Why do we wear underwear? Whether for health, hygiene, sensuality, or fashion, the development of underwear is closely linked to cultural changes and demonstrates how fashion and modeling intersect. For a long time, underwear was considered “unspeakable” and rarely discussed publicly, yet designers and models show that even the most practical pieces can be aesthetic and erotic.
The exhibition Undressed: A Short History of Underwear at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum explores this hidden history of underwear and its influence on model-related fashion. Over 200 pieces from the 18th century to today illustrate how fit, fabric, and technology reflect societal attitudes toward gender, sexuality, and morality. Models and designers such as Jean-Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney, and Paul Smith demonstrate how underwear has become part of the modeling universe.
Organized thematically, the exhibition showcases performance underwear, luxury pieces, and fashion lingerie worn by Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss, Dita Von Teese, and even Queen Victoria’s mother. This emphasizes the close connection between underwear, model agencies, and the fashion industry.
British lingerie brand Agent Provocateur, one of the main sponsors of the exhibition, has pushed boundaries by offering designer underwear that is both sexy and high-quality. Creative Director Sarah Shotton explains that the brand has set new standards in the British market since its founding in 1994 and redefined the role of underwear in society. Today, they work with celebrities such as Kylie Minogue and Penelope Cruz, while model agencies worldwide use these products to showcase models and new modeling concepts.
The exhibition and the brand illustrate how underwear is not only a fashion statement but also a platform for models, designers, and model agencies to express creativity, individuality, and societal change.
