Underwear

Often a hidden, secret layer, underwear can be completely functional or luxuriously sensual. Playful and provocative, washable and wearable, undergarments reflect changing attitudes to gender, sex and morality. Together, our collection reveals how underwear design has been a focus for commercial innovation in Europe and North America for the last 300 years.

The collection includes garments designed to protect, insulate, shape, exaggerate and reveal the human body. Sculpted corsets and wired supports feature alongside comfortable jersey vests and pants. Highlights include Christian Dior's curvaceous New Look girdle, contemporary silk lingerie by Agent Provocateur and Calvin Klein Y-fronts.

Search “Underwear” in Explore the Collections

Features

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Knitted underwear: a history unravelled

From socks to vests, knitting has played a crucial part in underwear's evolution

  1. Watch

    The 'Babydoll' slip by Carine Gilson

    Lingerie designer, Carine Gilson discusses the design process behind the 'Babydoll' slip featured in the exhibition
  2. Watch

    Shaping the body: from corsets to bullet-bras

    Discover the story of shape-wear: from Victorian corsetry, to bandeaus, bullet-bras and Lycra
  3. Read

    A brief history of men's underwear

    From ruffle-fronted shirts, to Y-fronts, jock-straps and Calvin Kleins, explore the hidden history of men's underwear
  4. Read

    Corsets, crinolines and bustles: fashionable Victorian underwear

    Do you know your corset from your crinolette? Discover the extraordinary structures that gave Victorian fashion its form
  5. Watch

    The design process: interviews with Agent Provocateur, FiFi Chachnil and La Perla

    From creation to catwalk - discover the design process of three leading fashion brands
  6. Read

    The bottom line: underwear revealed

    Take a peek at our underwear collection

Collection highlights

Show all
  1. panty thong
    Panty thong by Rudi Gernreich for Lily of France, 1978, USA
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  2. underpants
    Underpants, made for Mühlenkamp Brothers, 1890s, Great Britain
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  3. petticoat
    Petticoat, by Booth & Fox, about 1860, England
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  4. bra
    Mud bra, designed by Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood, 1982, UK
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  5. bra
    Bra, designed by John J. Roussel, 1930s, France
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  6. corset
    Corset, about 1890, England
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  7. girdle
    Girdle, 1960s, Great Britain
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  8. cage crinoline
    A Favorite Of The Empress, cage crinoline, 1860 – 1865, Great Britain
    V&A South Kensington
    Not on display
  9. shapewear
    Mens Zoned Performance V Neck "Manx" Shapewear, designed by Sara Blakely for Spanx, 2010, USA
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
Sainsbury Gallery Stairs
Members Room at V&A South Kensington
Shop at V&A South Kensington
the Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Lecture Theatre located within V&A South Kensington

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