By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
September 17, 2004
Comfortable thongs. What a fashion lie.
There is nothing even remotely comfy about a piece of fabric made to deliberately wedge its way up your, um, bum. Yet as women’s clothing became more sheer and form-fitting in the late 1990s, everyday fashionistas and their little sisters turned to the thong to rid themselves of the dreaded panty line.
Never mind that even cool moms like Sharon Osbourne tried to convince her daughter that boys find panty lines sexy. Kelly wouldn’t have it and stuck with her thongs.
Who could blame her for wanting to fit in with the hip crowd? Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera regularly were photographed with thong straps riding high above their low-rise jeans.
Gillian Anderson deliberately made sure her thong’s “whale tail” was visible when she wore a backless couture gown at a party four years ago. And even usually tasteful Halle Berry succumbed to the thong craze by attending an awards show with bejeweled thong straps peaking out from above her miniskirt. Et tu, Halle?!
Now moms (and their daughters) can release a collective sigh of relief, because the undergarment once reserved for strippers and other bad girls has become passe. Thongs have grown less popular as lingerie designers have developed cuter, fresher and more comfortable ways to deal with panty lines — like certain French briefs.
“We sell about three pairs of briefs for every thong,” says Ali Salaverria, a co-founder and designer for Eberjey. “It’s not the coverage — or lack of it — around a woman’s behind that causes panty lines. It’s the fabric. We use a very sheer mesh nylon that’s trimmed with flat lace. It’s delicate and lays close to your skin to prevent lines.”
So while Brigitte Nielsen might make an ass (ahem) of herself wearing nothing but a ratty black thong on “The Surreal Life,” sales indicate fewer women are following suit. Though thongs represent almost a quarter of the annual $2.5 billion in sales of women’s underwear, its popularity has peaked. Sales are not growing, according to the NPD Group, a New York-based market research group.
“Thongs are like anything else in fashion,” says Los Angeles stylist Jessica Maine. “People want them because they’re new and sexy and risque. Then all of the sudden you see them on everyone and nobody cares anymore. And let’s face it, they’re not the most comfortable things to wear. No one wants to have them on for more than the few hours they have to.”
And now, they don’t have to.
The dreaded thong
Come on, we’ve all worn them. Some of us even like them. But let’s not continue to live the lie that the line of a thong isn’t visible through a pair of workout pants or a body skimming skirt. It is! “Our thongs actually are bulkier than our briefs because of the elastic in the waistband,” says Eberjey co-founder Ali Salaverria.
Who popularized it: We can blame Madonna for popularizing bras and corsets as outerwear, but even the Material Mom rarely stooped to letting her thong straps show. Her protege Britney Spears is another story. The thong became so popular during the 1990s that Sisqo had a hit with “The Thong Song” and Abercrombie & Fitch was marketing thongs… to 10-year-old girls! (Which makes us wonder, exactly what are school uniforms composed of these days that tweens and younger would worry about visible panty lines?!)
Why it’s out now: Because there are alternatives that work just as well. Because it’s tacky, uncomfortable and, in most cases, unnecessary. And because, with the exception of a few really fit supermodels and athletes, thongs don’t do much to flatter anyone’s figure. With the return of ladylike glamor to the fashion world this fall, women are keeping their panties where they should be — hidden from public view.
French briefs
Let’s face it, no one wants to wear the type of underwear our moms used to pick out for us. But briefs aren’t the same as granny panties. Jockey, Arianne and Eberjey all have lines of gorgeous low-rise briefs that cover the booty without adding unwanted visible lines. The key is finding a seamless pair made from thin material. Nylon and lycra make a nice combo.
Who popularized it: Liv Tyler favors these. So do Kirsten Dunst and Avril Lavigne.
Why it’s in: French briefs are supercomfortable, come in all kinds of fabrics and can look innocent enough that they’re actually sexier than the too-revealing thong. Besides, most women don’t like their derrieres and a little extra coverage there never hurts.
Boy cut
Perfect for the gal who likes to wear her boyfriend’s tighty whities and boxer shorts, boy cut panties offer more coverage that can eliminate panty lines. However, you have to make sure the material isn’t too thick; if it is, it’ll leave a line right across your upper thigh. Not a pretty thought.
Who popularized it: Hate to credit Spears, but she’s worn these as part of her costume onstage. Sandra Bullock likes them, and so does Madonna.
Why it’s in: They’re not so delicate you have to worry about them all the time. But don’t fall for the myth that boy cut panties are a flattering cut for women who don’t have perfect bodies. They can be among the most unforgiving items in your wardrobe, making your legs look shorter and fatter than they actually are.
Boy thong
Sounds like a cruel joke, right? Actually, lingerie makers are saying the boy thong — a hybrid between a brief and a thong back that doesn’t reveal a “whale tail” — are the next big things. Not as skimpy as thongs, but without as much coverage around the lower butt cheeks as briefs, they combine the best of both worlds.
Who popularized it: Eberjey and Victoria’s Secret both pushed the boy thong and supermodels such as Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell love them.
Why it’s in: They’re sexy without being as risque as a thong. The front looks innocent. The back looks a bit naughty.
