Ultimate Microkini Store

Overview
A teddy is a one-piece undergarment which combines a camisole and panty. Some teddies are designed to slip off the shoulders, and other teddies are designed to open at the crotch. There are a large variety of teddy styles available today, from traditional loose teddies, to teddies which have taken the design to an extreme and resemble harnesses, to everything in between. Due to their design, teddies are a very flattering garment for many figures and are what most people picture when they think of lingerie. Most teddies are designed and worn for their visual appeal, but some modern teddies are designed for more practical purposes including body control and sleepwear.

Teddies in the Early 1900’s
Teddies in the early 1900’s were designed more as a practical undergarment than as the sexy lingerie item they would later become. Most teddies from this period were made of simple materials such as cotton, and they were often unornamented or simply ornamented with lace and/or ribbons. Teddies from this period tended to include coverage for the upper thigh area, and often resembled a short dress.

Teddies in the 1920’s and 1930’s
By the 1920’s, teddies, also known as cami-knickers, had become recognized for their visual appeal and designers were starting to design teddies to focus on their sexy visual aspect rather than just their practical role as an undergarment.

Teddies from this period started incorporating fancier materials and design and became more polished and refined. Silk teddies started becoming popular for their elegant look and sumptuous feel, and teddies started including more elaborate decorations.

The decorative materials used in teddies from this period were the same as in teddies from the early 1900’s (generally lace and/or ribbons), but larger amounts of decorative materials were used and the decorations were more elaborate and extensive, covering a significant portion of the entire garment in some cases.

Teddies from this period still used the loose, almost dress-like silhouette from the early 1900’s, but the design was beginning to be streamlined with narrower shoulder straps, less upper thigh coverage and a more tailored fit. This loose style continued to be popular through the art deco period, after which the teddy declined in popularity until coming back into the public eye in the 1980’s.

Teddies in the 1980’s
In the 1980’s, people of both sexes became interested in stylish undergarments that reflected those worn by celebrities in advertisements and on television. After a significant decline in popularity over the previous few decades, the teddy came back into vogue again with new styles, materials and colors.

The 1980’s teddy no longer used the baggy silhouette popular up through the art deco period. Instead, standard teddies from this period used fitted cuts that hugged the figure. Teddies with upper leg coverage were no longer standard, though some teddies from this period included extra coverage for the upper leg through skirt-like additions to the bottom of the garment, and other teddies were essentially a camisole/tap pants combination that included leggings.

Instead of using cotton and silk as the main material like teddies from earlier decades, teddies in the 1980’s used spandex as their main material. Spandex provided a durable material with many different textures and colors for designers to create new styles from. It also provided a noticeable level of support and body shaping on its own, to further increase the wearer’s appearance and appeal.

Teddies Today
After it’s 1980’s heyday, the teddy faded out of popularity again until the early 2000’s. Today the teddy is back with more styles, variety and roles than ever before. There are two main categories of teddy today: teddies designed for practical purposes, and teddies designed for visual and sex appeal.

Modern teddies are almost all form-fitting, and they resemble modern women’s swimsuits more than they resemble the teddies of earlier decades.