Thong

This article is about the thong underwear and swimwear. For other uses, see Thong (disambiguation).

Woman's thong swimwear, rear view.

Thong underwear and swimwear is a style characterized by a thin strip of material along the center of the garment's rear designed to sit between the wearer's buttocks connecting the front or pouch to the waistband behind the wearer. Thongs come in a variety of styles depending on the thickness, material, or type of this rear portion of fabric and are available for both men and women throughout the world. Thongs are similar to g-strings, the main difference being that thongs have more material between the legs and back whereas a g-string has less, usually an actual "string" of material. Retailer FreshPair defines thong as "An underwear style for both men and women with a thin fabric back that rests between the buttocks" whereas a g-string is "A panty with a very thin (string-like) band of fabric in the back."

History

Thongs are believed to be descended from the earliest form of clothing, the loincloth, which were generally a male's clothing item, the reverse of modern western culture where the thong has more acceptance among women. In modern clothing, thongs first became popular as a swimsuit style in Brazil. The origin of the word "thong" is from the Old English thwong,a flexible leather cord.

The first direct descendant of the loincloth, in the direction of thong, was the jockstrap, created by Chicago sporting goods company Sharp & Smith in 1874. The first historical reference to the thong in post-1900's is in 1939 New York City when Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia ordered nude dancers to dress more appropriately. Fashion designer Rudi Gernreich was credited with introducing the modern thong back in 1974 which grew in popularity in South America, especially in Brazil. In the 1990's, the thong began to gain widespread acceptance and popularity in the United States, amounting for sales of more than $2 billion per year in 2006. More recently, men's thong wear has begun to gain popularity for fit and supportiveness, especially for activities such as running, exercising, at the gym, or as daily wear. Thong underwear for males are similar to an athletic supporter as they both provide support while using a minimum of fabric, though the typical athletic supporter is not a thong as the straps at the rear are not at the garment's center.

Design

Types of Thongs include the traditional thong, the G-string, and V-string.

• Traditional Thong. This style is generally the most common and involves a strip of fabric in varying widths on the rear of the garment connecting the front or pouch to the waistband.
• G-string. This style consists of a string of fabric - as opposed to a wider-than-thick strip - connecting the front/pouch and the waistband in the rear. Some consider the terms "thong" and "g-string" to be interchangable, though they are not identical (a g-string is a type of thong, but a thong is not necessarily a g-string).
• V-string. Similar to the G-string, this style connects via a single string along the rear that separates into two strings just at or before the waistband or into a small triangle of fabric above the buttocks but below the waistband.
• Dance belt. This is a type of thong designed specifically to be used in the same manner as an athletic supporter for male dancers, especially in ballet. Its purpose is to protect and support the male during athletic/dance activities without being seen through outergarments such as tights or a leotard.
• Swimwear is also available with thong styles for both men and women.

File:Whale Tail.jpg

Comparison: G-string on the left, traditional thong on the right. (Also a good illustration of the "whale tail" effect.)

Other styles include :

• Stretch lace women’s thong underwear
• Mesh thong underwear
• Stretch microfiber women’s thong underwear
• Stretch cotton thong underwear
• Cotton thongs
• T-back string thongs
• Low-rise thongs
• Body wrap high waist thong

Availability

Women's thongs are widely available. Common U.S. and online retailers include Victoria's Secret, Target, Macy's, and many more. Men's thongs are less commonly found, but are available at Target, K-Mart, ShopKo, and specialty stores. Additionally, both men's and women's thongs can be readily found on eBay. (Men's, Women's)

Thongs are available in a wide variety of materials, including fleece , silk , cotton , satin , nylon , and lycra/spandex and are also available in maternity styles. Thong underwear for males has been compared to an athletic supporter as they both provide support while using a minimum of fabric, though the typical athletic supporter is not a thong as the straps at the rear are not at the garment's center.

Benefits

For males

Researching male thong wear is generally more difficult than researching the same question among females, (such as in this survey). Men and boys chose to wear thong underwear or swimwear for many reasons. Among them are:

File:Male-thong-front1.jpg

A typical man's underwear thong.

