Thank God. 
Posted on 03/01/2008 11:55:07 PM PST by L.A.Justice
At the height of their popularity they accounted for a third of the underwear bought by women.
But now the bottom has fallen out of the thong market.
Sales of the G-string have fallen to their lowest for five years after they increasingly became associated with football WAGs and chav culture.
In contrast, larger knickers or boy shorts, regarded as more flattering for the figure, have dramatically increased in popularity.
Like the thong, they have the benefit of wiping out the dreaded VPL (visible panty line) under clothes.
But fans argue they have the added advantage of being more comfortable, as well as hugging and holding the derriere, providing far more support.
The thong first won mainstream respectability in the late 1990s when a Gucci model wore one on the catwalk.
Soon afterwards Melanie Blatt, a singer with All Saints, was photographed flashing her thong as she got out of a taxi and Victoria Beckham suggested that her husband enjoyed wearing her G-strings around the home.
Other celebrity thong wearers included Penny Lancaster, Mrs Rod Stewart.
However, the thong eventually became the signature garment of chav fashion and the backlash began. Trinny Woodall, copresenter of BBC1's What Not To Wear, described women who wore thongs showing above their trousers as "disgusting."
Elle Macpherson, the 41-year-old supermodel who has her own underwear range, also said: "G-strings are uncomfortable. Girls want real knickers now."
Even Jodie Marsh, the model and reality TV star who boasts a collection of more than 500 G-strings, has been tempted by bigger pants. "Showing your thong is a bit old now," she said recently.
"I'd rather have big knickers showing over the top of my jeans."
According to retail analysts TNS, sales of G-strings have plummeted over the past five years.
While in 2003 around a third of all women's knickers sold were G-strings, last year they accounted for only 12 per cent of the knicker market. Women spent £44million in Britain on G-strings in 2007, compared with £100million in 2003.
In contrast, sales of shorts have doubled in two years, with more than £63million spent on bigger pants last year, compared with £31million in 2005.
They now make up 17 per cent of the total market.
"Wearing bigger pants is definitely more trendy than wearing a thong these days," said Elaine Giles, account manager for TNS. "The main attraction of the G-string was the fact that they stopped women getting a VPL.
"But the technology is such these days that women can wear bigger pants and still have their panty line hidden.
"This has been a factor in making many women who wore G- strings switching their allegiance to bigger pants.
"There is also much more choice around - until recently many shops did not sell girl's boxer shorts."
Elle MacPherson was great in SIRENS...
I could care less what a woman is wearing underneath, just make sure you are wearing a tight pair of bluejeans.
Personally I think this is very sad news...
Don't forget the two sizes too small t-shirt and the high heel cowboy boots to complete the ensemble.
-ccm
Monica was great in the Starr Report...
-ccm
Thank God.
>>”But the technology is such these days that women can wear bigger pants and still have their panty line hidden.<<
I wonder what this new technology is...
I think this is great news, those thongs are gross. No woman should feel compelled to wear one. And forget about the tight , uncomfortable pants too...worn just for the lustful pleasure of too needfull men. How about some cool knee length skirts to show the good beauty in a lady?
PLEASE somebody post a Helen Thomas photo to cleanse my mind of this mental image!
Good-bye to butt floss!
Thank God.
PLEASE somebody post a Hillary Clinton photo to cleanse my mind of this mental image!
This thread is useless without some VERY SPECIFIC photos, i.e. THOSE WITH ELLE Macpherson!...
Mark
The terrorists have won. :-(
;-)
1. Thongs are the same thing as G-strings?
2. What are "WAGS"?
3. What is "chav culture"?
(I am so friggin old and out of touch....)
> 1. Thongs are the same thing as G-strings?
They differ in that a thong is a simpler cloth device usually worn under other clothing, with the goal being the elimination of "panty lines" (the lower seams of normal underwear showing as an irregularity in the outer clothing). A G-string is similar in overall architecture, but often more ornate, and intended to be worn without an over layer. It derives from a stripper's lower "legal" patch over the pubic area, with only the thinnest of attachments around the waist and under.
> 2. What are "WAGS"?
Wives And Girlfriends of British football team members.
> 3. What is "chav culture"?
A British clothing-based subculture:
a subcultural stereotype fixated on fashions such as imitation gold, poorly made jewellery and fake designer clothing (often Burberry), combined with elements of working class British street fashion, such as trainers, tracksuit bottoms and polo shirts. (Wikipedia)> (I am so friggin old and out of touch....)
Join the club.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.