Thethong is agarment generally used as eitherunderwear or in some countries, as aswimsuit. It may also be worn for traditionalceremonies orcompetitions.
Viewed from the front, the thong typically resembles abikini bottom, but at the back the material is reduced to a minimum. Thongs are almost always designed to cover thegenitals,anus, andperineum and leave part or most of thebuttocks uncovered. The back of the garment typically consists of a thin waistband and a thin strip of material, designed to be worn between the buttocks, that connects the middle of the waistband with the bottom front of the garment.[1] It is also used as a descriptive term in other types of garment, such as abodysuit,bodystocking,leotard, orone-piece swimsuit, with the meaning "thong-backed".
One type of thong is theG-string, the back of which consists only of a (typically elasticized) string.[2] The two termsG-string andthong are often used interchangeably; however, they can refer to distinct pieces of clothing. Thongs come in a variety of styles depending on the thickness, material or type of the rear portion of fabric and are used by both men and women throughout most of the world.
Atanga is a pair ofbriefs consisting of small panels connected by strings at the sides. There are tanga briefs both for men and for women. The style and the word come from Brazil.[3]
The origin of the wordthong in the English language is fromOld Englishþwong, a flexible leather cord.[4]
Many languages borrow the English wordstring to refer to this type of underwear, usually without theG. Another common name istanga (or sometimesstring tanga), especially in the GermanTanga. A frequent metaphor, especially in Brazil, is dental floss; in Brazil a thong is calledfio dental (Portuguese for 'dental floss'); in English, the term "Butt floss" is sometimes used. InLithuanian it issiaurikės ('narrows'), inItalianperizoma ortanga, inTurkishipli külot ('stringed underpants'), and inBulgarian asprashka (прашка), which means a slingshot. InIsrael the thong, mostly the G-string, is calledkhutini' (חוטיני), from the wordkhut, which means 'string'. Similarly, inIran, it is calledshortbandi (شورت بندی) in whichshort (شورت, from English:shorts) means 'briefs' andbandi means 'with a string'. APuerto Rican Spanish slang term, used byReggaeton artists, isgistro.[citation needed]
Some names for the thong make reference to the bareness of the buttocks, such as the Spanish wordcolaless. (The word's origin is probably connected to the English termtopless but in reference tocola, a colloquial word meaning 'butt' inSouth American Spanish.)[citation needed] In some other languages the "T"-like shape of the back is emphasised. InChinese, the thong is commonly calleddingziku (丁字褲/丁字裤) which literally means '丁 character pants' (or roughly, 'T-letter pants'). InKorean, it is called티팬티 (T panty). The termT-back is sometimes used in English, as in the novelT-Backs, T-Shirts, COAT, and Suit byE. L. Konigsburg.
Colloquially, thongs and G-strings are often used interchangeably to describe skimpy underwear with minimal back coverage, although the main difference is usually attributed to the width of the strap in the rear.[5][6] This is a definition reflected in theEncyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion, which considers the G-string or thong to be "a panty front with a half- to one-inch strip of fabric at the back that sits between the buttocks", using the terms interchangeably.[7] Conversely,Knickers: a Brief History says: "Minor tweaks to the cut earned these skimpy panties different titles—from the thong, which has a one-inch strip of fabric down the back, to a G-string, which, as the name equivalent of Spanish suggests (hilo dental), is more like a string of fabric akin between the teeth."[8]
Alternatively, some sources have attributed thongs to be a derivation of the G-string, as claimed byStriptease: the Untold History of the Girlie Show.[9] Similarly, theHeinemann English Dictionary describes "thong" as a very skimpy style of undergarment or swimsuit, similar to a G-string.[10] A reverse description is used inAmericanisms: the Illustrated Book of Words Made in the USA, which calls the G-string as a type of thong invented in 1936 and attributed to strippers, that consists of a small triangular piece of fabric connected by two elastic straps.[11]
The thong, like its probable predecessor theloincloth, is believed to be one of the earliest forms of human clothing and is also thought to have been worn mostly or exclusively by men.[12][13] It is thought the thong was probably originally developed to protect, support, or hide the male genitals. The loincloth is probably the earliest form of clothing used by humankind, having originated in the warmer climates ofsub-Saharan Africa where clothing was first worn nearly 75,000 years ago. Many tribal peoples, such as some of theKhoisan people of southern Africa, wore thongs for many centuries. Much like the Japanesefundoshi, these early garments were made with the male genitalia in mind.[14]
According to some fashion historians, the first public appearance of the thong in the United States was at the1939 New York World's Fair. This resulted fromFiorello LaGuardia, theMayor of New York City, ordering the city's nude dancers to cover themselves.[15] Jacques Heim's and Louis Réard's originalbikini from 1946 (that introduced the termbikini) had aculotte with a thong back. Fashion designerRudi Gernreich, who in the mid-1960s created the firsttopless swimsuit, which he called themonokini, is credited with introducing the modern thong in 1974[16][17][18][19] when he designed a thong bikini in response to a ban on nude sunbathing by theLos Angeles City Council.