• Comfort
• Prevents of visible brief lines
• Supportiveness
• Can prevent underwear from showing above pants
• Won't ride up so one needn't pull at their underwear in public
• Takes up very little space in a drawer or when traveling
• While tanning or on the beach, thong swimwear can prevent/minimize tan lines
• Makes the wearer feel sexy

For females

Many reasons exist why women and girls may chose to wear thong underwear or swimwear.

Among them are:

File:Thong-lace-white.jpg

A typical woman's underwear thong.

• Comfort, doesn't bunch up in a place, no wedgies, feeling less packaged-up/constricted, prevents bulk underneath clothes
• Prevents of visible panty lines, no folds in the clothing, doesn't leave elastic marks on skin
• Can prevent underwear from showing above pants
• Won't ride up so one needn't pull at their underwear in public, doesn't ride up past jeans
• Takes up very little space in a drawer and easy to pack when traveling, easy to store, lightweight
• Seems and feels more adult, less childish
• Fashion-consciousness, better designs available, thongs come in a lot of patterns/colors
• While tanning or on the beach, thong swimwear can prevent/minimize tan lines
• Makes the wearer feel sexy and more feminine, makes one's buttocks look better

Social aspects

Attitudes

Attitudes to thongs are changing in most of the Western world toward more acceptance. They are becoming a regular item of underwear and thong swimsuits are seen more frequently on the beaches. The wearing of thong swimwear on the beach is fairly common in the Southern European countries and on the tropical beaches of South America and Florida. Some county and municipal governments in the United States have passed legislation generally or specifically relating to thongs, such as Huntington Beach, California, which in 2007 passed an anti-nudity ordinance that did not ban thongs. Councilman Don Hansen assured, "we remain thong-friendly in Huntington Beach."

File:Swimwear-thong-mens-1.jpg

Men's thong-style swimwear.

Male

In the USA and Europe, the wearing of thongs by men was once mainly limited to the dance belt, the posing pouch and the realm of male strippers. They are now becoming common underwear for men. They are also used by men who don't want visible brief lines, such as popular male wrestlers like Hulk Hogan who don't want visible brief lines under their wrestling suits. Recent surveys place the number of American men who wear thongs as their preferred underwear style at 4%. Informal (and thus unscientific) polls show that some women may prefer men in thongs , though other similarly unscientific polls show the opposite.

For obvious anatomical reasons, thongs for men are cut differently than thongs for women. Some still consider the male thong to be associated with gay men, but attitudes are changing as more and more young men embrace thong underwear. Thong underwear for men is becoming widely available with most of the large retailers carrying a selection.

Men wearing thongs in public are also becoming more common, as sun bathers who want to get an all over tan wear them to the beach. Men in thongs can be spotted on the more cosmopolitan beaches in the USA and Europe. The number of women wearing thongs or g-strings to the beach still out numbers the men by a good margin, but modern discussions of thong underwear will often refer to both men and women.

File:Swimwear-thong-womens-1.jpg

Women's thong-style swimwear.

Female

Recent surveys place the number of American women who wear thongs as their preferred underwear style at 28%. As of 2002, thongs were the fastest-selling type of underwear for women. The appropriate age at which girls should be allowed to wear thongs can be a discordant subject. Thongs are available for girls as young as third grade. Particularly controversial is the often-intentional public display of a thong underwear above the pantline, known as a Whale tail, by school-age girls.

Many opinions exist about the safety of thong wear by women, usually surrounding bacterial infections or cycle-related concerns.

Controversy

File:A&C-youth-thong.jpg

Example of one of Abercrombie & Fitch's controversial youth thongs.

Thong underwear and swimwear can be socially controversial.

