Did you know—that before the 1800s no nice women wore knickers at all? That underneath their crinolines Victorian women wore knickers with separate legs? That before the advent of elastic, knickers were held up with buttons, tapes and even soldier straps? That until World War II many poorer people made their knickers our of flour bags? That during the War women made hand knitted knickers? That in the ‘60s women enjoyed a craze for throwaway paper panties? That in the most parts of the world you can buy multi-flavoured edible knickers. This is the book that gets to the bottom of what is worn next to nothing