Underwear

“ As it is, we drop our robe de nuit like Psyche at the bath—only a little more hurriedly, perhaps—and then we start a deadly wrestle with a set of underwear which has deliberately tied itself up in a series of fancy knots. Our feet stick halfway in, and we stagger about on one foot dragging and moaning, while our epidermis assumes all the colors of a sick chameleon. ”

“ All kinds of underwear, whether of wool or other material, should be loose about the body. It is a great mistake to have it too tight. There should always be a considerable layer of air between the clothing and the skin. This layer is warmed by the blood at the surface of the body, and as air is a bad conductor of heat, even in the case of underwear not so thick as wool, if such clothing is worn somewhat loosely about the body and is porous, we shall not feel cold. ”

“ Turning with terrified relief from this exhibition of diabolic impotence, the stranger finds a divine hand writing slowly across the opposite quarter of the heavens its igneous message of warning to the nations, "Wear—Underwear for Youths and Men-Boys." And close by this message come forth a youth and a man-boy, flaming and immortal, clad in celestial underwear, box a short round, vanish, reappear for another round, and again disappear. ”

“ Styles change in underwear just as they do in dresses and the silhouette of the outer garment must decide what the lines of the under one shall be. For the present styles soft yielding materials are absolutely necessary for underwear and few flounces should be used about the bottom of the skirt if the clinging effect around the ankles and knees is desired in the dress. ”

“ I remember a lovely underwear advertisement that depicted a sort of "cradle to grave" scene, with a toddling youngster at one end of the bridge of life and an aged man at the other end, and men of various progressive underwear ages scattered between. They were all arrayed in nice comfy underwear, and the bridge over which they were ambling was highest in the middle. ”

“ As soon as a dress or a hat or a blouse or a parasol, a pair of boots, slippers, stockings, or any of the costly, flimsy, all but unlaunderable underwear she affected, became not quite perfect, she put it aside against that vague day when she should have leisure or inclination for superintending a seamstress. ”

“ I have bought the best woolen and heaviest silk underwear in prominent cities where I have travelled, abroad as well as in this country, with the special view of getting something that would protect me while in my rubber dress, on the long, cold and damp voyages I make. ”

“ I have met men on the road who were as eloquent on the subject of men's underwear as I should like to be on the necessity of a cheerier spirit in meeting the trials of life, and one effervescent soul on a Pacific Coast trip once held me and mine spell-bound by his remarkable disquisition on the spiritual influence of comfortable shoes, talking for a longer time than I have ever yet listened willingly to a sermon on some seemingly less homely topic. ”

“ UNDERWEAR is the easiest type of sewing. There is practically no fitting to be done and the construction is of the simplest possible kind. It is a very good idea, therefore, for a beginner to start with an underwear garment before she undertakes a blouse or dress. ”

“ Effects of Tight-Fitting Underwear.—A woolen shirt or undervest, quite loose, will be much warmer than a like garment of the same material, close-fitting. In the loose garment, there is a constant stratum of air between the body and the clothing. ”

“ Underwear offers one of the best opportunities to become an efficient sewer.
Then, too, you will probably enjoy having a few new pieces of underwear. Every woman always has room for just one more dainty chemise or nightdress. ”

“ Dear Sir:—I have great pleasure in expressing my entire approval of your underwear. It affords a better protection to the body in our variable climate than any kind of flannel in use. Nothing but wool is fit to maintain the capillary circulation of the skin, preserve warmth and promote insensible perspiration, without which good health impossible. I find your garments invaluable in the treatment of lung complaints, and recommend them to all my patients. ”

“ Jaros Hygienic Underwear Co., Chicago, Ill.
Gentlemen:—I have talked with nearly every man in our Department that is using your Underwear; also with a number of members of the Fire [Pg 69] Department. Every man is emphatic in pronouncing your Underwear vastly superior to anything ever used by them before. You will undoubtedly continue placing the goods with our Department. Personally I wish to say, that I have tried most of the standard makes of Underwear, but I never wore anything that gave me such perfect satisfaction and uniform comfort as your goods. ”

“ Underwear affects health. Do you remember that we discovered the reason why one should be particular about the kind of underwear worn? We learned that ill health and fatigue are often caused by weight of [246] clothing or by tight clothing causing lack of circulation or by clothing which prevents the skin from being ventilated. Textile materials and temperature of the body are closely related. We should learn to know which materials to select. Each person feels the need differently. Old people and little babies feel the heat or cold more than other people. ”

“ And in regard to a young girl's wardrobe, the same fundamental rule prevails: if every article of apparel is not daintily clean, it is unbecoming and unworthy a refined personality. Soiled laces and soiled ribbons are to be shunned; but better untidiness and soil of the outward apparel than of that which we know by the general name of underwear, which is far more personal and important than the outward costume. ”

“ What you press against your body is none of my business. It isn't as if I need to inspect the underwear you plan to put on...if its cotton or silk, bikinis or boxers, clean or dirty...what you press against your body, who massages it, and how, I don't care. ”

“ For grading entirely tight-fitting drawers we additionally add measurements of knee, calf and ankle whereby the entire underwear line can be full and practically graded for which the figure on the opposite page illustrates the entire set of measurements for the underwear line. ”

“ Beyond was a little market-place where men were ranging their goods on long forms under a zinc roof. All round lay huge bundles of wearing apparel—one bundle would contain men's underwear, another trousers, another coats, not to mention piles of old boots, hats, and indiscriminate rubbish. ”

