Factor 3: Designs

Styles such as boxer briefs, men’s brief underwear, hipsters either include quirky prints or solid colors. There is no question about “intricacy”. In other words, regular undies are quite simple whereas lingerie is more on the detailed side.

Occasions

Men’s lingerie styles or women's lingerie styles are made for special events such as foreplay, sexual intercourse, or even when you are on the beach. Styles like thong, bikini, G-string is perfect for your beach holidays so if you are planning to give these a shot, make sure you have enough confidence. The reason is a silhouette. Silhouettes of these styles is way different from your undies.

Thong or bikini or G-string undie are skinny and provide great exposure especially in areas like thigh, stomach and butt if wearing G-string underwear.

So now you know what is lingerie and what are underclothes? And I hope you will not repeat this mistake again after reading this blog. But one mistake which I feel you might do is ” picking up the wrong fabric”. For everyday comfort, cotton, modal, and bamboo sounds perfect for both- male and women undies. Talking about the bra, I would suggest you go with cotton and non-wired bras.

Suggesting a non-wired bra doesn’t mean, I don’t support wired ones. They are not made for your day-to-day life.