Underwear can be an embarrassing subject to tackle — just ask any daughter who’s had to pick out her first training bra with her mom!

But at least today’s options tend to focus more on comfort than underwear from the past. Looking at some of these designs, I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t just go commando instead!

Also — thank goodness we invented a better option for the ladies during that time of the month! Can you imagine using this outdated device?

Scroll down, and enjoy the full transformation of undergarments over the centuries.

Hope you get a laugh in! And if you do, don’t forget to SHARE with your friends!

1. Strophiae And Subligaculum

These were made of soft leather and worn during athletic events in Ancient Rome.  Similar in shape to the modern-day bikini, they included a breast-binding cloth and a loincloth.

2. Braies

Men and women wore loose-fitting leggings made of cloth tied around their waists and secured at the mid-calf. 

3. Codpiece

King Henry VIII popularized this bold accessory. Don’t tell anybody, but he was also known to add a little extra padding to boost the appeal of his assets.

4. Corset

These came into fashion because they gave women a tinier waist, which was was considered to make them more desirable. They were very popular, even though they were terribly uncomfortable.

5. Panniers

Marie Antoinette made these bulky side-hoops all the rage in the pre-French Revolution 18th century. 

6. Even Tighter Corsets

Thanks to the handy spinning jenny and cotton gin, corsets became even easier to mass-produce.While men continued to embellish their codpieces, women’s corsets just kept getting more snug. 

7. Nursing Corset

Even new mothers weren’t exempt from the restrictive underwear, as you can see by this baffling nursing corset manufactured in the Industrial Age of the late 1800s. 

8. Camisole Step-Ins

In the early 1900s things finally started to loosen up for the ladies. These breezy one-pieces were much less constrictive. and while women would still often wear corsets with them, it was a step in the right direction.

Men, meanwhile, began to make their boxers a little more snug. 

9. Sanitary Belts

These clunky menstrual pads gained popularity in the 1800s, and as terrible as they seem, it was still better than what they had before — aka nothing. That’s right! Before these were invented, they pretty much did nothing to protect their clothes during that time of the month. Let’s be thankful for how far we’ve come! 

Did we miss any absurd undergarment that you remember from way back when? Let us know in the comments and be sure to SHARE with your friends!

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