• In 1999 a Miami University (in Oxford, Ohio) professor was banned from using the school's recreation center because he refused to stop wearing thong swimwear. The professor challenged the school in court.
• In 2001 a Salinas High School principal was in the center of a variety of controversies including bans on clothing to the extent that "thong panties were unofficially banned." One student alleged that she was given a dress-code violation note for wearing a thong. This made national headlines in September of 2000 .
• In 2002 Abercrombie & Fitch released a line of thong underwear targeted for girls ages 10-16, though critics pointed out that children as young as seven could fit one of the thongs. A spokesman for A&F, Hampton Carney, stated that he could list "at least 100 reasons why a young girl would want thong underwear." This controversy spawned a great deal of free publicity for Abercrombie, including a chain letter that received wide circulation.
• Also in 2002, a high school vice principal in San Diego 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 ("This was a safety issue, it was not a choice of underwear issue").
• British retailer Argos also produced child-size thongs and padded bras for girls as young as nine, eliciting a similar response from the public.

File:Etam-youth-thong.jpg

Example of one of UK-company Etam's controversial youth thongs.

• British retailer Etam also produced sheer tops and thong underwear for girls as young as nine.
• In 2003, the head teacher of a British primary school voiced her concern after learning that girl pupils as young as 10 were wearing thong underwear to school. This incident led to a media debate about the appropriateness of thong underwear marketed to young girls.
• The dress code for St. Ambrose Academy specifically addresses swimsuits with "thong-cut legs" as inappropriate. At Dixon High School in Dixon, California, the dress code specifies that all undergarments - specifically listing thongs along with bras and briefs - must be covered.
• A YMCA management firm has addressed thongs in dress code policy, stating (in different areas) that "thong-type wear isn't an issue." Additionally, an email from a university fitness center implied that there are safety issues ("thongs on bike seats") that would need to be addressed.
• The University of California 4-H program specifically forbids "string, thong or crochet" swimsuits for women. For men, the dress code specifies "swim trunks only (no shorts, cut-off pants, or Speedos)." A similar policy by Virginia FCCLA bans "skimpy bikini or thong type suits" for women and specifies "swim trunks" for men ("no speedos").
• University of Victoria Law School briefly put the school logo on thongs, but quickly pulled them from sale after controversy sprung up.
• During photography for Google Earth Street View, a woman in a thong was one of the images discovered that caused consternation over the project.

Culture

File:Cellphone-thong.gif

A wireless phone carrier modeled after thongs.

Despite any controversy, thongs - both the underwear and swimwear types - have spawned a wide variety of cultural references, products, and styles.

• At one point, a thong-inspired cellphone holder was available.
• "What Would Jesus Do?" thongs
• iPhone thongs
• Play Safe Thong with a pocket for a condom
• The video game Mass Effect received an M-17 rating by the ESRB in large part for including characters wearing thongs.
• In 2000, R&B singer Sisqó recorded the Thong Song on his Unleash the Dragon CD. The song was about "standing up to the machinery that runs our lives."
• After the Sri Lanka tsunami, thousands of thongs were included in relief packages.
• Beermaker Rolling Rock aired a commercial poking fun of male thong wearers during Super Bowl XLI.
• Thong Girl, a independant movie superhero, filmed scenes in Nashville's mayor's office in 2007.

Blue Thong Society

Formed in 2005, the Blue Thong Society is a women's social group similar to the Red Hat Society but with a somewhat younger demographic, typically between the ages of 35 to 65. This group for rebellious women who want to flaunt their youthfulness into middle age has grown nationally to about 140 chapters and 2,000 members.

News

Thongs tend to gain their own recognition in the media or accentuate stories in media. For instance:

• A thong flash by Monica Lewinsky in November 1995 played a pivotal role in her seduction of President Bill Clinton in what would become the Lewinsky scandal.
• In 2007, the Tennessee Department of Correction banned prison visitors from wearing thong or g-string underwear. In the words of Correction Commissioner George Little, prisoners "don't need any help getting turned on."
• In 2007, a man who had broken into a home wearing only a thong was sentenced to 20 years in prison for burglary and attempted rape. He pleaded "guilty but mentally ill" at the May trial and was sentenced in July.
• Brittney Spears' shopping habits make news, including lists of what was purchased, and the headline of such "news" includes a thong from the list of purchases.
• Reports surfaced in Florida of a man wearing a thong or g-string walking around at 4am, spurring police reports and a news release. Though police confirm that no laws were broken, the article refers to those who saw the man as "victims."
• In August 2007 a man in Texas was arrested for being naked in his own backyard. He reported that he was in fact wearing a thong and not naked.

