Underwear Collection (#41)

Young man in underwear with headphones in colorful lightYoung man in underwear with headphones in colorful light

Young skateboarder standing in front of a concrete wall

Athletic man wearing underwear

BATHHOUSE PROPRIETOR, 1568. The proprietor of a bathhouse removing a flea from a patron of his well-heated establishment. Woodcut, 1568, by Jost Amman

Dressing Room
circa 1860: The scene from a ladies dressing room, preparing for the crinoline. London Stereoscopic Company Comic Series - 503 (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images)

COMTESSE DU BARRY (1746-1793). Full name: Marie Jeanne Becu. French adventuress and mistress of Louis XV

Woman in underskirt posing in studio, (B&W), portrait

Girl (4-5) playing in sand

Woman in underwear standing on scale, (B&W)

Young woman sitting on chair, holding hands on head, (B&W)

Woman in black underwear posing in studio, (B&W), portrait

Sales clerk presenting lingerie to clients (B&W)

DRESSING ROOM, c1900. Two women wearing undergarments in a dressing room. Stereograph by William Herman Rau, c1900

WOMAN: NIGHTGOWN, c1900. A woman putting on a nightgown before going to bed. Photograph, c1900

WOMENs FASHION, c1850. A young woman wearing crinolines and a metal hoop, c1850

UNDERGARMENTS, c1600. French crinoline and a bum roll, c1600

YOUNG COUPLE, c1904. A man in a nightgown pointing out the late time of 1: 30 am to a young couple
YOUNG COUPLE, c1904. A man in a nightgown pointing out the late time of 1:30 am to a young couple. Stereograph, c1904

AD: HEALTH UNDERWEAR, 1919. American advertisement for Duofold Health Underwear, 1919

AD: POROSKNIT, 1911. American advertisement for Porosknit, an undergarment line for men and boys manufactured by the Chalmers Knitting Company, 1911

Dressed To Thrill
Dressers help two chorus girls into their costumes at the theatre, circa 1930. (Photo by FPG/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Getting Ready
28th February 1953: Backstage, British models getting ready for a fashion show by John Cavanagh. The designer is in Paris with four British models to show off his work

Come Hither Smile
A flirtatious young woman with bare shoulders, circa 1900. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Corset Department, Crowley-Milner Department Store, Detroit, Michigan, USA Date: circa 1940s

Comic Postcard - Advantageous vantage point
Comic Postcard - An advantageous vantage point! A workman adjusting a gas main keeps a score of the choice of underwear of the ladies passing above his vantage point pavement manhole cover)

Waterskiing beauty waving
Daring - A one-handed approach to waterskiing taken by this risk-hunting brunette beauty wearing a small green swimsuit! Date: early 1940s

A ginger-haired young lady golfer, completing her swing
Winsome - A ginger-haired young lady golfer, completing her swing having driven down the eighth hole. The tight short blue jumper and thin red and white stripe mini-skirt seem par for the course

Leggy beauty sunbathing on a floating wooden platform
Inspiration - A long-legged beauty reclines and relaxes on a floating wooden platform seeking sun, inspiring thoughts and a good view of the diving! Date: early 1940s

Cycling beauty waving
Care-Free. A sporting young brunette peddling through the countryside on he bicycle, waving to those who are lucky enough to witness her passing. Date: early 1940s

Twirling Tempest dancer in red and black gown
Twirling Tempest - a striking brunette dancers with billowing skirt, red stappy high heeled shoes and short cropped red top strikes a pose on a wooden stage. Date: early 1940s

Saucy Sailorette ready for a dip in the sea
A Saucy Sailorette in long white trousers and a (very) tight red top, accentuating her curves. Standing by a groyne on a beach and holding a beach towel as if a little sea dip is in the offing

A pin-up beauty providing a Package of Oomph
A scantily-clad striking ginger-haired beauty providing a Package of Oomph! Date: early 1940s

Statuesque blonde beauty teasingly pulls at her waistband
Teasin to Please! a statuesque blonde beauty teasingly pulls at the waistband string on her ever-so-skimpy undergarment. The flowers on her shoes are of the same colour. Date: early 1940s

Angles and Curves - hourglass beauty in tiny yellow dress
Angles and Curves - an hourglass beauty in a tiny yellow dress, suspenders and stockings, all curves displayed to their best advantage. Date: early 1940s