Attitudes toward the wearing of g-strings vary geographically and across societies, as is usual with highly revealing clothing. Prior to its entrance into mainstream fashion, g-strings were primarily worn by exotic dancers. In the modern Western world, g-strings are more commonly marketed towards females but are worn by both sexes. During the 1980s, thongs were worn on stage by pop stars such asCher andMadonna.[20] By the 1980s, the style (for females) had made its way into most of the Western world; thong swimwear became even more popular through the 1980s due to TV shows such asBaywatch, in which numerous women were recorded wearing thong swimsuits.
In the 1990s, the thong gained wider popularity in the United States as underwear and as swimwear, especially with women, but also men. In the US and Europe, the wearing of thongs by men was once mainly limited to thedance belt, the posing pouch forbodybuilders and the realm of malestrippers. Men's thongs are now more widely available and commonly worn as day-to-day underwear or swimwear, with major retailers such asKmart[21] and popular fashion brands such asCalvin Klein selling men's thongs.[22] Thongs are not marketed as strongly to men as they are to women; however, in Europe, thongs have been commonplace for many more years both as underwear and swimwear.
In the 2000s, some people wore thongs with low-cut hipsters and deliberately exposed them over the top of their trousers, producing an effect popularly known as awhale tail. This led to many thong designs intended to be worn in this manner, which were adorned with jewels and motifs on the back. In the early-2000s, thongs made up 31% of the women's underwear market.[20] However, in the late-2000s, the exposure of a thong above one's trousers became less popular and the trend turned to the wearing of lower-riding thongs that hardly show above trousers, except when bending or twisting.
Market research in 2011 placed the number of French women who wear thongs as their preferred underwear style at 25%, down by 5% from 2008.[23][24] By 2016, sales of thongs in the UK were on the decline withMarks & Spencer, a major UK lingerie retailer, reporting that they made up fewer than 10% of knickers sold.[20] In 2022, women's thong sales saw a surge compared to previous years, in part due to a revival of the 2000s trend of the exposed thong popular betweenGen Z wearers.[25][26] The men's thongs also saw renewed interest in part also due to the rising popularity of lingerie for men, with major producers and traditional lingerie makers introducing new products catered to men.[27][28][29] Many reasons exist as to why people may choose to wear thong underwear or swimwear, such as prevention ofvisible panty lines,[30] prevention of underwear "riding up" so one need not pull at one's underwear in public, comfort, fashion consciousness including the feeling of being more adult,[20] and minimization of tan lines.[31]
| Backs | Sides | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strap | Tie-side | Strapless | ||
| Low coverage |   V-string, T-front, G-string |  T-back |  C-string | |
| Medium coverage | Cheeky | |||
Types of thongs include the traditional thong, the G-string, and the C-string. There are a number of intermediate kinds of thongs between full rear coverage and a string rear. As designs become more risqué, there are also types intended to expose genitals as much as they conceal them. Other styles include the Cheeky, V-string, T-front and T-back. The naming of the intermediate styles of thong is debatable, different vendors use the words somewhat interchangeably. Thongs are available in a wide variety of materials, includingsilk,latex,cotton,microfiber,satin,nylon,lycra/spandex, andlace. There are also novelty designs for both sexes, featuring shapes to conform to the genitals or provide humorous visual effects.
