The Virtues of Underwear, Nina Edwards

The Virtues of Underwear is a richly illustrated and nuanced exploration of our most intimate garments, tracing their journey from ancient loincloths to modern shapewear. Edwards deftly interlaces global history, fashion, psychology and culture to show how underwear simultaneously conceals and reveals—projecting modesty, identity, desire and social norms. With 89 illustrations (24 in colour) and eight thematic chapters—from codpieces and corsets to medical garments and economic imperatives—the volume offers a thoughtful tapestry of cloth and care, habit and rebellion, even nudging into how underwear has become outerwear in today's style lexicon.

Evoking the playful paradoxes of knickers that embarrass yet entice, this is not a dry history but a lively, sensory journey. Edwards delights in surprising detail—the role of spaghetti-vests in working-class dress, corsetry’s impact on women's health, even Icelandic bewitching breeches—inviting readers into a hidden drawer of cultural meaning where every stitch tells a story.

About the Author
Nina Edwards is a London-based writer and researcher celebrated for illuminating the cultural significance of everyday objects—from buttons and offal to the hidden garments beneath our clothes. Her work is marked by meticulous archival research and a warm, lively tone that brings overlooked material culture into sharp focus . In The Virtues of Underwear, Edwards weaves social history, fashion studies, and human experience into a seamless narrative, revealing the intimate, often surprising, power of what lies closest to our skin.

Publication date: 2024
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9781789149562