Una-veil-able - Brunette in tiny sheer pink nightdress
" Una-veil-able" - a saucy pretty brunette in a tiny pink nightdress/lingerie holding an even smaller pink wrap. Date: early 1940s

Plain Jane to Beautiful Buxom Betty
From a cygnet to a swan... What is required to turn a girl from one thing into another... Date: circa 1910s

French girls adjusts a vase of blooms
French girl wearing a skimpy pink negligee adjusts a vase of blooms. Date: circa 1920s

Saucy postcard - Lady in Underclothes
" Come as you are" you write to me. But you d think it absurd, if sometimes when that message came I took you at your word! (I wonder if the sender of the note would really mind too much)

Jolly French beauty trying on her new hat. She seems to have forgotten to put her dress on first.... Date: circa 1890s

Parisian Lady in a Corset Skirt
The Underside of the Parisian A glamorous Parisienne wearing a fashionable corset-skirt Date: circa 1907

Mademoiselles Dargyl & Ananie de L Opera - Corsets
Mademoiselles Dargyl & Ananie de L Opera - Two French musical actresses, each wearing a fine whalebone corset. The card is entitled La Silhouette Moderne - The Modern Silhouette. Date: circa 1905

Arrested for wearing a corset advertising placard
" Why pick on me, officer? Its my guv nors idea!" A policeman is not sympathetic to the protestations of the beardy gentleman employed to parade in front of a Drapers shop wearing a corset

Miss Paris

One-Piece Underwear
A mans one-piece undergarment, known as the Union Shirt, on display at a clothing exhibition in London

Advertisement from an American newspaper of 1888, for A Braided Wire Bustle for 25 Cents
ADVERTISEMENT: BUSTLE. Advertisement from an American newspaper of 1888, for A Braided Wire Bustle for 25 Cents

Advertisement for the new Langtry bustle (after actress Lillie Langtry) from an English newspaper of 1887
ADVERTISEMENT: BUSTLE. Advertisement for the new Langtry bustle (after actress Lillie Langtry) from an English newspaper of 1887

When the Day is Done, and My Work is Through, I Relax for Awhile, and Dream of You Postcard. ca. 1940, When the Day is Done, and My Work is Through, I Relax for Awhile, and Dream of You Postcard

Advertisement for Corsets. ca. 1936, LOCATION UKN

I Don t Hold Out and I Don t Stall, Don t Take Me Long At-All, At-All Postcard. ca. 1940, I Don t Hold Out and I Don t Stall, Don t Take Me Long At-All, At-All Postcard

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

"From vintage pin-up girls to iconic actresses, it has always played a significant role in fashion and culture. In David Wright's Pin-up calendar girl from 1950, the allure of lingerie is captured with elegance and grace. Claudia Cardinale, the stunning actress from November 1963 on the set of Circus World, showcases how undergarments can enhance confidence and beauty. Even health campaigns recognized the importance of underwear; as seen in the poster 'Eat More Fruit - for Health and Vitality, ' published by Retail. It emphasized that wearing proper undergarments contributes to overall well-being. Advertisements like English Rose dream corselette (1952) or Pifco electric vibratory massager demonstrate how lingerie evolved over time to cater to women's desires for comfort and style. The English Rose Corsetry advertisement exemplifies timeless sophistication. Behind-the-scenes moments are also worth mentioning when discussing underwear's impact. An intimate backstage moment at Paris Revue reveals how lingerie empowers performers on stage while woven fabric SEM highlights its intricate craftsmanship. David Wright's depiction of a woman reclining in black lingerie reminds us that undergarments have long been associated with sensuality and seduction. Merlin Enabnit's artwork titled 'This cost a pretty figure' emphasizes that investing in quality lingerie is an investment in oneself. Underwear not only enhances physical appearance but also boosts self-confidence. Putting on lipstick, as depicted by David Wright, symbolizes getting ready for any occasion with poise and charm. Lastly, it is important to acknowledge that age should never limit one's appreciation for beautiful undergarments. Linsey Dawn McKenzie, a 16-year-old model featured in March '95 issue proves that embracing personal style starts at any age. " whether it be through artistry or personal expression, underwear remains an essential part of our lives – shaping our bodies while empowering us from within.