Corsets, thongs and Queen Victoria's mother's pants in new exhibition at V&A

Updated

Cotton drawers worn by Queen Victoria's mother and a sheer dress worn by Kate Moss are among the items going on display in a new exhibition which explores the history of underwear.

The show, titled Undressed: A Brief History Of Underwear, is being hosted at London's Victoria and Albert Museum.

The range of items on display will help to narrate the story of underwear design from as early as the 18th century through to the present day.

The 200 examples of underwear on show feature garments worn by men and women, and include everything from pair of home-made whalebone "stays" worn in the 18th century, to luxury lingerie garments from designers such as Stella McCartney.

A waist-training corset, favoured by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian as a slimming tool, is on show as part of the larger debate around the creation of corsets which do not damage the body.

Practical and functional underwear is also explored, as well as the evolution of underclothes and nightwear into today's "loungewear".

:: The exhibition will be held in the V&A Fashion Gallery from April 16 through to March 2017.

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