External links

OkCupid Thong test of knowledge & attitudes

Instructions for knitting men's thong underwear

National Underwear Day

Whale-Tail.com

See also

G-string

Tanga

Athletic Supporter

Swimsuit

Bikini Briefs

Bodysuit

Undergarment

Beachwear

Speedo (suit style)

Loincloth

Fundoshi

Related pages at Wikipedia Commons: G-string, Tanga, Bikini, Panty Line, Microkini

Related categories at Wikipedia Commons: Underwear, Underpants

Gallery

Thongs come in a very wide variety of styles and types, and are worn in a variety of ways. Below are examples of some of the many options available to both men and women and common manners of wear.

• 
  Pictoral representation of a traditional thong cut.
• Pictoral representation of a v-string style thong, with ties on the sides (such as is common with women's string thong swimwear).
  Pictoral representation of a v-string style thong, with ties on the sides (such as is common with women's string thong swimwear).
• Pictoral representation of a g-string type of thong.
  Pictoral representation of a g-string type of thong.
• 
  Pictoral representation of a bodysuit with thong-style back.
• 
  Female in thong swimwear.
• 
  Thong swimwear close-up.
• 
  Woman's thong swimwear, front view.
• Woman's thong swimwear with a thick waistband.
  Woman's thong swimwear with a thick waistband.
• 
  Male in white thong underwear.
• 
  Men's thong with thicker waistband.
• 
  Male in thong undergarment.
• Man wearing a tan-through swimsuit thong.
  Man wearing a tan-through swimsuit thong.
• Woman wearing a full thong with thicker waistband.
  Woman wearing a full thong with thicker waistband.
• G-string type thong with the side strings worn at the hips.
  G-string type thong with the side strings worn at the hips.
• 
  Women's G-string style with side strings worn at the waist.
• String thong with both sides arcing into the center.
  String thong with both sides arcing into the center.
• Woman visibly wearing a thong/V-string. This VPL is far less than would be seen with a fuller-coverage panty.
  Woman visibly wearing a thong/V-string. This VPL is far less than would be seen with a fuller-coverage panty.
• While lines are most often visible through white or light colors, they can still be seen through dark colors or, as in this case, black.
  While lines are most often visible through white or light colors, they can still be seen through dark colors or, as in this case, black.
• Woman wearing a short skirt through which her thong visible. This is far less obvious than it would be with fuller underwear.
  Woman wearing a short skirt through which her thong visible. This is far less obvious than it would be with fuller underwear.
• 
  Very tight garments tend to produce panty and brief lines easily, as demonstrated here, even in the case of a thong, which may only minimize but not eliminate the effect.
• Visible thong with lace edging, in a matching set with bra.
  Visible thong with lace edging, in a matching set with bra.
• Woman's v-string-like thong, demonstrating the "whale tail" effect.
  Woman's v-string-like thong, demonstrating the "whale tail" effect.
• Traditional woman's thing, demonstrating the "whale tail" effect.
  Traditional woman's thing, demonstrating the "whale tail" effect.
• Visible thong in a clothing style increasingly common with low-slung pants.
  Visible thong in a clothing style increasingly common with low-slung pants.
• 
  String thong visible due to low-waisted pants being worn at the hips.
• Black string thong showing above stretch leather pants.
  Black string thong showing above stretch leather pants.
• Black v-string visible over the top of jeans.
  Black v-string visible over the top of jeans.
• Thong or g-string purposefully worn above pants for visibility.
  Thong or g-string purposefully worn above pants for visibility.
• 
  Girls in string thongs (and on the right in the background is a man wearing thong swimwear stepping out of the swim pool).
• 
  Women modeling v-string style swimwear.
• 
  V-string styled thong swimwear.

References

• GlamSpree - Daily Obsession: Hanky Panky brand panties, review
• WVEC "The bottom line about panties: wear what's comfortable" (includes embedded video)