Though sales of thong underwear may be down among millennials, the skimpy style is still one of the most popular pantie choices for women of all ages. A visit to any Gap Body or Victoria's Secret—where the display tables of G-strings almost always look like a disheveled disaster zone—is probably all the proof you need of their undying appeal.
But unmentionables made from barely-there elastic strips weren't always so ubiquitous. Read on to find out how everyday undies went from big and billowy to itty-bitty, below.
__75,000 years ago:__Loincloths were the first clothing to be worn by humans, and are the precursor to modern day underwear. However, since nobody wore them under anything else, they can't really be called underwear.
__16th Century:__Though they look rather uncomfortable, chastity belts apparently came with a padded lining meant to prevent chafing. (Still...if you're making the teeth-gritting emoji face looking at this picture, you're not alone.)
