Mentioning the Unmentionables: Books relating to Undergarments

Discovered (via Tomorrow.sg) SG blogger AKK's most entertaining musings about what she saw at an online Men's undergarment catalogue. Far from being an offensive post (it's not even a R21 in my opinion), it's educational to know what some women think!

Out of curiosity, I searched NLB's library catalogue using the keyword "underwear" and discovered some interesting titles. Here's a selection:

Unmentionables: a brief history of underwear/ Elaine Benson, John Esten

NLB Call No.: 391.4209 BEN (located at the 'General' section)
Click here for item availability.

A fashionable history of underwear/ Helen Reynolds
[No Image Available]
NLB Call No.: Y 391.4209 REY (located at Young People Collection)
Click here for item availability.

Lingerie: A lexicon of style/ Caroline Cox

Call No.: 391.42 COX
Click here for item availability.


The Childrens' titles are most amusing:

I'm a big kid: Lift the flaps and see me grow/ Josephine Page

NLB Call No.: J P PAG-[BA]
Click here for item availability.
[There's nothing sinister about the book, should you wonder -- The back cover title says "I'm a big kid: Diapers to underwear". This is what we classify as a Baby Book, i.e. full of pictures and colours, often with movable flaps and/ or textures on the pages. The parent is supposed to sit with the child and read/ play along.]

Why did the underwear cross the road?/ Gordon Korman

NLB Call No.: J KOR
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The secret life of the underwear champ/ by Betty Miles ; illustrated by Dan Jones. Capers

NLB Call No.: J MIL
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Let's not forget the popular Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey. Here's one:
Captain Underpants and the wrath of the wicked Wedgie Woman: The fifth epic novel/ Dav Pilkey.

NLB Call No.: JS DAV (under Simple Fiction in the Children's section)
Click here for item availability.

Hmm.. suppose a society's development could be measured by its willingness to mention the "unmentionables". Anyway, those interested in reading up on this topic could also try a Subject search using terms like "Lingerie", "Lingerie History", "Lingerie Industry" or "Lingerie Pictorial works".


[Tag: books lingerie, books for children]