So Out It's In: Underwear As Outerwear

My first experience with underwear as outerwear came in kindergarten when Louisa Fernheckler walked into the classroom wearing panties outside of her jeans. Her basic white cotton brief stood out like a triangular beacon on a denim sea. Everyone saw, and the Play-Doh station was abuzz with curiosity. Could it be intentional? Did she know something we didn't? Of course there were those less inclined to give Louisa the benefit of the doubt and threw around words like "mentally" and "challenged" with a carelessness that can only be observed in five-year-olds and my freshman year roommate.

At a time when I habitually painted on my shirt instead of the poster (do we call that dim-witted or creative?) and kids everywhere were picking their nose and eating it, could Louisa have been ahead of the curve? If you saw any of this season's runways, then yes.

So out it's in: underwear as outerwear. To be fair, it's nothing new-- Louisa and a slew of other eighties icons rocked the look for a decade. Madonna did it with the cone bra, Kris Kross did it with their boxers, Flashdance did it with leotards, and wanna-be pop-punks did it everywhere with exposed black bra straps under slouchy shirts. But recently I've been seeing more panty than I care to, but I gotta say, it's a welcome change from the trend in the last few years when pop-stars and heiresses went panty-free. Thank god Louisa wasn't up on that trend.

I'd say that the underwear as outerwear came onto my radar as a movement when Sienna Miller wore bloomers as pants back in January 2007, and when Carrie strutted in nude-sequined Dolce and Gabbana underwear on an episode of "Sex and the City."

But lately, the trend has gained some momentum. Party girls and celebrities have been spotted pantless and panty-full all over town. Juliette Lewis and Liz Goldwyn aren't afraid of the draft.

Can we blame the Spring '09 shows from Marni, MaxMara, and Marc Jacobs for glorifying the underoo? You be the judge:

Marni:

MaxMara:

Marc Jacobs:

I guess if designers had it their way, we'd all be embracing the less-is-more theory. I've mentioned before how I appreciate a hassle-free morning (with the unwashed hair and all) so I'd be willing to allow the social acceptability of underwear as outerwear if it meant I could eliminate the ten minutes it takes to pick out a pair of pants and the ten seconds it takes to put them on.

Not sure how my boss would feel about that, though, what with me being pantless and all from 9am to 6pm. I feel like it'd change everything, like I'd have to answer my phone, "This is Lindsay, and I'm in my underwear" you know, just to level the playing field. Or I'd ask my co-worker to hand me that folder under there...just to make them say "underwear." Zing!

Fortunately I'm in Miami on a little vacation (read: not at work) and can dip my toe in the pool of underwear as outerwear: I'll be wearing a bikini bottom all day. Ok, ok, definitely not the same as walking around NYC in briefs and high heels, but it's a start. Louisa Fernheckler would be proud.

Follow Lindsay Mannering on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LindsayVirginia

Comments

[booker52]

WTF?? These people must be lacking in other areas of their life if wearing underware in public is the newest thing. Sad. Having more money then brains must do that to you.

[ICanHasDemocracy]

grannie panites omg!
:hurl:

[stayinsouth1981]

Wait till one of them laughs too hard and they have grannie weeeee too!

[jonlester]

It's just one more line of clothes that will make headlines in the fashion world but not actually be bought or worn by most of the public.

[burpgun]

I am getting up in age a bit and with this additional experience I can honestly say that if all women dressed this way that the population would decrease at a rate that is directly proportional to the amount of flesh that is visible in the general female polulation! There, I said it, and I'm glad! Incidentally, let me know if all women have to dress this way. I want to invest in Gyms, Diet Plans, and Personal Trainers are us!

[raw915]

OMG... exposing more rolls of fat... give my tired eyes a break... :o(

[senseandnonsense]

Not a flattering look for most people. On the other hand, it'll be easier to get dressed.

[Fudgefase]

Fine for sunny California - not so great for freezing cold, sleety windswept Edinburgh! BBBrrrrrr!

[PatrickforO]

I have mixed feelings. I like women who show some 'leg' once in a while. Very sexy. But I'm with the poster below who asks whatever happened to women who look ravishing in evening gowns. Seriously, to me, there's nothing as sexy as a beautiful evening gown. And when women used to wear gloves as part of the formal wear, wow! When it comes to the erotic, letting it all hang out isn't. Imagination is still king.

[stayinsouth1981]

OH dear... "UNDEROOS." I can't stop laughing.. I'd be happy if people would stop exposing their CRACKS... when they bend over.

[macrumpton]

I liked it better on Madonna in the 80's.

[vdub4]

amen! madonna did this LONG ago, folks... and people FREAKED OUT! lol... bless you, Mo. :)

[AnalyzeIT]

Very trashy - I don't care how expensive the fabric or how pretty the design - it's just plain TRASHY.

Especially in American where women are "taught" one thing and "told" to do another.

[wrabbitt]

Now, this is a reason to celebrate! thanks for restarting my heart!

[PineyWoods]

I don't know ... I'm no square, but this whole underwear on the outside deal isn't very classy. Whatever happened to a real lady who looked ravishing in an evening gown? Enough of these here-today gone-tomorrow stabs at fashion. Classy is classic, it's where it's at!

[deckbose]

Just wanted to say that "Bang the Drum Slowly" is one of my favorite movies. Props to Piney Woods.

[walk0nwalls]

*blink*

[CarbonDate]

Hey, if it's good enough for Superman, it's good enough for fashion. That's what I say.

[kimleehan]

Can you picture underdog out on the campaine in his underwear. Have no fear underdog is here.

[research]

The Question is:

Do you wear your underwear seams out or in?