A female figure with flowing hair in a ponytail, goes to a magical portal in a turquoise room, wearing bikini leather armor and chains, she holds a long double-sided braid weapon in her hands. 3d rendering art — Shutterstock by Warm_Tail

What if I told you there was power in underwear? You’d probably laugh. But believe it or not, what we choose to wear under our clothes can have a real impact on our mental health.

What we commonly think of as underwear is a relatively new thing. For men, boxer shorts weren't introduced until 1925 by Everlast. Shorts with elastic waistbands were designed to give fighters in the boxing ring more flexibility and an advantage over their opponents wearing the standard leather-belted trunks. Jockey briefs were first sold in 1935 to replace the use of jockstraps during sporting activities. Boxer briefs are more recent, designed in the 1980s but only becoming popular in the 1990s by Calvin Klein.

“What we commonly think of as underwear is a relatively new thing, only introduced in the last 100 years.”

Women's modern undergarments were also only introduced in the last 100 years. In the 19th century, women wore drawers that were loose-fitting and ended below the knee. They consisted of two separate legs connected at the waist, giving the name of a "pair" of underwear. In the 1920s, the androgynous flapper style became popular, and women started to wear "step-in" panties and shorted the hemlines. By the 1940s and 1950s, many women were wearing briefs. However, their style was much larger than the modern panty designs introduced in the 1980s and 1990s.

Fast forward to 2021, and underwear is a booming business. The US market for men's and women's underwear is projected to have a market value of $21B and double that by 2031.

So what's so important about underpants?

Early on, laundry was a time-consuming affair, so undergarments were worn to protect the outer clothes from sweat and bodily fluids. It was much easier to wash a simple linen garment regularly than trousers or a dress. Underwear also served as a layer of protection between the sensitive skin and more scratchy woolen outer clothing. Additionally, undergarments provided additional warmth in colder climates.

“Compared to other clothing, there is nothing like the sex appeal of seeing someone in their underwear.”

But for such a practical thing, underwear is exceptionally intimate and typically only seen by those that we are the most familiar with, doctors, caregivers, and of course, lovers. It's that last part that makes underwear seen as so different than other clothing as it's literally the last piece of fabric that separates us from being naked and having sex. So while a pair of jeans or a nice shirt can be as attractive, it's nothing compared to the sex appeal of underwear.

red and blue, strip pattern with red trim - women's briefs

Fashion sites love to post pieces about what undergarments should be worn to become more sexually attractive. Reversely, both women's and men's magazines try to decipher the meaning of their partner's underwear choices.

And yet, in reading many of these articles, they are often in complete contradiction to each other. Is that woman wearing black panties because she is looking for action or trying to avoid potential menstrual issues that stain lighter-colored fabric? Do women consider men in tighty whiteys as juvenile or sexy, lacking style or beaming with confidence? The reality is very subjective and highly individualistic.

How does underwear impact our mental state?

Beyond what our choice in underwear speaks to our potential romantic partners, what does what we wear underneath our clothes say to ourselves? It turns out, as it is such an intimate piece of clothing, what we wear when no one is looking can make a big difference.

Many women will report that they wear sexy underwear even when they have no expectation of a hook-up. The idea of reclaiming their sex appeal strictly for themselves is a very feminist act and makes them feel more powerful and self-assured. Other women like the feeling of wearing lingerie underneath so that even in an androgynous uniform, they feel beautiful and have a constant physical reminder of their femininity.

“Women that wear lingerie for only themselves report feeling more confident.”

Both men and women have said that wearing attractive and well-fitting clothing boosts their confidence. Wearing a nice set of underpants is a form of self-care. When we are comfortable and look nice to ourselves, it gives us internal validation and boosts our self-esteem.

Our choice of underwear allows for self-expression. While our outer clothing is visible to the world, our choice of what's underneath is private for only ourselves and those we choose to share it with. A study in Denmark found that women considered underwear choice as a way to embrace their identities and allowed them to express themselves in ways that they couldn't externally.

When no one else sees what we are wearing, we are free from societal norms or judgment. We can express our sense of style in our choice of underwear without feeling ridiculed or out of place. We can choose our own look but without breaking the expectations of others. Wear Christmas boxers under the business suit, rock a thong while working in the laboratory; no one but us will know.

“What we wear under our clothes when no one else will see lets us express our true personalities, free of judgment and societal norms.”

It can enhance our personal growth. Underwear is often the first place that many people start to experiment with: changing styles, colors, fabrics, and looks. Whether tweaking their sense of style or making a major life change, our underwear choices allow us to a safe place to try new looks, get creative, and gain the confidence to embrace our true identities.

Depending on who you are, a pair of purple unicorn underpants can actually change your mental state and bring you happiness.

Just think, such a little piece of wardrobe can make us feel more powerful, boost our confidence, express our creativity, help us grow as individuals, and let us learn to love ourselves. That's some really powerful underpants!

Author:

Laurie Trueblood is a writer and life coach that enjoys fantasy, science, psychology, and everything nerdy. As the founder of Adventures to Authenticity, her mission is to help others level up and become the best versions of themselves.

Read more about self-confidence. Check out Dare to Be Different and X-Men and the Power of Being True to Yourself

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