The most significant difference between thongs designed for men and women is the shape of the front part of the garment. Often, but not always, thongs for men will feature a vertical seam to create shape and space for the male genitalia, and the pouch may be made of stretchy material (usually cotton-Lycra or microfiber) for an ergonomic fit. The equivalent section in women's thongs is normally flat and seamless. However, the fabric is usually thicker in the area where it covers thevulva (by incorporating a cottongusset).
_photomodel_Jassi.jpg)
_photomodel_Jassi_1.jpg)
The V or G-string style consists of an elastic string (also a narrow piece of cloth,leather, orplastic) that connects the front/pouch and the waistband at back, worn asswimwear or underwear by women and men. Since the mid-1920s, strippers and exotic dancers in the West have been referring to the style of thongs they wore for their performances as G-strings. A g-string may be worn in preference tobriefs for avoiding a visiblepanty line, or to enhancesex-appeal.
The origin of the termG-string is obscure. It may simply stand for 'Gusset' as the G-String is in effect just a gusset on a string. Since the 19th century, the termgeestring referred to the string which held the loincloth ofAmerican Indians[32] and later referred to the narrow loincloth itself.William Safire in hisOde on a G-String quoted the usage of the wordG-string for loincloth byHarper's Magazine 15 years after Beadle's and suggested that the magazine confused the word with the musical termG string (i.e., thestring for the G note). Safire also mentions the opinion of linguist Robert Hendrickson that "G" (or "gee") stands forgroin, which was ataboo word at the time.[33]
The G-string first appeared in costumes worn by showgirls inEarl Carroll's productions during theJazz Age. Linguist Robert Hendrickson believes that theg stands forgroin.[34] TheOxford English Dictionary reports that the G-string was originally a narrow strip of fabric worn by Indian women. During the Depression, a "G-string" was known as "the gadget".[34] During the 1930s, the "Chicago G-string" gained prominence when worn by performers likeMargie Hart. The Chicago area was the home of some of the largest manufacturers of G-strings and it also became the center of theburlesque shows in the United States.[34] In theTarzan novels ofEdgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan is described as wearing a G-string made of doe or leopard skin.[35]
| Variant | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
| C-string |  | Sometimes described as an "extreme thong", the C-string consists of a small piece of fabric covering the crotch, held in place by a thin piece of curved wire between the buttocks.[36] It has no side straps, instead relying on a flexible internal frame,[37] typically made of wire and with fabric attached to it.[38] The principal aim of the C-string is to avoid avisible panty line under clothing.[36] Asbeachwear the design also reducestan lines.[37] Someneo-burlesque performers wear C-strings, revealing them as part of their act.[39] Designs exist for both women and men.[37] Some versions of the C-string are self-adhesive[40] and do not have a wire frame. Instead the crotch cover is connected to a narrow strip of material passing through theintergluteal cleft and a small anchoring pad above thesacrum.[41] |
| Cheeky | .jpg) | A more conservative style called a cheeky covers a little more area, but exposes the lower portion of the buttocks. Some cheekies are used as undergarments while others function as bikini bottoms. |
| T-front |  | A type of T-string in which the string reaches also the front part. It provides no coverage while still maintaining the basic hygienic underwear functions. Usually it is built by strings only, sometimes with more fabric or lace around the waist. Certain designs cover the string with pearls for purposes of decoration and stimulation.[42] |
| V-string |  | A type of G-string, introduced byVictoria's Secret[43] and trademarked by the company in 1998.[44] The string is connected to the waistband by a triangle that is just above the buttocks. The string connects with the waistband directly to form a "V" shape at back. |
| Variant | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Kaupinam | A traditional thong worn in India,[45][46] by some men as aloincloth orunderclothing. It is made up of rectangular strip of cotton cloth which is used to cover the genitals with the help of the strings connected to the four ends of the cloth for binding it around the waist of the wearer. It is used by wrestlers in the game ofKushti or traditional Indian wrestling in theAkhara (wrestling ring) and also during practice sessions and training. |  |