“ As a general thing, during both winter and summer, one should wear no more clothing than necessary, and that should be of a type to permit easy access of air to the skin. For this reason the character of one's underwear is important. Wool is undoubtedly warmer and more or less suitable for exceptionally cold weather; yet for most purposes linen is to be preferred because of its more porous character. Linen permits of free circulation of the air, and when the underwear is woven with an open mesh it is especially satisfactory. ”

“ You shouldn’t describe your underwear to a young man to whom you are not related. It isn’t delicate.” ”

“ The question of underwear is one to be determined largely by individual taste and requirements, but always it should be understood that one should wear underwear as light as is consistent with warmth and as porous as possible. This principle should also apply in the matter of shoes. Air-tight foot coverings are highly detrimental as well as uncomfortable. Leather in its natural state is porous and therefore a healthful foot covering. Patent- leather shoes, however, have been made air-tight by a special process, and are very hot, uncomfortable and unsanitary. ”

“ The only underwear which a Mahlemoöt affects is limited to that garment which we call a shirt, made of light skins or of cheap cotton drillings; if it is of skin, it is worn from father to son, and becomes a real heirloom highly polished and redolent. Their trousers are, for both sexes, a pair of thin skin or cotton drawers, puckered at the ankles and bound about with the uppers of their moccasons, or else enclosed by the tops to their reindeer-boots, which are the prevalent covering for their feet. ”

“ Sir:—Having become interested in the results from wearing your underwear by myself and my men, I am pleased to state their own experience, which is satisfactory in every particular, as to protection against the cold and changeable temperature; raising the general condition of the body, and maintaining an even temperature under all the trying conditions; does raise their efficiency. ”

“ When the stitch is used in its finest dimensions it is always white on white except for women's light-tinted underwear. When heavier thread and a larger stitch is used the captivating blues and pinks blossom forth on the little gowns and frocks. ”

“ The word 'worsted' means primarily and popularly a yarn or fabric made wholly of wool. A substantial part of the consuming public, and also some buyers for retailers and sales people, understand the words 'Merino,' 'Natural Merino,' 'Gray Merino,' 'Natural Wool,' 'Gray Wool,' 'Australian Wool' and 'Natural Worsted,' as applied to underwear, to mean that the underwear is all wool. By means of the labels and brands of the Winsted Company bearing such words, part of the public is misled into selling or into buying as all wool, underwear which in fact is in large part cotton. ”

“ Chicago, Dec. 10, 1885.
Mr. J. Jaros, City.
I have examined specimens of your "Jaros Hygienic Wear" with much interest. In material and construction these garments fulfill completely the requirements of the scientific essentials in underwear, insuring to the highest degree both the comfort and the health of the wearer, and as such I recommend them.
De Laskie Miller, Ph. D., M. D.
I concur in the above. ”

“ Remember that a sewing cotton requires a looser tension than silk.
The hemming and tucking attachments are great time-savers, but many women prefer to gather ruffles, puffs, etc., by hand and stroke them.
IN MAKING underwear it is important that there should be no raw edges. This not only makes it neater and daintier, but it makes it stronger and better able to stand frequent laundering. It is washing that wears out underwear more than the actual use.
Ill. 112. Binding the Bloomer Seam SEAMS. In sheer materials it is necessary to make the seams as invisible as possible. ”

“ The underwear was made by women working at home. Pride kept them from leaving home, and besides, there were often young children to care for. So the home workers toiled far into the night, sewing and embroidering the dainty things that were to adorn the soft bodies of richer women. ”

“ I would especially recommend for these patients the "Jaros Hygienic Underwear." These garments are light, warm, and delightfully soft. They afford full protection to the body against sudden chilling." ”

“ Every man handed in his soiled shirt and underclothing on entering, and received a complete clean outfit after he had performed his ablutions. The only inconvenience attached to this system was that the underwear, shirts and socks were pooled and they sometimes got mixed, and our battalion being comprised chiefly of very large men sometimes had difficulty struggling into their clean underwear. ”

“ The garment worn directly under the graduation dress has much to do with the effect of the dress itself. This garment should not be picked up at random but the fullness of its skirt and the design around the neck should be planned to suit the particular dress pattern selected.
Underwear is to the dress what the foundation is to a house, and it should be built just as skillfully. It is impossible to secure a dainty graceful effect in a dress when it is worn with a clumsy petticoat. ”

“ In order to control the practical details in all kinds of women's and misses' undergarments, it will be necessary to systemize the modern way of controlling every proportional branch of the body. Let it, therefore, be understood that the art of pattern making for the underwear line depends greatly on the proportional measurements which are a necessity for perfect fitting and comfortable wearing garments. ”

“ So I drew my underwear from beneath my pillow, where I had learned to tuck it in cold weather, and sprang from the friendly shelter of the blankets. One needs no incentive to quick dressing in a temperature only a few points above zero. ”

“ Apply occasionally with a sponge.
Among those things which at least assist one in bearing the affliction is frequent change of underwear. The undergarments worn during the day should never be worn at night. ”

“ This is to be worn over your corset and brassiere and will give a perfectly smooth foundation for your dresses. Remember that your corset, brassiere, and slip must be so well fitted that no bumps or hangovers will be evident.
We fat women—and I don’t know why—have a natural hankering for lacy underwear, and that hankering is just as uncontrollable as our appetite for luscious bonbons. I do not intend to tell you that you can’t have lovely undergarments, but you must make sure that the lace or trimming is put where it cannot bulge out. ”

“ How unctuously women embrace ideas which increase the value and importance of their urinal ducts! Modesty, morality, prurience, piety, are the effulgent underwear behind which they increase the mystery and charm of the mons veneris. Alas, they are the artists of sex and not men. Man has even [One Hundred Twenty-five] thrown away the seductive cod-piece. ”