The Bow On Women's Underwear Isn't Just Decorative — Here's What It's For

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Unless you're like Martha Stewart, who wears swimsuits instead of underwear, you've probably noticed the bow adorning the front of many pairs of women's underwear. Plenty have the delicate addition front and center around the top elastic, but it hasn't always been a decorative choice. The bow was seemingly originally added to hold them up before our undergarments featured elastic (which started around 1918, when long bloomers went out of style). Undies would often be tied in place by a string, and a bow was the neatest and most aesthetic way to close off the tie.

But that's not the only reason bows may have been placed on our undergarments. They could also have been added to help make getting dressed a little easier. As anyone who's ever accidentally worn their undies the wrong way around will know, it's not the most comfortable (or flattering) look. With a bow on the front, though, it's far easier and quicker to differentiate between the front and the back, which was useful during times when electric lighting wasn't so prevalent.

Though instantly knowing which side of our underwear is the front is still helpful in modern times, bows remaining on women's delicates is a decorative choice, and a nod toward tradition rather than a practical function. It's easier than ever to instantly recognize the front by sight or by touch (there's not much confusion with the likes of thongs or even convenient period underwear, for example), we can turn on the light to get changed, and almost all panties are made with elastic, so we no longer have to tie bows to keep them up.

One of the other great things about modern underwear is that we have the choice of whether we want a bow or not. Not a fan of the traditional addition? Hanes Women's Hi-Cut Cotton Underwear 10-Pack features a thicker elastic waistband and no bow. If you like the classic look, though, Aijolen Women's Cotton Bikini Underwear 6-Pack offers a modern take on the classic style with a traditional, small bow just below the belly button. Of course, if you want to stop wearing underwear altogether, that's an option too, but you'll find that going commando also has its pros and cons.