| Fundoshi | A traditionalJapanese undergarment for adult males and females, made from a length ofcotton. BeforeWorld War II, the fundoshi was the main form of underwear for Japanese adult males and females. However, it fell out of use quickly after the war with the introduction of new underwear and panties to the Japanese market, such asbriefs andtrunks. Nowadays, the fundoshi is mainly used not as underwear but as festival (matsuri) clothing atHadaka Matsuri or, sometimes, as swimwear. There are many other varieties of fundoshi as the variations on the principle of a loincloth are almost infinite. For example, themokko-fundoshi (literally "earth-basket loincloth" because it looks like the traditional baskets used in construction) is made like the etchyuu-fundoshi but without a front apron; the cloth is secured to the belt to make a bikini effect. Thekuro-neko fundoshi (literally "black cat fundoshi") is like themokko-fundoshi except that the portion that passes from front to back is tailored to create a thong effect. |  |
| Jockstrap | An undergarment designed for supporting themale genitalia during sports or other vigorous physical activity. It was created by Chicago sporting goods company Sharp & Smith in 1874.[47] Technically it is not a thong, as there is no narrow strap that passes up between the buttocks. A jockstrap consists of a waistband (usuallyelastic) with a support pouch for the genitalia and two elastic straps affixed to the base of the pouch and to the left and right sides of the waistband at the hip.[48] The pouch, in some varieties, may be fitted with a pocket to hold an impact resistant cup to protect thetesticles and/or thepenis frominjury. Also known as a jock, jock strap, strap, supporter, or athletic supporter. |  |
| Slingshot | A type of strapless undergarment based on the thong and the jockstrap consisting of an elastic waistband with an elastic pouch to hold the male genitalia from the front, without a backstrap or any back coverage.[49] The garment is also referred to as ajock sock or astrapless orbackless pouch. | |
| Dance belt | A type of thong designed to be used in the same manner as an athletic supporter, but for male dancers (especially in ballet).[50] Its purpose is to protect and support the dancer during dance activities without being seen through outer garments, such astights,leotards, gym leggings, or shorts. Thongs tend to offer better support for the male anatomy than do other underwear styles (as well as eliminating contact between the genitals and inner thighs), which is one of the reasons why men and boys may choose to wear them.[51] |  |
As thongs pass between the buttocks and, in women, may be in close contact with the anus and labia, concerns have been raised that they may become damp and act as a conduit for germ transfer, increasing the probability that the wearer may develop urinary tract infections, such as cystitis.[52][53][54] However, research suggests that wearing thong underwear does not have a statistically significant effect on the occurrence ofbacterial vaginosis[55] oryeast infection.[56]
In 2002, a female high school vice principal in San Diego, California, physically checked up to 100 female students' underwear as they entered the school for a dance, with or without student permission, causing an uproar among students and some parents and eliciting an investigation by the school into the vice principal's conduct. In her defense, the vice principal said the checks were for student safety and not specifically because of the wearing of thongs.[57][58][59][60][61]
The sale of thongs for girls aged 10–16 by US retailerAbercrombie & Fitch led to an email and telephone campaign against the company.[62] British retailerArgos was criticized for selling G-strings for girls aged nine, and a primary schoolhead teacher in Britain voiced concerns thatpupils aged 10–11 were wearing thong underwear to school.[63]
Thong swimsuits are banned or strongly discouraged in some places, including some Muslim countries.[64][65] Areas in the United States with similar bans include such locations asMyrtle Beach, South Carolina,[66]Kure Beach, North Carolina,[67] andBrevard County, Florida.[68]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)...it is the perfect suit to avoid unnecessary tan lines.
Media related toThongs (underwear) at Wikimedia Commons Media related toG-strings at Wikimedia Commons