A
teddy, also called
body and
camiknicker, is a form of
bodysuitIn clothing, a bodysuit or body is a unisex form-fitting garment that covers the torso; it often has sleeves and snaps at the crotch, and has varying collars. A bodysuit may be worn as a top for the smooth line it gives or because it cannot become untucked from one's trousers or skirt. They may...
-like
lingerieLingerie is a term for fashionable and notionally alluring undergarments. It derives from the French word linge, "washables" — as in faire le linge, "do the laundry" — and ultimately from lin for washable linen, the fabric from which European undergarments were made before the general introduction...
, often worn in the
boudoirA boudoir is a lady's private bedroom, sitting room or dressing room. The term derives from the French verb bouder, meaning "to pout".- In Architecture :...
. By definition, a teddy is an
undergarmentUndergarments or underwear are clothes worn under other clothes, often next to the skin. They keep outer garments from being soiled by perspiration, urine, semen, feces, and other discharges; shape the body; and provide support for parts of it. In cold weather, long underwear sometimes is worn to...
which combines a
camisoleHistorically, camisole referred to jackets of various kinds, including overshirts , women's négligées and sleeved jackets worn by men....
and panty in one piece. Unlike a
bodysuitIn clothing, a bodysuit or body is a unisex form-fitting garment that covers the torso; it often has sleeves and snaps at the crotch, and has varying collars. A bodysuit may be worn as a top for the smooth line it gives or because it cannot become untucked from one's trousers or skirt. They may...
, it is typically looser and more sheer, and may be designed to slip off from the shoulders, rather than to open at the crotch.
Originally, they were marketed under the name
camiknickers; the name was coined in the 1920s when they were introduced as a one piece garment and it was derived from
camisoleHistorically, camisole referred to jackets of various kinds, including overshirts , women's négligées and sleeved jackets worn by men....
and
knickersIn the English speaking world, in particular United Kingdom, Ireland, some Commonwealth countries, and increasingly in United States, knickers is a word that is used to describe women's and men's underpants and undergarments, women's lingerie, and for sports pants sportswear...
.
A
teddy, also called
body and
camiknicker, is a form of
bodysuitIn clothing, a bodysuit or body is a unisex form-fitting garment that covers the torso; it often has sleeves and snaps at the crotch, and has varying collars. A bodysuit may be worn as a top for the smooth line it gives or because it cannot become untucked from one's trousers or skirt. They may...
-like
lingerieLingerie is a term for fashionable and notionally alluring undergarments. It derives from the French word linge, "washables" — as in faire le linge, "do the laundry" — and ultimately from lin for washable linen, the fabric from which European undergarments were made before the general introduction...
, often worn in the
boudoirA boudoir is a lady's private bedroom, sitting room or dressing room. The term derives from the French verb bouder, meaning "to pout".- In Architecture :...
. By definition, a teddy is an
undergarmentUndergarments or underwear are clothes worn under other clothes, often next to the skin. They keep outer garments from being soiled by perspiration, urine, semen, feces, and other discharges; shape the body; and provide support for parts of it. In cold weather, long underwear sometimes is worn to...
which combines a
camisoleHistorically, camisole referred to jackets of various kinds, including overshirts , women's négligées and sleeved jackets worn by men....
and panty in one piece. Unlike a
bodysuitIn clothing, a bodysuit or body is a unisex form-fitting garment that covers the torso; it often has sleeves and snaps at the crotch, and has varying collars. A bodysuit may be worn as a top for the smooth line it gives or because it cannot become untucked from one's trousers or skirt. They may...
, it is typically looser and more sheer, and may be designed to slip off from the shoulders, rather than to open at the crotch.
History
Originally, they were marketed under the name
camiknickers; the name was coined in the 1920s when they were introduced as a one piece garment and it was derived from
camisoleHistorically, camisole referred to jackets of various kinds, including overshirts , women's négligées and sleeved jackets worn by men....
and
knickersIn the English speaking world, in particular United Kingdom, Ireland, some Commonwealth countries, and increasingly in United States, knickers is a word that is used to describe women's and men's underpants and undergarments, women's lingerie, and for sports pants sportswear...
. It was an appropriate garment to wear under the shorter dresses of the time and also gained popularity during the
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when women who served in military related duties wore
trousersFor the TrouSerS implementation of the TCG Software Stack, see Trusted Computing Group.Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately...
instead of skirts. By the late 1940s the garment became less popular. The garment re-appeared in the lingerie market in the 1990s under the name
teddy or
body.
Modern teddy styles
There are two main types of teddies available today: teddies designed for visual appeal and teddies designed as practical clothing. Most modern teddies fall into one of these two categories. Common teddy styles are listed and explained below.
Bareback teddy
A teddy with an open back. Bareback teddies typically include one or more straps to provide bust support, so they can be worn without a bra, giving the wearer the appearance of a bare back.
Body briefer teddy
A fitted teddy designed for smoothing and shaping of the wearer's figure. Body briefers typically come in a variety of control levels, achieved by using different materials or thicknesses of materials in the body areas they are designed to control. Like sleep teddies, body briefers tend to use simpler materials and styles than teddies designed for visual appeal. Body briefers are also commonly referred to as "body shapers" or "women's shapers".
Fashion top teddy
A teddy which combines a thong panty, bra and fashion top. Fashion top teddies come in a wide variety of styles, from simple styles with plain materials to very fancy styles with beads, crystals or sequins. Fashion top teddies can be worn as fancy undergarments or as an outer garment without a top over them.
Sleep teddy
A loose-fitting teddy designed as sleepwear. Sleep teddies tend to use simpler materials and styles than teddies designed for visual appeal.
Traditional teddy
A loose-fitting teddy designed for visual appeal and to show off the wearer's figure. Traditional teddies often use sheer or partially sheer material.
Sources