The Knicker Lady
Last night I did something I’ve been promising myself for ages. I went to the theatre.
The Knicker Lady is a charmingly comical romp through the history of intimate apparel since the Victorian ages, as told by Rosemary Hawthorne, Vicar’s wife, Fashion historian, and Joyce Grenfell of Knickers. I laughed so much that I sat in my seat shaking with tears running down my face until my sides ached.
Starting with her recent publications, we have Knickers!: An Intimate Appraisal
Starting with giggles over draughty Victorian drawers, we enter a historical re-enactment like no other. A history lesson through the intimate apparel of the times. Large drawers, smaller ones, woolly ones and lacy ones. Flirtatious ones and some that could double as a chastity belt. The variety of clothing is almost as astonishing as her knowledge of the subject and the humour with which it was presented.
Have a look at the video below to see the Knicker Lady talking on her favourite subject:
So, if at the end of it, modern-day knickers are all about feeling that little bit good and beautiful and sexy, I’ll leave you to wonder what she was wearing that made her describe her ensemble as a cross between a wet fish and a half used condom.