Panty line
Encyclopedia
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
. The underpants may be seen as a ridge or depression in the clothes, or as a result of the clothing material being sufficiently transparent.
Cultural aspects
Many cultures disapprove of the display of underwear, and a visible panty line is generally considered undesirable and embarrassing. The problem arises especially with tight-fitting clothing and the use of thin materialsSheer (textile)
Sheer fabric is fabric which is made using thin thread and/or low density of knit and which results in a semi-transparent and flimsy cloth. Some fabrics become transparent when wet....
for the outer clothing. Underwear manufacturers try to reduce the creation of a panty line by the use of thin materials in the underwear and avoiding use of elastic or other bulky seams. Lace edges can help also. The colour of the outer garment against the undergarment may also enhance the visibility of the undergarment.
At the same time, a visible panty line is at times deliberately created for its erotic impact.
This phenomenon is seen much less frequently in men; however, it can happen when briefs
Briefs
Briefs are a type of short, tight underwear and swimwear, as opposed to styles where the material extends down the legs.In the case of men's underwear, briefs, unlike boxer shorts, hold the wearer's genitals in a relatively fixed position, which make briefs a popular underwear choice for men who...
or boxer briefs
Boxer briefs
Boxer briefs are a type of men's undergarment which are long in the leg, like boxer shorts but tighter-fitting, like briefs; a hybrid between the two main types of male underwear in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, and the United States. Depending on the manufacturer, boxer briefs may also be...
are worn under thin or tight pants. Regardless of the underwear style, it is often referred to as visible panty line, or VPL for short.
Origin
The origin of the term is probably traced to barracks humor, the term VPL for 'visible panty line' as a mockery of overused bureaucratic initialisms, coined in an analogy with water line. The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English claims that the phrase was popularized by Woody AllenWoody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
's 1977 comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
Annie Hall
Annie Hall
Annie Hall is a 1977 American romantic comedy directed by Woody Allen from a screenplay co-written with Marshall Brickman and co-starring Diane Keaton. One of Allen's most popular and most honored films, it won four Academy Awards including Best Picture...
.
The term "panty line" is also used in places where British English
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
is favoured, such as the UK, Ireland, South Africa, India, and some other Commonwealth nations such as Australia and New Zealand, even though in those places panties
Panties
Panties are a form of underwear, usually light and snug-fitting, designed to be worn by women or girls in the area directly below the waist. Typical components include an elastic waistband, a crotch panel to cover the genital area , and a pair of leg openings which, like the waistband, are often...
are often referred to as knickers.