Figure 1.--This magazine ad for Carter's briefs appeared in an American magazine in 1949. N=By this time briefs had become the principal underpasnts worn by American boys and were morn by men as well. This ad appeared in "Life" magazine. |
|
Briefs are a style of underwear pants. Cotton briefs began replacing union suits for boys in America during the mid 1930s but didn’t really catch on as the dominant style until about 1940. I believe that briefs first appeared in America. I am not sure what inspired this new type of underwear, but assume it was the fact that boys were wearing short pants cut shorter than the kneepants and short pants of the early 20th century. I think that briefs were first developed for boys, but as boys grew up wearing them, men also adopted them. Munsingwear issued a catalog in 1940 (See HBC page) showing the various styles. All briefs had an elastic waist band and various types of fly-front closure. They were tight-fitting and button-free. The later became known as “tighty-whities” by boys who thought that “boxer shorts” were more sophisticated. But they have continued as the dominant style of boys’ underwear until the present time. Briefs were also referred to as "jockey shorts" in America and "Y-fronts" in Britain.
Briefs are a style of underwear pants. They later became known as “tighty-whities” by boys who thought that “boxer shorts” were more sophisticated. Briefs were also referred to as "jockey shorts" in America and "Y-fronts" in Britain. The British also refer to briefs as "pants", reserving trousers for what Americans called pants.
Cotton briefs began replacing union suits for boys in America during the mid 1930s but didn’t really catch on as the dominant style until about 1940. Munsingwear issued a catalog in 1940 (See HBC page) showing the various styles. Briefs have continued as the dominant style of boys’ underwear until the present time. We note that in the 1990s that boxers became increasingly popular.
I believe that briefs first appeared in America.
I am not sure what inspired this new type of underwear, but assume it was the fact that boys were wearing short pants cut shorter than the kneepants and short pants of the early 20th century. <>br>
I think that briefs were first developed for boys, but as boys grew up wearing them, men also adopted them. <>br>
All briefs had an elastic waist band and various types of fly-front closure. They were tight-fitting and button-free.
Briefs were at first white. We note that in the 1970s that colored briefs began to appear as well as briefs with cartoon characters and other designs forf younger boys.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main underwear garment page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Satellite sites]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]