Panties [Hardcover]

Sarah Tomczak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2004

Panties is an irresistible combination of lush, stylish images and provocative text that delights as well as stimulates questions such as: What do frescoes found in Pompeii reveal about the ancient Greeks? Which were the most expensive undies ever made, and is there such a thing as "power panties"? How exactly did the thong evolve - and what is the only draw back to the wünder-string? Find out in this revealing and entertaining journey into the undiscovered world of underwear.

Editorial Reviews

Review

you'll definitely think twice about what underwear you put on after reading this. Lingerie Buyer A timely handbook on our booty-baring culture, Panties is a fun history of knickers Whoever thought smalls could be so big? Vogue --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Sarah Tomczak was, until recently, Fashion and Entertainment editor at YM magazine and is now senior editor at US magazine. She is also the author of How to be a Sex Goddess.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT (November 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756607574
• ISBN-13: 978-0756607579
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,874,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lot More Than Just Pictures!, September 15, 2006

By 

Jenifer M (Orange County, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panties (Hardcover)

After receiving my first set of crotchless panties as a gift - and loving `em - I must've had lingerie-on-the-brain, so I impulsively picked up this cute little book.

To my surprise, this tome was more than just a series of pictures. It had quite a bit of panty history - starting with the Old School Glamour where panties were thicker, higher, and made of silk; followed by some of the more modern favorites, such as Thongs, G-Strings, Classic Cotton and Sports Briefs; and finishing, where else (?) but with the panties of Celebrities (the Rich & Famous).

Several of the chapters begin by briefly highlighting some of the most successful underwear makers in the world (companies I had never heard of) - names like Rigby & Peller, Bonds, Sloggi, and Cosabella.

The most interesting chapter -- also with the best pictures - is the one that covers Thongs! Warning - if a woman's rear view is a favorite of yours - then you'll probably find this section to be quite enjoyable!

Of the color photos scattered throughout the book - my personal favorites include a rear upskirt view of a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader as she's bending over during a game; a view from behind of a Victoria's Secret angel wearing a V-String on stage; all of the pictures of thongs; a posterior view of a cute contestant in the Lingerie Bowl held in Los Angeles; a frontal flying-skirt view of Serena Williams hitting a forehand (which was hot!); and a provocative print ad for Elle MacPherson's lingerie (which was censored in her native Australia) which shows a voyeur's through-a-peephole view of a woman removing her knickers - with her deeply inserted thumb leading the way!

Other celebrities who offer lingerie include Kylie Minogue (singer) with her LoveKylie line; Heidi Fleiss (of prostitution fame) with her HeidiWear label; a series of items by Jenifer Lopez (singer, actress); and lastly, even some underwear from Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (actresses).

As an interesting fact - the author claims that crotchless panties were originally developed to provide greater ventilation (and not for easier access). Yeah, right!

As my final observation, this book is also surprisingly up-to-date -- especially as it describes how thongs, which reigned supreme for an entire generation of girls - have finally started to wane in their appeal.

Because of the text's seriousness - this is a volume I can leave out on my nightstand - where my husband might `discover' it!

The photos aren't so scandalous that they'd make me jealous if he looked. But hopefully they are titillating enough - to get his attention!

In short, `Panties: a brief history' by Sarah Tomczak and Rachel Pask - is a book that's SERIOUS enough for HER - while also being SEXY enough for HIM! I found it to be just delightful!

4 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Nice Read, October 12, 2005

By 

C. Williams "Charlie" (North Carolina United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panties (Hardcover)

This book is a small on, it is pack with lots of info. I love lingeie and collect some pieces. I have other books on the subjuct and I found some great info in this book. It has lots of pictures as well. It starts off with what I call granny panties. This book tell how and and why panties was made, and why women want to wear thongs and g-strings. it also has a little story about a war and why they had to change the fabric to nylon and silk to save the cotton for the soldiers. Also tells about 60s, 70s,80s, 90s, till today styles.