What Is a Negligee?
A negligee is probably not what you are used to sleeping in. If you are like most women, a pair of sweatpants and your favorite college T-shirt fit the bill. However, if you would like a romantic evening with your partner and want to add some glamour, spice and sophistication to your tryst, you might opt to get dolled up in one of these beautiful night gowns.
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Neglected
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Interestingly, negligee comes from the French word "neglected," the presumption being that once you wear this get-up into the bedroom you will no longer be ignored or neglected. The negligee dates back to the 18th century, according to Style.polo.com. Originally, negligee referred to the gown that both men and women wore in between changes of clothing.
Evolved
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However, in the next century, negligees developed into fancy, elaborate gowns that were worn exclusively by women during romantic evenings or time alone in their bedroom, where they pampered themselves. A negligee is often adorned with ruffles and lace and made out of lightweight fabric, which is often sheer. Other names for negligee include a peignoir, housecoat or wrapper.
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From Long to Short
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A negligee is considered to be an easy robe and unceremonious, by definition; however, most of us think of it has being a bit more ceremonious than that or else it would be worn all of the time. When the negligee first made its appearance in the 1700s it was different from today's negligee. It was very similar to the full coverage head-to-toe dresses that women wore during the daytime. Even though it provided full coverage, it was loose fitting and comfortable and in drastic contrast to the tightly corseted ensembles that the women donned during the day. However, by the 1920s, it had morphed in a single layer evening dress, usually made out of satin.
Overtly Sexy
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According to Syl.com, negligees became shorter in length beginning in the 1940s and lasting throughout the 1970s. Remember baby doll nighties? Women still prefer wearing pj's at night but the sales of negligees have been creeping up in the United Kingdom the past 10 years. In fact, according to a December 2004 report from the BBC, negligee sales are the fastest increasing sector of the nightwear market. Negligees are no longer made to cover certain parts of a body because societal restrictions regarding modesty and acceptable behavior, particularly in the bedroom, have changed and women are free to be overtly sexy.
Another Interpretation
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The term neglect as the root of negligee may be interpreted in a different and certainly more amusing one than assuming that it referred to the woman being neglected. It can mean that the woman neglected (purposely) to get dressed and instead donned a see-through get up, according to Wordinfo.info.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.1stclasslingerie.co.uk/images/negligee6l.jpg
